Woman Fatally Stabbed Lawyer Boyfriend 67 Times

Nora Nelson, a 24-year-old Massachusetts woman, has pleaded not guilty to new charges related to the murder of her boyfriend, 65-year-old Boston attorney Joseph Donahue. Nelson was arraigned on Friday for the alleged crime that took place on Donahue’s houseboat in Boston’s Charleston neighborhood.

In February, Boston police officers were summoned to Donahue’s houseboat for a well-being check. Upon arrival, they were met by Nelson who reportedly provided inconsistent accounts of events and identified herself under a false name. The officers eventually discovered Donahue’s body on the boat, concealed in a carpet secured with duct tape and attached to dumbbells with a jump rope.

Prosecutor Rita Muiz provided a detailed account of the events in court. She stated that when officers first encountered Nelson on the night of February 2, she was accompanied by one of Donahue’s dogs, a golden retriever. Nelson was asked to secure the dog before continuing the conversation with the officers. She appeared to comply but was observed through a gap in the door, seemingly tidying up or collecting various items.

When Nelson finally returned to speak with the officers, she reportedly gave inconsistent and nonsensical responses to their questions, including the whereabouts of Donahue. She also identified herself as “Casey.” The officers then conducted a thorough search of the houseboat, which led to the grim discovery of Donahue’s body outside his bedroom’s glass doors.

The autopsy report revealed that Donahue had suffered 67 stab wounds to his head and chest. A fragment of a knife blade was found lodged in his forehead, which matched a knife recovered by a dive team from the marina where the boat was docked. The autopsy also revealed two pink fake fingernails on Donahue’s body, which Nelson identified as her own.

The crime scene was marked by a significant amount of reddish-brown stains throughout the houseboat, particularly on a bedsheet used as a curtain. Investigators also found the body of one of Donahue’s dogs, Champ, in the water near the boat. A necropsy revealed that the golden retriever had been strangled.

Nelson’s erratic behavior continued at the police station where she was read her Miranda rights. She reportedly gave officers another false name, “Mary,” when questioned about the days leading up to Donahue’s last sighting on January 31. Nelson’s mental health has been a topic of discussion in several hearings since her arrest in February. She was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation in April, and a court clinician suggested that Nelson may be exhibiting symptoms of a psychotic disorder.

Nelson is currently being held without bail after failing to appear in court in May. She faces charges of murder and animal cruelty, with her next court appearance scheduled for July 15.