A Boston-based attorney was brutally murdered on his houseboat over the past weekend. The body of one of his dogs was also discovered floating in the nearby water. Joseph Donohue, 65, was discovered on Sunday with multiple stab wounds on his body and head. The police had been called to his houseboat in Charlestown for a welfare check.
The severity of the attack was such that the blade of the knife used in the murder had broken off and was lodged in Donohue’s skull. The remainder of the weapon was later retrieved from the water by divers. Donohue’s body was found wrapped and secured in a rug and blanket, with dumbbells tied around him.
The police were alerted to the situation when Donohue’s son, who hadn’t heard from his father for several days, raised concerns. Donohue lived alone on his houseboat with his two dogs. Upon discovering the body, the police arrested 24-year-old Nora Nelson at the scene on unrelated warrants.
Nelson was reportedly the only individual present when the police arrived. She was subsequently charged with Donohue’s murder on Thursday. The nature of the relationship between Nelson and Donohue, if any, remains unclear. The circumstances surrounding the death of the dog and the whereabouts of Donohue’s other pet are also unknown.
Nelson has a prior arrest record from 2023, where she was accused of assaulting her ex-boyfriend during a dispute. Donohue’s family and friends remember him as a beloved family member and friend. In a statement, they expressed their grief over the unimaginable loss, describing Donohue as a generous and kind individual who dedicated his life and career to helping others.