Matthew Nilo, a 35-year-old attorney from New Jersey, was apprehended at his residence in Weehawken on Tuesday after being connected to a series of sexual

assaults and kidnappings that occurred in Boston between 2007 and 2008. The breakthrough came when law enforcement utilized genetic genealogy to trace him back to the crimes, finally revealing the identity of the alleged assailant, much to the relief of four victims who had been awaiting justice for over 15 years.

Nilo is facing multiple charges, including aggravated rape, two counts of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to rape, and one count of indecent assault and battery. Authorities from the Boston Police Department, FBI Boston, FBI Newark, and the Hudson County Sheriff's Office collaborated to arrest him without incident. Nilo will soon be transported to Massachusetts to face the charges against him.

The investigation, utilizing forensic genealogy, successfully linked Nilo's DNA to the cases that occurred between August 2007 and December 2008. His employer, Cowbell, has suspended him pending further developments in the case. While this arrest does not erase the victims' pain, it provides some closure and answers they have long awaited.

Genetic genealogy involves using public DNA databases to identify suspects by matching genetic material left at crime scenes. Nilo, originally from the Boston area, was a law student at the time of the alleged attacks. He has resided in various locations, including Wisconsin, California, and New York. Individuals with relevant information or potential victims are urged to contact the Boston Police or the FBI.

Cowbell confirmed that Nilo had passed their background check and was employed in January 2023. However, his employment has now been suspended as the investigation unfolds. Nilo's professional experience includes working as an associate at Atheria Law in New York for three years before joining Cowbell. He also worked at Clyde & Co in San Francisco for over five years. Nilo pursued a law doctorate at the University of San Francisco School of Law from 2012 to 2015 after graduating with a degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. It is worth noting that Nilo was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the time when the alleged crimes occurred. Photo by Luciof, Wikimedia commons.