SUFFOLK COUNTY, MA - On Friday, June 13th, prosecutors revealed that a Massachusetts woman has been charged with murder after allegedly killing her lover on his houseboat and strangling his dog.
The woman, identified as 24-year-old Nora Nelson, reportedly stabbed the man 67 times, NBC10 reported. She is now facing a murder charge in the death of 65-year-old Joseph Donohue, after he was found dead on a houseboat at the Charlestown Marina on February 2nd during a well-being check. In addition to the murder charge, she is also charged with animal cruelty for the strangulation death of Donohue's dog, who was found in the water near the houseboat.
On Friday, Nelson was ordered held without bail following her arraignment and is scheduled to return to court on July 15 for a motions hearing. Nelson had previously been arrested in connection with Donohue's death but was not indicted until last month.
An autopsy conducted on Donohue's body showed 67 stab wounds of various depth and severity, and a small piece of knife was removed from his forehead. Prosecutors said the remaining portion of the knife was found by a dive team in the water outside the kitchen of the houseboat. Two fake pink fingernails were also located on Donohue's body during the autopsy, which Nelson admitted were hers.
Prosecutors said when officers arrived at Donohue's houseboat for the well-being check, Nelson answered the door. When asked about Donohue, police said she was "evasive" and "unresponsive," telling them that he was at a strip club. She also lied about her name, police said. "When she answered the door, Donohue's golden retriever also approached, and she was instructed to secure the animal and then come back and see the officers," Assistant Director Rita Clare Muiz said.
"When she shut the door, the officers saw through a slit in the curtain she was running around the apartment, apparently cleaning up or picking up various items," she added.
Police entered the houseboat and found Donohue's body at the stern of the boat, outside the sliding glass doors of his bedroom. Prosecutors said the body was wrapped in carpet and other fabric, affixed with duct tape, and dumbbells attached by a jump rope to his body. "There was a significant amount of reddish brown stains throughout the apartment and a sheet serving as a curtain at the entrance to the houseboat covered in what appeared to be blood," Muiz said.
Numerous cleaning supplies were scattered throughout the living room, in an apparent effort to clean the mess. After other officers responded to the scene, Muiz said they found Donohue's second dog, Champ, in the water at the bow of the boat. A necropsy conducted on the dog revealed that it died of asphyxiation and most likely strangulation.
Nelson was taken to Boston Police Headquarters, where Muiz said she gave nonsensical, contradictory answers about Donohue's whereabouts and what they had been doing during the day. She also provided police with a false name at the time. Muiz said a review of surveillance video from the marina shows January 31st as the last time Donohue was seen, and Nelson was the only person seen entering the houseboat after his last sighting.
This is not Nelson's first run-in with law enforcement. She was previously arrested in October 2023 on suspicion of assault and battery on a family or household member and assault and battery on a police officer. A criminal complaint filed in court states that officers were called to a Back Bay apartment building, where a man said Nelson, his ex, had been refusing to leave the home for weeks. As officers investigated what happened, Nelson allegedly kicked and tried to bite the officers.
Nelson's mental state has been the subject of more than one hearing since her arrest in February, Law & Crime reported. She was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation in April after her defense attorney filed a motion questioning her competency to stand trial. Those findings were not mentioned during Friday's hearing, but a court clinician stated that Nelson "lacks understanding of the seriousness" of the charges against her.
Donohue was an attorney out of Boston. His family released a statement back in February following his death. "Our family is heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. Joe was a wonderful family member, a cherished friend, and a trusted colleague. Always generous and kind, he dedicated his life and career to helping others. He is loved and will be deeply missed. We're grateful for the love and support we've received, and we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time."
The woman, identified as 24-year-old Nora Nelson, reportedly stabbed the man 67 times, NBC10 reported. She is now facing a murder charge in the death of 65-year-old Joseph Donohue, after he was found dead on a houseboat at the Charlestown Marina on February 2nd during a well-being check. In addition to the murder charge, she is also charged with animal cruelty for the strangulation death of Donohue's dog, who was found in the water near the houseboat.
On Friday, Nelson was ordered held without bail following her arraignment and is scheduled to return to court on July 15 for a motions hearing. Nelson had previously been arrested in connection with Donohue's death but was not indicted until last month.
An autopsy conducted on Donohue's body showed 67 stab wounds of various depth and severity, and a small piece of knife was removed from his forehead. Prosecutors said the remaining portion of the knife was found by a dive team in the water outside the kitchen of the houseboat. Two fake pink fingernails were also located on Donohue's body during the autopsy, which Nelson admitted were hers.
Prosecutors said when officers arrived at Donohue's houseboat for the well-being check, Nelson answered the door. When asked about Donohue, police said she was "evasive" and "unresponsive," telling them that he was at a strip club. She also lied about her name, police said. "When she answered the door, Donohue's golden retriever also approached, and she was instructed to secure the animal and then come back and see the officers," Assistant Director Rita Clare Muiz said.
"When she shut the door, the officers saw through a slit in the curtain she was running around the apartment, apparently cleaning up or picking up various items," she added.
Police entered the houseboat and found Donohue's body at the stern of the boat, outside the sliding glass doors of his bedroom. Prosecutors said the body was wrapped in carpet and other fabric, affixed with duct tape, and dumbbells attached by a jump rope to his body. "There was a significant amount of reddish brown stains throughout the apartment and a sheet serving as a curtain at the entrance to the houseboat covered in what appeared to be blood," Muiz said.
Numerous cleaning supplies were scattered throughout the living room, in an apparent effort to clean the mess. After other officers responded to the scene, Muiz said they found Donohue's second dog, Champ, in the water at the bow of the boat. A necropsy conducted on the dog revealed that it died of asphyxiation and most likely strangulation.
Nelson was taken to Boston Police Headquarters, where Muiz said she gave nonsensical, contradictory answers about Donohue's whereabouts and what they had been doing during the day. She also provided police with a false name at the time. Muiz said a review of surveillance video from the marina shows January 31st as the last time Donohue was seen, and Nelson was the only person seen entering the houseboat after his last sighting.
This is not Nelson's first run-in with law enforcement. She was previously arrested in October 2023 on suspicion of assault and battery on a family or household member and assault and battery on a police officer. A criminal complaint filed in court states that officers were called to a Back Bay apartment building, where a man said Nelson, his ex, had been refusing to leave the home for weeks. As officers investigated what happened, Nelson allegedly kicked and tried to bite the officers.
Nelson's mental state has been the subject of more than one hearing since her arrest in February, Law & Crime reported. She was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation in April after her defense attorney filed a motion questioning her competency to stand trial. Those findings were not mentioned during Friday's hearing, but a court clinician stated that Nelson "lacks understanding of the seriousness" of the charges against her.
Donohue was an attorney out of Boston. His family released a statement back in February following his death. "Our family is heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. Joe was a wonderful family member, a cherished friend, and a trusted colleague. Always generous and kind, he dedicated his life and career to helping others. He is loved and will be deeply missed. We're grateful for the love and support we've received, and we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments
2025-06-15T20:36-0400 | Comment by: Larry
According to certain "news" outlets, it was probably mostly friendly slashes.