Missing man’s mummified remains found in shallow grave leading to arrest of his girlfriend who looked unhappy to have her mug shot taken: Cops

From left: Sofia Fermin, Jerry Mulford and Matthew Clark (Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office).

California authorities say a 38-year-old woman murdered her boyfriend whose mummified and bullet-riddled body was located in a shallow grave a year after his disappearance.

Sofia Fermin, 38, is charged with murder in the death of 47-year-old Matthew Clark, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. Jerry Mulford, 42, who remains at large and is believed to have fled the Golden State, is facing an accessory-after-the-fact charge.

Fermin’s brother called the sheriff’s office in January 2024 to report Clark missing after an argument with the suspect. Her brother believed Fermin had something to do with Clark’s disappearance as she sold his pickup truck and other possessions, cops said. Deputies recovered the vehicle in San Joaquin County in June and Mulford’s fingerprints were allegedly inside. Detectives spoke with Fermin who was in jail for an unrelated incident and told them Clark was probably in a rehab facility somewhere in California.

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As no one had heard from Clark and his social media accounts remained silent, homicide detectives assumed control of the investigation in September 2024. After conducting numerous interviews and obtaining warrants, cops believe they were able to crack the case. Investigators believe Fermin shot Clark after an argument in December 2023. They learned the body was likely buried on a property in the 100 block of U Street in Rio Linda.

Deputies along with the FBI Evidence Response Team searched the area in December and located a mummified body buried in a shallow grave in the southeast corner of the property. An autopsy positively identified the body as Clark and determined he suffered at least five gunshot wounds.