Topline: Police say the girlfriend is in custody, but the accomplice is on the run.
Published: March 5, 2025 7:00 am ET
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RIO LINDA, CA — A mummified body discovered in a shallow grave has unveiled the tragic fate of a California man missing since January 2024, and implicated his girlfriend and another man in a murder plot.
In January of 2024, authorities received a report that 47-year-old Matthew Clark was missing after he had an argument with his live-in girlfriend, later identified as 38-year-old Sofia Fermin, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The caller, Fermin’s brother, believed Sofia had something to do with the disappearance as she recently sold Clark’s pickup truck and other property.
Sheriff’s Missing Persons Detectives took on the case and began their investigation. But, months went by with little movement in the case and Clark was still missing.
In June of 2024, Clark’s pickup truck was located in San Joaquin County by the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office. Detectives recovered the vehicle and processed for evidence.
According to police, fingerprints belonging to 42-year-old Jerry Mulford were discovered inside the vehicle.
Detectives spoke with Fermin, who was in jail for an unrelated incident. She said she was unsure of Clark’s whereabouts, but later said that he was likely in a rehabilitation facility somewhere in California.
In September of 2024, Homicide Detectives took over the investigation and began their investigation into the disappearance of Clark. Through their investigation from numerous interviews and warrants, detectives believed Fermin had shot Clark after an argument in December of 2023.
Investigators learned that his body was likely buried on a property on the 100 block of U Street in Rio Linda.
In December of 2024, detectives and the FBI Evidence Response Team served a search warrant at the property and discovered a shallow grave in the southeast corner of the property, where they found a “mummified” male body.
The autopsy confirmed the body was indeed Clark.
The forensic pathologist concluded Clark was shot at least five times, and his death was ruled as a homicide.
Detectives subsequently obtained an arrest warrant for Sofia Fermin for Murder, and Mulford for his role as an Accessory After the Fact.
On December 23, 2024, Deputies located Fermin at her residence in Sacramento and took her into custody. She is currently at the Sacramento County Main Jail, where she remains ineligible for bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 27.
Mulford has yet to be located as of Tuesday, March 4, and is believed to have fled out of state. He has an active felony warrant related to this case.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts and/or this investigation is urged to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP.
Tips leading to an arrest are eligible for a CASH reward of up to $1,000.00, and tipsters remain anonymous. Tips are paid in cash, and you are never asked for identification.
Contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357), 1-800-AA-CRIME, or **TIPS. Use the “P3 TIPS” app or online at www.sacvalleycrimestoppers.com. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Missing Calif. Man’s Mummified Body Found, Girlfriend & Accomplice Charged
Police say the girlfriend is in custody, but the accomplice is on the run.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 5, 2025 7:00 am ET
RIO LINDA, CA — A mummified body discovered in a shallow grave has unveiled the tragic fate of a California man missing since January 2024, and implicated his girlfriend and another man in a murder plot.
In January of 2024, authorities received a report that 47-year-old Matthew Clark was missing after he had an argument with his live-in girlfriend, later identified as 38-year-old Sofia Fermin, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The caller, Fermin’s brother, believed Sofia had something to do with the disappearance as she recently sold Clark’s pickup truck and other property.
Sheriff’s Missing Persons Detectives took on the case and began their investigation. But, months went by with little movement in the case and Clark was still missing.
In June of 2024, Clark’s pickup truck was located in San Joaquin County by the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office. Detectives recovered the vehicle and processed for evidence.
According to police, fingerprints belonging to 42-year-old Jerry Mulford were discovered inside the vehicle.
Detectives spoke with Fermin, who was in jail for an unrelated incident. She said she was unsure of Clark’s whereabouts, but later said that he was likely in a rehabilitation facility somewhere in California.
In September of 2024, Homicide Detectives took over the investigation and began their investigation into the disappearance of Clark. Through their investigation from numerous interviews and warrants, detectives believed Fermin had shot Clark after an argument in December of 2023.
Investigators learned that his body was likely buried on a property on the 100 block of U Street in Rio Linda.
In December of 2024, detectives and the FBI Evidence Response Team served a search warrant at the property and discovered a shallow grave in the southeast corner of the property, where they found a “mummified” male body.
The autopsy confirmed the body was indeed Clark.
The forensic pathologist concluded Clark was shot at least five times, and his death was ruled as a homicide.
Detectives subsequently obtained an arrest warrant for Sofia Fermin for Murder, and Mulford for his role as an Accessory After the Fact.
On December 23, 2024, Deputies located Fermin at her residence in Sacramento and took her into custody. She is currently at the Sacramento County Main Jail, where she remains ineligible for bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 27.
Mulford has yet to be located as of Tuesday, March 4, and is believed to have fled out of state. He has an active felony warrant related to this case.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts and/or this investigation is urged to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP.
Tips leading to an arrest are eligible for a CASH reward of up to $1,000.00, and tipsters remain anonymous. Tips are paid in cash, and you are never asked for identification.
Contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357), 1-800-AA-CRIME, or **TIPS. Use the “P3 TIPS” app or online at www.sacvalleycrimestoppers.com. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Missing Calif. Man’s Mummified Body Found, Girlfriend & Accomplice Charged
Police say the girlfriend is in custody, but the accomplice is on the run.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 5, 2025 7:00 am ET
RIO LINDA, CA — A mummified body discovered in a shallow grave has unveiled the tragic fate of a California man missing since January 2024, and implicated his girlfriend and another man in a murder plot.
In January of 2024, authorities received a report that 47-year-old Matthew Clark was missing after he had an argument with his live-in girlfriend, later identified as 38-year-old Sofia Fermin, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
The caller, Fermin’s brother, believed Sofia had something to do with the disappearance as she recently sold Clark’s pickup truck and other property.
Sheriff’s Missing Persons Detectives took on the case and began their investigation. But, months went by with little movement in the case and Clark was still missing.
In June of 2024, Clark’s pickup truck was located in San Joaquin County by the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Office. Detectives recovered the vehicle and processed for evidence.
According to police, fingerprints belonging to 42-year-old Jerry Mulford were discovered inside the vehicle.
Detectives spoke with Fermin, who was in jail for an unrelated incident. She said she was unsure of Clark’s whereabouts, but later said that he was likely in a rehabilitation facility somewhere in California.
In September of 2024, Homicide Detectives took over the investigation and began their investigation into the disappearance of Clark. Through their investigation from numerous interviews and warrants, detectives believed Fermin had shot Clark after an argument in December of 2023.
Investigators learned that his body was likely buried on a property on the 100 block of U Street in Rio Linda.
In December of 2024, detectives and the FBI Evidence Response Team served a search warrant at the property and discovered a shallow grave in the southeast corner of the property, where they found a “mummified” male body.
The autopsy confirmed the body was indeed Clark.
The forensic pathologist concluded Clark was shot at least five times, and his death was ruled as a homicide.
Detectives subsequently obtained an arrest warrant for Sofia Fermin for Murder, and Mulford for his role as an Accessory After the Fact.
On December 23, 2024, Deputies located Fermin at her residence in Sacramento and took her into custody. She is currently at the Sacramento County Main Jail, where she remains ineligible for bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 27.
Mulford has yet to be located as of Tuesday, March 4, and is believed to have fled out of state. He has an active felony warrant related to this case.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts and/or this investigation is urged to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP.
Tips leading to an arrest are eligible for a CASH reward of up to $1,000.00, and tipsters remain anonymous. Tips are paid in cash, and you are never asked for identification.
Contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357), 1-800-AA-CRIME, or **TIPS. Use the “P3 TIPS” app or online at www.sacvalleycrimestoppers.com. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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