A former Colorado cardiologist was convicted Tuesday of drugging and raping numerous women in 2023.
According to The Denver Post, a Denver jury found Stephen Matthews, 36, guilty of 35 felony counts of assault and sexual assault involving 11 victims.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police arrested Matthews in March 2023 for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman during a date in Denver, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office. By October 2023, at least 16 victims had come forward, and Matthews pleaded not guilty to 51 felony charges related to assaulting, drugging, and sexually assaulting the women.
An affidavit released last year provided detailed accounts of numerous cases, revealing strikingly similar narratives as recounted by the victims. All of the victims said they met Matthews through different dating applications.
Stephen Matthews Arrest War… by CBS News Colorado
Juror Laura Richardson told FOX 31 that the trial included a vast amount of evidence, such as pictures and videos Matthews took of the victims without their consent. Richardson added that the text messages presented as evidence were among the most difficult to listen to.
“A lot of the evidence we went by for the reporting was what the victims said to their family members, to their friends, shortly afterwards, of, ‘Oh my God, I think I was drugged, I don’t know what happened.’ Texts to the defendant saying, ‘I don’t know what happened last night. Did we have sex? Can you please fill in some gaps,’” Richardson said.
Former Denver DA Mitch Morrissey said that both Matthews and victims will have the opportunity to speak at Matthews’ sentencing hearing, scheduled for October.
“But oftentimes, if there is an appeal that is going to happen — and I’m sure there will be in this case — the individual doesn’t say anything at all,” Morrissey added.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Stephen Matthews/Denver Police Department]
