Stephen Matthews, a former heart specialist who was convicted over the summer season of drugging 11 girls and sexually assaulting 9 of them, faces sentencing Friday afternoon in a Denver courtroom. Previous to that sentencing, one of many girls he was convicted of drugging has shared her story in an on-camera interview with CBS Information Colorado.
The lady, Allie, 34, says her “date” with Matthews in January 2023 “was the scariest day of my life. … The one time I believed I’d die, actually. I did not know what was going to occur to me if I misplaced consciousness.”
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Allie, who requested that her final title not be used, stated she hoped telling her story “offers another survivor the braveness to return ahead and get justice for themselves and heal.”
Matthews was convicted in August of 35 out of 38 counts associated to drugging and sexually assaulting quite a few girls between 2019 and 2023. He met the ladies on courting apps like Hinge and Tinder. However the girls who testified in opposition to Matthews — together with Allie — instructed remarkably related tales of getting drinks with Matthews after which dropping reminiscence of what occurred subsequent. Some stated they remembered waking up bare after having non-consensual intercourse with Matthews.
Allie stated whereas she misplaced reminiscence after having a drink at Matthews’ west Denver townhome, she didn’t consider she was sexually assaulted however believes she was drugged.
“I used to be excited to go on a primary date and get to know him,” she stated, after the 2 linked by way of the Hinge app.
She stated she favored that he was a health care provider whose profile confirmed he was a canine proprietor who loved the outside. Allie works within the well being care subject, is a canine proprietor and likewise enjoys climbing.
However after assembly Matthews at a bar for a drink, she agreed to stroll with him to his townhome to let his canine out. As soon as there, she stated she went to the lavatory however when she got here out, he had combined a drink for her that she by no means requested for.
“I did not wish to be impolite and did not wish to offend him so I took the drink,” she recalled.
After consuming a couple of quarter of it, she rapidly started to really feel bodily unwell, her speech was slurred and she or he started dropping her reminiscence and her motor expertise.
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“I keep in mind at one level falling all the best way to the bottom and looking out up at him as he was about to movie me,” she stated.
She stated the heart specialist put his arm round her neck and shoulders and put her in a headlock, and pulled her head again to forcibly kiss her. She stated it was “painful” and she or he couldn’t escape.
Allie stated she thought to herself that she needed to go away “Or I am not going to have the ability to go away. I felt like I needed to get out. I knew that my capability to regulate my physique was rapidly disappearing and if I didn’t go away inside minutes, I did not suppose I’d ever be capable to go away.”
Through the interview, she stated she ran from Matthews’ house, initially abandoning her coat, purse and footwear.
“I simply had this intense need to flee,” she recounted.
She stated she summoned an Uber and vomited “uncontrollably” whereas within the automotive. A number of different girls who say Matthews drugged them additionally stated they vomited.
The next day, Allie went to an pressing care middle in Denver, hoping to get examined to see if she had been slipped a date-rape drug. She stated after 20 minutes, the middle stated they didn’t have the provides to do a drug take a look at.
“I felt fully dismissed,” stated Allie, “like they weren’t taking this severely.”
She believes pressing care facilities just like the one she visited should be higher outfitted to deal with girls who consider they’ve been drugged.
For a number of months, she felt remoted by what had occurred.
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“I completely did every little thing I may to make it my fault. I believed I used to be alone, I believed there was one thing flawed with me that made him wish to damage me,” she stated.
However after discussing her expertise with a pal, she was directed to a Fb group the place girls had shared related experiences after courting Matthews. She felt validated by seeing she was not alone, after which reported her expertise to the Denver Police Division.
Testifying in opposition to Matthews proved troublesome, as Allie now says the trial was “retraumatizing” as Matthews’ attorneys made her really feel like she was on trial.
However the jury’s responsible verdicts proved a significant step.
“It was an enormous aid to have the jury say they believed me and the opposite girls.”
She says she has struggled with anxiousness, despair and nightmares since her single date with Stephen Matthews and is now hypervigilant about her security.
“It is exhausting,” she stated.
She plans to speak about these points when she once more testifies Friday at Matthews’ sentencing.
“I’m going to ask the choose for the utmost sentence. Each single day there’s a minimum of a second of my day that revolves round this one that damage me.”
Allie says she has “little doubt” there are extra victims of Matthews who haven’t come ahead or haven’t been recognized. She pointed to the quantity of girls Matthews was assembly on courting apps.
“I consider the survivors who got here ahead is simply the tip of the iceberg.”
Allie stated she has discovered useful sources to take care of what she has been via by way of advocacy organizations just like the Blue Bench, which works to stop sexual violence, and Jane Doe No Extra, which goals at empowering survivors of sexual abuse.
Matthews is being held within the Denver jail on $5 million bond. His lawyer, Douglas Cohen, declined to remark.
