Woman stabbed man to death, then lied when cops came to his houseboat, MA officials say
A woman in Massachusetts was arrested after officials say she killed a man found dead on his houseboat.
Nora Nelson is charged with murder, according to a Feb. 6 news release from the Boston Police Department.
On Feb. 2, officers responded to a houseboat at a marina in Charlestown, police said. When they arrived, they found 65-year-old Joseph Donohue dead.
Nelson, 24, was initially arrested on unrelated charges, but the murder charge came days later.
Nelson entered a not guilty plea, The Boston Globe reported, and she was ordered to be held without bail during her arraignment in municipal court on Friday, Feb. 7.
McClatchy News reached out to Nelson’s attorney for comment but did not immediately hear back.
However, her attorney said in court that she maintains her innocence.
“But no one has ever told me that this even happened in my house,” Nelson said in court, according to WBZ. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of this happening in my house.”
When officers went to the home for a welfare check, Nelson answered the door and told police Donohue wasn’t home and he was at a strip club, according to prosecutors, WBTS reported.
Police insisted on going inside the home, where they found Donahue’s body, prosecutor Rita Muse said, according to WBZ.
“When he opened the sliding doors in the bedroom leading to a patio area he saw what would later be identified as 65-year-old Joseph Donohue’s body wrapped in a white and blue covering secured with duct tape and affixed with weights,” Muse said, according to the news outlet.
An autopsy later revealed Donahue died from multiple stab wounds, The Boston Globe reported. His dog was also found dead in the water next to the houseboat.
Donohue was an attorney, according to WBTS.
“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,” his family said in a statement to the news outlet.
Boston police continue to investigate.
This story was originally published February 9, 2025 at 12:03 PM with the headline "Woman stabbed man to death, then lied when cops came to his houseboat, MA officials say."
