BOSTON — A 24-year-old woman charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 65-year-old man on a houseboat in Boston wrapped him up in blankets, secured it with duct tape, and affixed weights to his body, a prosecutor revealed in court on Friday morning.
Nora Nelson, of Boston, was arraigned in Charlestown District Court on a charge of murder in the death of Joseph Donohue, who was found dead from multiple stab wounds late Sunday night inside his boat at 2 Shipway Place at the Charlestown Marina. A plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf.
An officer responded to Donohue’s home to conduct a wellness check just before 10:45 p.m. after his family reported that they hadn’t heard from him in 48 hours and was greeted at the door by Nelson, according to Assistant Suffolk District Attorney Rita Muse.
“She [Nelson] was evasive and unresponsive when asked about his [Donohue’s] whereabouts,” Muse told the court. “Her statements were contradictory and frankly, she lied. She stated that her name was ‘Casey’ and she also stated that the victim was at a strip club.”
According to a Boston police report, Nelson told detectives that Donohue had gone to DB’s Golden Banana on Route 1 Peabody and he “would be back in a few hours,” but family members claimed Nelson told them that Donohue “had gone to the store.”
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The officer decided to enter the houseboat to conduct a protective sweep in search of Donohue and opened sliding doors in his bedroom that led to a patio area, where he found the victim’s body “wrapped in a white and blue covering, secured with duct tape and affixed with weights,” according to Muse.
Muse also said additional officers who were called to the scene found a dead dog in the water near Donohue’s boat.
“Officers observed blood throughout the home, as well as an indication of an active effort to clean up,” Muse added. The police report stated that officers also observed “blood stains on a sheet which was hung to cover the door leading into the residence.”
When questioned about the blood, Nelson allegedly claimed that it “was from her period” and that she was “merely dusting, not cleaning,” the police report stated.
Before arresting Nelson at the scene on unrelated warrants, Muse alleged that Nelson gave Boston police homicide detectives “nonsensical answers” and “even provided a second false name.”
An autopsy later determined that Donohue was fatally stabbed and that his manner of death was homicide, according to Muse.
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“There was also forensic evidence recovered from the descendent’s body linking to the crime scene, as well as this defendant,” Muse told the court. “Your honor, based on those facts, the Commonwealth suggests there is probable cause to believe that Nora Nelson murdered Joseph Donohue.”
A dive team searching the waters around Donohue’s boat found a silver and black knife in a nearby seabed, according to police. A piece of that knife was said to be recovered from the victim’s body.
The judge presiding over Friday’s hearing ordered Nelson held without bail pending her next court appearance.
Just before the arraignment ended, Nelson appeared to say, “No one ever told me this happened at my house.” She continued, “This is the first time I’m hearing this happened at my house.”
Nelson is also facing charges of two counts of malicious destruction of property, assault and battery on a person over the age of 60, assault and battery with a television remote, and threat to commit a crime in connection with a separate incident at 343 Commonwealth Avenue in September 2023.
She was born in Tennessee and also wanted on two non-extraditable warrants out of McKinney, Texas, for failing to identify herself, providing a false ID, and resisting arrest, Assistant Suffolk District Attorney Amelia Singh said earlier in the week.
One of Donohue’s distraught friends told Boston 25 News that the victim was a Boston lawyer and a divorced father of three.
In a statement shared with Boston 25 News on Wednesday, Donohue’s family said, “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 investigation into Donohue’s death remains ongoing.
Nelson is due back in court on March 6.
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