Former Denver cardiologist sentenced to 158 years after drugging and assaulting women

DENVER (KDVR) – On Friday, former Denver cardiologist Stephen Matthews was sentenced to 158 years after his conviction convicted of drugging and sexual abuse several women he met through dating apps.

In August, Matthews was convicted of dozens of charges regarding what the prosecutor said were patterns of alleged sexual violence.

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Now Matthews will serve 158 years in prison, with consecutive sentences for each attack.

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Matthews’ first arrest occurred in April 2023 a woman accused him of drugging her on a date after meeting on a dating app. Subsequently, several other women came forward with similar stories, lending credence to a lawsuit involving accusations from eleven women.

In the process, the prosecutor alleged Matthews met these women mostly through dating apps. Once at his home, Matthews gave them a shot of a drink and shortly afterwards the women suffered major memory problems. The prosecutor said these attacks spanned between 2019 and 2023.

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“This man is one of the most prolific serial rapists in the history of the state of Colorado,” said former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey.

The prosecutor told jurors that they heard from nearly 60 witnesses and about 500 pieces of evidence during the trial. Meanwhile, the defense said these large memory gaps would make it difficult to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ultimately, the jury found Matthews guilty on all counts except counts 23, 24, and 25, including sexual assault: sexual assault without capacity to judge nature, sexual assault without physical helplessness, and submission of sexual assault against the will.

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