Coast Guard Veteran Kills Her Rapist
In a case that reads like a dark thriller, Chelsea Perkins, a 35-year-old Coast Guard veteran turned OnlyFans model, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Matthew Dunmire, a man she accused of raping her years earlier. The incident, which unfolded in the secluded woods of Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park in March 2021, has captivated public attention for its blend of trauma, vigilante justice, and the complexities of unresolved allegations.
Who Are Chelsea Perkins and Matthew Dunmire?
Chelsea Perkins is no stranger to reinvention. After serving in the Coast Guard, where she met her husband, she transitioned into a career as an OnlyFans model under the name Sabrina Savage. Her life took a tragic turn when she confronted a painful chapter from her past involving Matthew Dunmire.
Dunmire, 31, at the time of his death, was an aspiring musician originally from Virginia who had relocated to Cleveland. He and Perkins shared a history that stretched back to their high school days, attending the same school from 2005 to 2009. According to the New York Post, in 2017, Perkins reported to Virginia Beach police that Dunmire had raped her, but the case did not advance due to insufficient evidence, as reported by AOL.
What Happened in Cuyahoga Valley National Park?
In early March 2021, Perkins traveled over 300 miles from Virginia to Ohio to meet Dunmire at the national park. The meeting was no casual encounter; it was a premeditated act fueled by years of unresolved trauma. The two began hiking off-trail into a wooded area, where Perkins, concealing a handgun, shot Dunmire in the back of the head, killing him instantly.
Hikers discovered Dunmire's body three days later, prompting a federal investigation. Authorities pieced together the timeline through GPS data, phone records, social media activity, and ballistic evidence. They confirmed that Dunmire had been drinking with coworkers days before the murder and had told them he was meeting a woman staying in the area. Witnesses saw a woman matching Perkins' description on the trail the day of the shooting, and hikers reported hearing a gunshot between 11:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.
The Why: A Reckoning Allegedly Born From Trauma
The killing was not a random act of violence but a calculated response to a deeply personal grievance. Perkins' allegation of rape against Dunmire in 2017 never led to charges, leaving her with a sense of injustice. This unresolved trauma is allegedly what drove her to take matters into her own hands, culminating in the fatal encounter in the national park.
This case raises difficult questions about vigilante justice and the lengths to which individuals might go when the legal system fails them. Perkins' actions, while criminal, allegedly stem from a place of profound pain and a desire for retribution that the courts did not provide.
The Aftermath and Legal Consequences
Following the murder, Perkins was not immediately arrested. It took nearly nine months for the FBI to apprehend her, during which time investigators uncovered three 9mm pistols in her home, one of which had "similar characteristics" to the bullet that killed Dunmire, according to the New York Post, as reported by AOL. The evidence was overwhelming, linking her directly to the crime scene.
In May 2025, Perkins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and using a firearm during a crime of violence on federal property. If the court accepts her plea agreement, she faces a prison sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years. Her sentencing is reportedly scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025.
A Family's Tragic Response
The ripple effects of this tragedy extended beyond the immediate crime. In a desperate and misguided act of revenge, Dunmire's parents attempted to kill Perkins in November 2021, before she had been arrested for his murder. According to the New York Post, Dunmire's mother, disguised as a UPS driver, mistakenly shot a woman she believed to be Perkins, as reported by AOL. The victim survived, but the incident ended in further tragedy when Dunmire's mother took her own life after being stopped by police. Dunmire's father was arrested and later sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the attempted attack.
Final Thoughts
Chelsea Perkins' case is a haunting example of how unresolved trauma can culminate in a tragic act of vigilante justice. It's a story that shocks and intrigues, offering a sobering look at the human cost of justice denied. As Perkins awaits sentencing, the nation watches, reminded that behind every headline lies a complex web of pain, choices, and consequences.
References: She Was a Coast Guard Vet, an Adult Film Actress - and Finally, a Killer. Inside Her Chilling Story | Coast Guard vet turned OnlyFans model pleads guilty to killing accused rapist in national park | Coast Guard vet turned OnlyFans model Chelsea Perkins pleads guilty to killing accused rapist in national park
