Disturbing Details Revealed in Houseboat Murder of Prominent Attorney

A disturbing murder case is rocking Boston as 24-year-old Nora Nelson faces charges in the brutal killing of her 65-year-old boyfriend, prominent attorney Joseph Donahue. Nelson appeared in court Friday for her arraignment, where prosecutors revealed shocking new details about the crime that unfolded earlier this year aboard Donahue’s Charleston houseboat.

It all began on the night of February 2, when Boston police responded to a wellness check at Donahue’s floating home. They were met at the door by Nelson, who reportedly gave officers a fake name—“Casey”—and a slew of inconsistent stories. As police tried to speak with her, she was seen frantically moving around inside the boat, apparently attempting to clean or hide items.

When officers finally conducted a sweep of the houseboat, they made a horrifying discovery: Donahue’s body was found wrapped in a carpet, secured with duct tape and weighted down with dumbbells tied using a jump rope. The grisly scene was found just outside the glass doors of his bedroom.

Prosecutor Rita Muiz delivered a graphic description in court, revealing that Donahue had suffered 67 stab wounds to his head and chest. A fragment of a knife blade was found lodged in his forehead—later matched to a knife recovered from the marina waters by a dive team. Adding to the chilling evidence, two pink fake fingernails were discovered on the victim’s body and later identified by Nelson as her own.

Inside the houseboat, police found reddish-brown stains splattered throughout, including on a bedsheet used as a makeshift curtain. Investigators also found another devastating detail—Donahue’s golden retriever, Champ, had been strangled and dumped in the water near the boat. A necropsy confirmed the dog’s death was not accidental.

Nelson’s erratic behavior reportedly continued at the police station, where she gave yet another fake name—“Mary”—and was evasive about Donahue’s last known whereabouts. He had last been seen alive on January 31.

Since her arrest in February, Nelson’s mental state has raised concerns. In April, a judge ordered a mental health evaluation after her defense questioned her competency to stand trial. While results of that evaluation weren’t shared in court Friday, a clinician noted that Nelson “lacks understanding of the seriousness” of the charges and may be exhibiting signs of a psychotic disorder. However, those symptoms reportedly appeared to lessen once she began medication.

Nelson is currently being held without bail, after skipping a court date in May. She faces charges of murder and animal cruelty. Her next court appearance is set for July 15.