Labelled as one of the “most prolific” rapists, a tearful cardiologist confronted his grim future in court as he was handed down a monumental 158-year prison term for his offences against at least nine women.
Stephen Matthews, 37, from Colorado, was pictured crying in the courtroom after receiving his sentence. Despite pleas for leniency from himself, his defence team, and his parents, the judge declared that Matthews had made the world “a darker place” with his deeds.
The repercussions of his crimes came to a head in August when he broke down upon being found guilty on 35 counts of rape. With eleven victims bravely facing him in court and prosecutors believing there are more yet to come forward, the weight of his transgressions was palpable.
One victim’s damning words labelled him “one of the most prolific serial rapists in the history of the state of Colorado” while others scorned him as a “narcissistic monster”.
Even Matthews’ father did not hold back, condemning his son as such and revealing his alcoholism and history of similar misdeeds, reports the Mirror.
In stark contrast, amidst parental anguish, Matthews’ mother implored District Court Judge Eric Johnson for mercy, steadfast in her belief in her son’s capacity for change, as reported by CBS News and covered by Mirror US.
The sentencing hearing, which lasted an exhausting 4.5 hours, included heart-wrenching statements from both of Matthews’ parents and several of his victims. A resilient survivor addressed the court, told the Daily Mail: “We are now a powerful army of survivors, and you are nothing.”
Denver local Matthews is said to have lured women to his home after meeting them on dating apps like Hinge and Tinder, choosing those who lived near his Lower Highland residence. Victims recounted how Matthews would meet them at local pubs or nearby locations before enticing them back to his place where he would prepare a drink spiked with drugs. This chilling pattern played out over four years, from around 2019 to 2023, as detailed in numerous testimonies against him.
The prosecution’s case was bolstered by the strikingly consistent nature of each account, painting a clear picture of Matthews’ calculated drugging and subsequent assaults, often filmed for blackmail purposes. As Judge Johnson delivered Matthews’ sentence, he expressed his contempt unequivocally: “You have diminished this world. You have diminished many of its lights. You’ve hurt our society, and it’s a darker place because of you. You brought disgrace upon yourself.”
A group of women found each other via Facebook after sharing similarly harrowing experiences with the same man, leading to over a dozen victims stepping forward by October 2023. One victim named Allie (who opted not to reveal her last name) spoke to CBS News about her ordeal.
She had been “excited to go on a first date and get to know” Matthews after being charmed by his Hinge profile which showed him with his dog enjoying outdoor pursuits. However, what began as a promising meeting at a bar in January 2023 became a horrifying situation when Matthews lured her to his townhouse under the false pretext of needing to let out his dog.
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Upon using the restroom there, Allie discovered Matthews had made her a drink without her permission. Despite feeling uneasy, she accepted the drink to avoid seeming impolite, but soon felt sick.
Her speech began to slur, she collapsed, and then noticed Matthews recording her as she lay incapacitated. He proceeded to attack her in a headlock that was both “painful” and inescapable.
Traumatised, Allie eventually managed to bolt from the scene, vomiting and semi-conscious, and took an Uber to safety.
At the sentencing hearing on Friday, Denver DA Beth McCann commended the bravery of these survivors, proclaiming: “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.”
At his hearing, Matthews chose not to speak; however, his lawyer Douglas Cohen told the press that they would challenge the conviction, revealing that the doctor had been counselled “not to say anything.”
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