A cyber attorney in New York City has been charged with a string of rapes that occurred in Boston between 2007 and 2008.
Matthew Nilo, 35, would have been about 19 or 20 when the rapes were committed. He 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, the New York Post reported.
A DNA sample connected him to the attacks on four women between August 2007 and December 2008 that occurred in the Terminal Street area, according to the Boston Globe. He was arrested on Tuesday at his home in Weehawken, New Jersey.
“While we know today’s arrest of Mr. Nilo cannot erase the harm he allegedly inflicted upon his survivors, we believe we have removed a dangerous threat from our community,” FBI Boston’s Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta said, according to WABC.
“This is without a doubt a major break in this investigation that has haunted the survivors of these sexual assaults, the residents of Charlestown, and the Boston Police Department for years,” Bonavolonta also said, according to the Post. “We believe we have removed a dangerous threat from our community.”
Law enforcement was able to match Nilo’s DNA to family members who had sent DNA samples to a genealogy database, such as “23 and Me.”
“Investigators never stopped analyzing evidence, collecting information and running down leads in order to bring dangerous offenders to justice,” Suffolk County, Massachusetts District Attorney Kevin Hayden said, according to the outlet.
Using DNA samples voluntarily provided to a genealogy database is controversial, and the practice is banned in New York and facing a lawsuit in New Jersey, WABC reported. But since this case originated in Massachusetts, the practice was allowed.
Nilo previously lived in Boston’s North End and was identified as a suspect last month using investigative genetic genealogy. In addition to the genealogy work, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative also helped identify Nilo. The SAKI is a federal grant program that helps states process sexual assault collection kits.
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Nilo works for Manhattan cyber firm Cowbell Cyber, which told WABC that he was only hired in January of this year and has been suspended pending investigation.
The four victims have not been named but have been informed of Nilo’s arrest, authorities said, according to the Post.
“We certainly realize that identifying this individual does not ease their pain, nothing can, but hopefully it answers some questions,” Bonavolonta said.
Nilo is awaiting extradition to Boston.