The Cardiologist Convicted: 5 Shocking Facts About The Dr. Stephen Matthews Case And The Dating App Lawsuits
The case of Dr. Stephen Matthews, a former Denver-area cardiologist, stands as one of the most disturbing examples of professional betrayal and criminal predation in recent memory. As of today, December 23, 2025, Matthews is serving a massive 158-year to life prison sentence, having been convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women he met through popular online dating applications. This article delves into the full scope of the scandal, from his promising medical career to the civil lawsuits now targeting the dating app industry itself.
The shocking details of his crimes, which spanned a period between 2019 and 2023, revealed a calculated pattern of abuse that led to a permanent revocation of his medical license by the Colorado Medical Board. The ripple effects of the case continue to be felt, particularly through ongoing legal actions brought by the survivors against the platforms—including Hinge and Tinder—that facilitated his access to victims. The story of Dr. Matthews is a critical cautionary tale at the intersection of power, medicine, and digital dating.
Dr. Stephen Matthews: Biographical Profile and Career Overview
Before his criminal conviction, Dr. Stephen Matthews was a practicing cardiologist with a seemingly bright future in the medical field. His professional trajectory was marked by dedication to cardiovascular health, a specialty he pursued after years of rigorous training.
- Full Name: Stephen D. Matthews, M.D.
- Primary Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology)
- Medical School: New York Medical College
- Year Graduated: 2015
- Primary Location: Denver, Colorado Area
- Former Affiliation: Colorado Heart and Vascular (prior to charges)
- Conviction Period: Crimes spanned from 2019 to 2023
- Current Status: Incarcerated; Medical License Permanently Revoked
Matthews was highly rated in his field, focusing on conditions related to cardiovascular disease, and his practice was located in the Denver metro area. This professional standing as a trusted physician is what made his subsequent actions—the calculated drugging and sexual assault of women—so profoundly shocking to the community and the medical establishment. He leveraged his status and access to resources to commit his crimes, often meeting his victims through online platforms.
The Conviction: 158 Years to Life for Sexual Assault
The legal proceedings against Dr. Stephen Matthews were extensive and resulted in a maximum sentence that effectively ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison. The severity of the sentence reflects the heinous nature and scope of his crimes, which involved a systematic pattern of abuse against vulnerable women.
The Charges and Trial Outcome
In August of the previous year (likely 2023), a Denver jury convicted Matthews on a staggering total of 35 felony counts. These counts were related to the drugging and/or sexual assault of 11 women. Prosecutors, however, suggested that the total number of victims could be even higher. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Matthews would use his position and charm to meet women on dating apps, then secretly drug them before carrying out the assaults.
The Maximum Sentence
The sentencing phase, which took place in 2024, saw the Denver judge hand down the maximum possible penalty: 158 years to life in a state prison. This maximum sentence was a powerful statement from the court, recognizing the extreme level of harm inflicted upon the survivors. During the trial, evidence also emerged that Matthews attempted to "scrub" or erase incriminating text conversations and videos from his phone, an act that further demonstrated his lack of remorse and calculated intent.
The Aftermath: Loss of License and Dating App Lawsuits
The consequences of Dr. Matthews' conviction extended beyond his prison sentence, impacting both his professional status and the digital platforms he exploited. The legal and professional repercussions have opened a new front in the battle for accountability in the online dating world.
The Colorado Medical Board's Action
Following his conviction and sentencing, the Colorado Medical Board took swift and permanent action. The board formally and permanently stripped Dr. Stephen Matthews of his medical license. This decision, coming four months after his sentencing, ensures that Matthews can never legally practice medicine again. This is a standard procedure when a physician is convicted of such serious felonies, protecting the public from any further potential harm by a disgraced professional.
The Lawsuits Against Match Group
Perhaps the most significant ongoing development is the civil legal action taken by the survivors. Multiple women who were drugged and assaulted by Matthews have filed a civil lawsuit against him and the parent company of the dating applications he used, Match Group. Match Group owns some of the world's most popular dating platforms, including Hinge and Tinder, both of which Matthews used to connect with his victims.
The lawsuit alleges that the dating apps were negligent because they allegedly knew or should have known about the potential for predators like Matthews to use their platforms to target users, yet they failed to implement adequate safety measures. This legal challenge seeks not only justice for the survivors but also to establish a precedent for dating app companies to be held accountable for the safety of their users, particularly in cases involving serial sexual predators.
Key Entities and LSI Keywords Related to the Case
The Stephen Matthews case is a complex web of legal, medical, and technological entities. Understanding these related concepts is crucial for topical authority on the subject:
- Match Group: The corporate entity that owns Hinge and Tinder, the main dating apps used by Matthews.
- Hinge: One of the specific dating apps cited in the civil lawsuit.
- Tinder: Another major dating app owned by Match Group, also implicated in the lawsuit.
- Colorado Medical Board: The state regulatory body that permanently stripped Matthews of his medical license.
- Denver District Attorney’s Office: The office responsible for prosecuting the 35 felony counts against Matthews.
- 35 Felony Counts: The specific number of charges for which Matthews was convicted.
- Sexual Predator: A term frequently used by legal analysts and victims' advocates to describe Matthews' pattern of behavior.
- Drugging and Assault: The core criminal acts involving the use of incapacitating agents on victims.
- 158-Year Sentence: The maximum prison term imposed by the Denver judge.
- Civil Lawsuit: The ongoing legal action brought by survivors against Matthews and Match Group for negligence.
- New York Medical College: Matthews' alma mater.
- Cardiovascular Disease: His medical specialty.
- Victims' Rights: The central theme of the ongoing civil litigation.
The case of Dr. Stephen Matthews serves as a stark reminder that even individuals in positions of trust can harbor dangerous intentions. The ongoing civil litigation against the dating apps highlights a critical discussion about online safety and the responsibility of digital platforms to protect their user base from predators. For the survivors, the conviction and the lawsuits represent a long, difficult path toward accountability and closure.
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