Accused rapist Matthew Nilo, fiancée lured to arrest with package message
New Jersey lawyer, Matthew Nilo, was arrested in the lobby of his Weekhawken apartment building on May 30th in connection to a 15-year-old Boston rape spree. Nilo was lured to the scene of his arrest with his fiancée, Laura Griffin, by a false package delivery report. The FBI and police had the front desk call their apartment and report that an oversized package had been delivered for them, which led to their presence in the lobby at the time of the arrest. The 35-year-old pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault with attempt to rape, and indecent assault and battery in Suffolk Superior Court. If he posts bail, Nilo is required to submit to GPS monitoring and stay away from both the alleged victims and Terminal Street, where the incidents took place.
According to court documents, investigators identified Nilo using genetic genealogy, which combines DNA technology with historical record searches for new suspects in cold cases. Prosecutors allege that Nilo drove three women to a remote part of Boston after offering them rides home in all three cases. He allegedly told the women that he had a weapon before sexually assaulting them. Nilo reportedly flashed a knife at one encounter and showed the victim a gun at another. All three victims willingly accepted rides from Nilo, with one thinking he was a taxi driver. In the fourth case, Nilo reportedly tackled a woman who was jogging on Terminal Street and sexually assaulted her with his hand. The woman eventually fought him off, though he repeatedly screamed “I have a gun.” The victims are not publicly identified.
Nilo previously lived in Boston’s North End, proposed to his fiancée shortly before he was taken into custody and was a cyber claims attorney for the Cowbell insurance firm at the time of his arrest. His employment was suspended pending the ongoing rape investigation. DNA material from one of the glasses collected at a corporate event Nilo attended was subsequently matched to the suspect profile. Nilo is due back in court in July, with a trial date set for June 2024.
FAQs
Who is Matthew Nilo?
Matthew Nilo is a New Jersey lawyer who has been arrested in connection to a 15-year-old Boston rape spree.
What are the charges against him?
He has been charged with aggravated rape, kidnapping, assault with attempt to rape, and indecent assault and battery.
How was he identified?
Investigators used genetic genealogy to identify Nilo.
What is genetic genealogy?
It is a technique that combines DNA technology with historical record searches to find new suspects in cold cases.
What did Nilo allegedly do?
Prosecutors allege that Nilo drove three women to a remote part of Boston after offering them rides home, told them he had a weapon, and sexually assaulted them. He reportedly flashed a knife at one encounter, showed the victim a gun at another, and tackled a woman who was jogging on Terminal Street and sexually assaulted her with his hand.
When is he due back in court?
He is due back in court in July, with a trial date set for June 2024.
Package message leads to arrest of accused rapist Matthew Nilo and fiancée.
Matthew Nilo, a New Jersey lawyer charged in connection with a 15-year-old rape spree in Boston, was arrested in May after being lured to the lobby of his Weekhawken apartment with his fiancée, according to court documents. The FBI and police reportedly set up the ruse by having the front desk call Nilo’s apartment to say an oversized package had been delivered. Nilo pleaded not guilty in Suffolk Superior Court on Monday to charges including aggravated rape, assault with attempt to rape and indecent assault and battery. Prosecutors allege Nilo sexually assaulted four women, offering them rides before attacking them.