'Most prolific' rapist who drugged and raped women cries in court as he is sentenced to 158 years

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT: Stephen Matthews, 37, was sentenced to a staggering 158 years successful situation connected Friday, October 25 aft being convicted connected 35 counts of rape successful August

Labelled 1 of the "most prolific" rapists, a tearful cardiologist faced his destiny successful court arsenic helium received a staggering 158-year prison condemnation for his crimes against astatine slightest 9 women.

Stephen Matthews, the shamed bosom specializer from Colorado, was captured weeping successful tribunal snapshots aft being slapped with his punishment. Despite appeals for mercy from himself, his ineligible team, and his parents, the justice announced that Matthews had made the world "a darker place" with his actions astatine the property of 37.

The fallout from his crimes spilled implicit to August erstwhile helium sobbed upon condemnation connected 35 rape counts. With eleven victims lasting up successful tribunal to impeach him and prosecutors suspecting galore much stay successful shadows, the gravity of his actions resonated done the courtroom.

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One victim's condemnation hung dense successful the aerial arsenic they stamped him "one of the astir prolific serial rapists successful the past of the authorities of Colorado" portion others threw scorn astatine him, dubbing him a "narcissistic monster." Even Matthews' begetter didn't mince words, branding his lad arsenic specified and outing him arsenic an alcoholic liable for past akin misconduct.

On the contrasting broadside of parental despair, Matthews' parent begged District Court Judge Eric Johnson for leniency, her religion unwavering successful her son's imaginable for rehabilitation, elaborate by CBS News, reports the Mirror US.

The sentencing hearing, lasting a gruelling 4.5 hours, featured heartbreaking grounds from some of Matthews' parents and a fig of his victims. One defiant subsister told the court, with notation to the Daily Mail, "We are present a almighty service of survivors, and you are nothing."

Denver section Matthews reportedly enticed women to his location aft connecting via dating apps similar Hinge and Tinder, selecting those who were conveniently adjacent to his Lower Highland country residence.

Victims testified that Matthews would conscionable them astatine section watering holes oregon adjacent spots earlier luring them backmost to his pad wherever he'd whip up a portion laced with drugs. This was portion of a harrowing signifier which unfolded implicit 4 years, from astir 2019 to 2023, according to aggregate statements fixed against him.

This strategical drugging and consequent assault, often recorded for usage arsenic leverage, was underscored by however strikingly akin each relationship was – giving the prosecution ample grounds to nail Matthews.

As Judge Johnson imposed Matthews' sentence, helium didn't clasp back. Descending upon the disgraced 37 twelvemonth aged with the value of justice, Johnson seethed: "You person diminished this world," adding, "You person diminished galore of its lights. You've wounded our society, and it's a darker spot due to the fact that of you. You brought disgrace upon yourself."

A radical of women connected connected Facebook aft sharing akin traumatic encounters with the aforesaid man, starring to much than a twelve victims coming guardant by October 2023 One victim, Allie (who chose not to disclose her surname), recounted to CBS News however she had been "excited to spell connected a archetypal day and get to know" Matthews aft seeing his Hinge illustration featuring him with his canine engaging successful outdoor activities.

Their gathering astatine a barroom successful January 2023 rapidly turned into a nightmare erstwhile Matthews invited her to his townhouse nether the pretence of letting retired his dog. After utilizing the bath there, Allie recovered that Matthews had prepared a portion for her without asking. Despite feeling uncomfortable, she didn't privation to look rude and accepted the drink, lone to consciousness sick soon after.

Her code slurred, she collapsed, and saw Matthews filming her arsenic she laic connected the ground. He past assaulted her successful a headlock that was "painful" and from which she couldn't escape. Traumatised, Allie managed to flee, vomiting and hardly conscious, and escaped successful an Uber.

At the sentencing connected Friday, Denver DA Beth McCann praised the survivors' courage, asserting, "Stephen Matthews took vantage of astir a twelve women successful the astir egregious mode imaginable, and for that, helium volition present wage a important price. I anticipation today's verdict provides a measurement of comfortableness to each the victims, whose courageousness passim this lawsuit should beryllium an inspiration to america all."

Though Matthews remained soundless astatine his hearing, his lawyer Douglas Cohen informed the property his lawsuit volition entreaty the conviction, noting that the doc had been advised "not to accidental anything."