Boston Lawyer, 65, Found Dead — 24-Year-Old Ballerina Arrested for Brutal Murder

By Robert W. • Mar 05, 2025

Boston Attorney Found Murdered on Houseboat—24-Year-Old Woman Arrested at the Scene-1

When Boston attorney Joseph Donohue, 65, stopped answering calls, his family grew concerned. Their fears turned to horror when police, responding to a welfare check on Feb. 2, 2025, discovered his body aboard his Charlestown houseboat.

A Houseboat Horror Unfolds

Wrapped in a tarp and duct tape, weighted down with dumbbells, and gruesomely stabbed dozens of times — with a knife blade snapped off and embedded in his skull — Donohue's murder was anything but ordinary.

Adding to the macabre scene? Artificial pink fingernails stuck to Donohue's chest, and one of his dogs floating lifelessly in the water nearby.

Boston Attorney Found Murdered on Houseboat—24-Year-Old Woman Arrested at the Scene-3

On the boat, authorities found 24-year-old Nora Nelson — who reportedly tried to prevent them from entering. Nelson, described online as an entrepreneur, former ballerina, and self-proclaimed farmer, was arrested at the scene and charged with Donohue's murder, as reported by the New York Post.

The Mystery of Motive

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So far, the biggest question remains: Why? What connection, if any, did Nelson have to Donohue? Authorities have yet to establish a clear relationship between the two, leaving the possible motive shrouded in mystery.

What is clear is that Nelson did everything she could to mislead investigators. At first, she reportedly gave police a fake name and falsely claimed she hadn't seen Donohue recently, as reported by PEOPLE. When asked about the blood found on the houseboat, she insisted it was from her period — an excuse quickly debunked by forensic evidence, The Boston Globe reports.

"Her statements were contradictory, and frankly, she lied," prosecutors stated during her arraignment, according to PEOPLE.

Bizarre Details Keep Emerging

Boston Attorney Found Murdered on Houseboat—24-Year-Old Woman Arrested at the Scene-2

Beyond the sheer brutality of the attack, the case is riddled with oddities. The pink fingernails adhered to Donohue's chest remain unexplained — were they a twisted signature? A message? A bizarre coincidence?

Nelson's social media offers glimpses into her seemingly normal life, with posts about ballet and farming. In a 2020 Facebook post, according to PEOPLE, she even mused, "I've been out of the ballet scene for a while, but I think I still got it." But behind the curated online persona, prosecutors paint a far darker picture.

According to CBS News, Nelson has pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without bail, as reported by PEOPLE. Meanwhile, Donohue's grieving family is left searching for answers as the investigation continues to unfold.

"Our family is heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. Joe was a wonderful family member, a cherished friend, and a trusted colleague," they shared in a statement, as reported by the New York Post. "Always generous and kind, he dedicated his life and career to helping others. He is loved and will be deeply missed."

References: Murdered Lawyer Had Pink Fingernails Stuck to Chest, Suspect Identified as Former Ballerina and Computer Scientist: Report | Boston attorney viciously stabbed to death on houseboat while body of his dog found floating in water nearby