Matthews attended Central Dauphin East High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Youth for Christ.
"[8] She played a key role in several high-profile operations, including the capture of Abu Zubaydah, the first high-value al-Qaeda target apprehended after 9/11.
[1] In September 2009, Matthews volunteered to be CIA chief at Forward Operating Base Chapman, located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Khost, Afghanistan.
At Khost, Matthews and her team were working with a Jordanian informant, Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi, who claimed to have detailed intelligence on al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.
[5] The Camp Chapman attack prompted internal reviews and changes within the CIA regarding informant handling and base security.
[5] Her family was reportedly divided in the aftermath of her death, reflecting differing views on her work and the circumstances surrounding the attack.
However, this portrayal has been criticized by those who knew her, including former Cedarville professors and CIA veteran Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., who argued it misrepresented her seriousness and expertise.