Joseph Donohue: Top Rated Boston Lawyer found Fatally Stabbed in Boathouse, Suspect Charged With Murder

In January 2025, a gruesome discovery in the quiet waters of the Charlestown Marina in Boston shocked the community and beyond.

Joseph Donohue, 65, who is a top-rated attorney and beloved father of three, was found dead on his houseboat in what authorities are calling a brutal homicide. 

The criminal investigation into his death has uncovered disturbing details, including the alleged involvement of 24-year-old Nora Nelson.

According to Daily Mail News, she was present at the crime scene when Donohue’s body was discovered.  

Nora Nelson

On the evening of January 28, 2024, officers from the local police department responded to a wellness check at Donohue’s houseboat. 

His family had grown concerned after not hearing from him for 48 hours. 

When police arrived at the boathouse, they met Nora Nelson, who initially gave evasive and contradictory answers about Donohue’s whereabouts. 

According to police reports, Nelson claimed her name was “Casey.” 

She told officers that Donohue had gone to a strip club in Peabody and that he would be back soon.

However, family members said she had earlier told them he had just gone to the store.  

The inconsistencies in Nelson’s statements raised red flags, prompting officers to conduct a protective sweep of the houseboat. 

What they discovered was horrifying.

Donohue’s lifeless body was found on the patio area of the boat, wrapped in blankets, secured with duct tape, and attached to heavy weights, as reported by Boston 5 News.

During the investigation of the crime scene, detectives noticed bloodstains throughout the home.

They also discovered a sheet stained with blood which was used to cover the door.

Additionally, crime scene investigators observed numerous signs that someone had attempted to scrub away traces of the crime.  

Joseph Donohue

When questioned about the blood, Nelson allegedly claimed it was from her menstrual cycle and insisted she was “merely dusting, not cleaning.” 

However, key pieces of evidence gathered from the crime scene revealed a far more sinister truth. 

An autopsy confirmed that Donohue had died from multiple stab wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide. 

A major breakthrough in the investigation came when a dive team searching the waters near Donohue’s boat recovered a silver and black knife from the seabed. 

A piece of the knife was later found embedded in Donohue’s body, connecting the weapon to the crime, as per court records. 

Nelson was eventually arrested on unrelated warrants at the scene.

According to court documents, Nora Nelson has a history of run-ins with the law. 

In September 2023, she was charged with assault and battery on a person over 60, malicious destruction of property, and threatening to commit a crime in connection with an incident at a Boston apartment. 

And just a month after that incident, Nelson allegedly shoved her ex-boyfriend and damaged several items in his apartment.

This was after she refused to move out following their breakup, according to a police report.

She also has outstanding warrants in Texas for failing to identify herself and providing false identification.  

According to Boston 5 News, Nelson has now been formally charged in connection with Donohue’s murder.

During her arraignment, she appeared confused saying: “No one ever told me this happened at my house. This is the first time I’m hearing this happened at my house.”

This true crime case has left the tight-knit marina community reeling. 

Donohue, described by neighbors as a friendly and well-spoken man, was a respected figure in the area. 

“To have this kind of police presence and this kind of activity going on is very concerning,” said marina resident Chad Johansen in an interview with Boston 25 News. 

“They had police boats coming in and about 15 cops on the dock… They asked us to stay inside and stay away from the scene.”  

As the criminal investigation continues, many questions remain unanswered. 

What was the nature of Nelson’s relationship with Donohue? 

What led to the violent altercation that claimed his life? 

And how did a young woman with a degree in computer science from the University of Maryland become entangled in such a tragic case?  

Nelson is scheduled to appear in court again on March 6, 2025, where more details of the case are expected to emerge. 

For now, the local police department is urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to bring justice for Joseph Donohue and his grieving family.  

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