A Denver cardiologist has been sentenced to 158 years in prison for drugging and raping several Colorado women he met on dating apps.
The sentencing judge castigated 36-year-old “narcissistic monster” and former doctor Stephen Matthews at his Friday hearing for luring 10 women to his west Denver townhouse, spiking their drinks and then raping eight of them between 2019 and 2023, according to CBS News.
“Evidence in this case is overwhelming,” Judge Eric Johnson said, addressing the convicted creep directly. “You have diminished this world.”
Matthews’ victims and their families met the longer-than-life sentence with applause — as nearly two dozen people, including survivors of his heinous assaults, read emotional victim-impact statements in court.
“We are now a powerful army of survivors — and you are nothing,” one of his victims said, adding that the former physician was a “narcissistic monster” and a “serial rapist.”
A jury convicted Matthews in August of raping the women, whom he met on dating apps such as Hinge and Tinder, CBS said.
Many of Matthews’ victims said they could only remember bits and pieces of what happened after having drinks with the dastardly doctor — while some testified that when they came to, they found themselves naked in bed with him.
The women told the court that the accused would then “gaslight” them into thinking that whatever happened was their fault by, for instance, saying they’d drank too much or couldn’t hold their liquor, the station said.
They also spoke about how his crimes have left them battling anxiety, depression, paranoia and other issues.
“You drugged me and raped me and manipulated me into thinking it was my fault,” one of his victims said.
A victim’s mom added, “What you did is despicable — you have imposed a life sentence on these women and their families.”
Matthews didn’t speak at his sentencing, even as several of victims accused him of not feeling any remorse for his actions.
His lawyer, Douglas Cohen, said Matthews stayed mum because he plans to appeal the judge’s verdict.
Matthews’ parents begged the court to be lenient on their son, who they said is a narcissistic alcoholic but can be rehabilitated.
“I love you always and no matter what,” Matthews’ mom said, pleading with the judge to not “throw away the key.”
Prosecutor Victoria Kelley was far less empathetic and said she’s certain there are “dozens or more” victims, CBS said.
The judge echoed this, telling the victims directly, “You were believed — the verdict said that.”
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann later called Matthews’ crimes despicable and said she is hoping the sentence “provides a measure of comfort to all of Mr. Matthews’ victims, whose courage in coming forward resulted in this successful outcome.”
