A former Denver-based cardiologist, Stephen Matthews, has been found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting women he met on dating apps.
The verdict, which could see him incarcerated for up to 25 years, was delivered on Tuesday, leaving the accused visibly distraught in the courtroom. Matthews, 36, was convicted on 35 out of 38 charges, including sexual assault and second-degree assault.
According to CBS News, Matthews was apprehended in March of the previous year following an accusation of assault by a woman he had met for brunch. This incident prompted other victims to step forward and report similar experiences of abuse at the hands of Matthews. Prosecutors, during the closing arguments last week, detailed how Matthews met his victims on online dating platforms such as Hinge and Tinder from 2019 to 2023.
The victims' testimonies painted a chilling picture of their encounters with Matthews. They reported that after sharing drinks with the physician, they found themselves unable to recall the events of the night, leading them to suspect they had been drugged. In some instances, they believed they had been sexually assaulted, as reported by CBS.
Despite Matthews' emotional display in court, his victims remain skeptical of his remorse. One victim, speaking to CBS, expressed, "A verdict doesn't change what happened to you. There are lifelong physical and emotional things that I will be dealing with as a result of what happened to me." She further added, "I think he's not sorry for what he did. I think he's sorry he got caught."
Another victim criticized Matthews for robbing them of "years of our life." The prosecution argued that Matthews was calculated in his approach, often arranging to meet his victims at locations near his residence before inviting them over. The prosecutors described the case as a clear instance of a man exploiting women for his own gain, by depriving them of their memories and bodily autonomy.
As reported by 9 News, the defense attorneys countered these accusations by highlighting inconsistencies in the victims' accounts and a lack of concrete evidence. They argued that the case was largely based on emotionally charged narratives rather than substantial proof. They stated, "The case did have a lot of overwhelming emotion. We all were moved by the testimony that you heard. It was tough to listen to, but that's what the case ended up being about, overwhelming emotion and underwhelming evidence."
Since his arrest, Matthews has been held on a $5 million bond. His sentencing, scheduled for October 25, could range from a minimum of five years to a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward. In a statement, she said, "Stephen Matthews took advantage of nearly a dozen women in the most egregious way imaginable, and for that he will now pay a significant price. I hope today's verdict provides a measure of comfort to all the victims, whose courage throughout this case should be an inspiration to us all."
McCann also expressed her gratitude to the prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates, paralegals, and the Denver Police Department detectives for their exceptional work on the case. She concluded by thanking the jurors for their service during the emotionally charged trial, asserting that justice was indeed served.
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