Accused Boston Serial Rapist Pleads Not Guilty 15 Years After Attacks

BOSTON, MA — Matthew J. Nilo, the 35-year-old former lawyer from the North End of Boston who was arrested June 1 in connection with several sexual assaults that occurred in the city more than 15 years ago, pleaded not guilty to all charges in court Monday, the Boston Globe reported.

Nilo has been charged with three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to rape and one count of indecent assault and battery stemming from incidents that occurred in August and November 2007 and August and December 2008 near Terminal Street in Charlestown.

Nilo's bail was set at $500,000 cash, the Globe reported. If he posts the full bail, Nilo must submit to GPS monitoring, stay away from the alleged victims, and keep at least 1,000 feet away from Terminal Street unless accompanied by an attorney, according to the outlet.

His trial is set for June 25, 2024.

According to a filing obtained by the Globe, last year Boston police “revisited the investigation” into the assaults using “forensic investigative genetic genealogy” that resulted in Nilo becoming a person of interest and being placed under surveillance in the metro New York area.

“FBI agents were able to obtain various utensils and drinking glasses they watched the defendant use at a corporate event,” the filing said, according to the outlet. “From one of the glasses the Boston Police Crime Lab obtained a male DNA profile, which was found to match the suspect profile from the three Terminal Street rapes."

Prosecutors said that three of the four attacks occurred after Nilo lured the women into his car after offering them either a ride or money, the outlet reported. The fourth attack, according to prosecutors, occurred after Nilo came up from behind the woman while she was jogging and tackled her to the ground.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Nilo was a 2015 University of San Francisco School of Law graduate and had been a practicing attorney specializing in cybercrime.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by The Daily Beast states that more than a dozen cops and FBI agents showed up Tuesday at the Weehawken, New Jersey apartment building where Nilo was living with his fiancée to make the arrest.

“Mr. Nilo was called down to the front desk of his residence and told that a large package had been delivered to him that did not fit in the facilities [sic] lockers where the residents pick up packages,” the affidavit read. “As soon as Mr. Nilo approached the area, he was taken into custody.”

Speaking outside the courthouse Monday, Nilo’s attorney Joseph Cataldo said he’s received no indication that a search warrant was obtained before law enforcement officials collected Nilo’s DNA samples, the Globe reported.

At the time of Nilo's arrest, FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta said in a statement shared on Twitter that the agency believes it has "removed a dangerous threat from our community."

"You should know that despite the passage of time, the FBI, the Boston Police Department and our law enforcement partners will not give up," the statement continued, in part. "We will continue to use any technological advancement we can to seek justice for you."