Mathew Borges: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

A 15-year-old boy is accused of beheading and mutilating a teenage classmate, but the motive for the grisly murder is unclear.

Mathew Borges allegedly killed Lee Manuel Viloria-Paulino, 16. Viloria-Paulino’s headless body was found on a river bank near Boston, Massachusetts in a town called Lawrence.

Burges allegedly confessed to the crime but hasn’t said why he did it. The victim’s forearms were allegedly cut off as well.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The Victim Was Described as a Deep Thinker Who Loved Art

Viloria-Paulino was described by his family members as an “open-minded” person and “great thinker” who loved art and music, but who had been feeling depressed recently. He also enjoyed smoking marijuana, they said.

Viloria-Paulino’s father lives in the Dominican Republic, and he was living with his mother and grandmother.

The victim was last seen on November 18 and video showed him leaving his home with Borges, said The Eagle Tribune. The victim’s family says police mistakenly treated the victim’s disappearance as a runaway situation.

2. Both Boys Were Students at Lawrence High School

Borges and Viloria-Paulino were sophomores at the same high school.

Despite his youthful age, Borges is being tried as an adult, said The Eagle-Tribune. His defense attorney said he was a student in “good standing” who had a part-time job, according to The Huffington Post.

3. The Two Were Allegedly Smoking Pot by the River

ABC News said that Borges told police “he and Viloria-Paulino had gone to the river on Nov. 18 to smoke pot and later parted ways.”

The network said Viloria-Paulino’s body was found near the Merrimack River by a dog walker. “His forearms had also been cut off, but it was unclear if they were recovered,” said ABC.

4. Classmates Described Borges as Angry & Lacking Emotion

Classmates at the high school told The Boston Herald that Borges was smart, especially at physics, but was angry and prone to fighting.

After his friend disappeared, he showed no emotion, the newspaper said. He also showed no emotional reaction during a court arraignment, said The Eagle Tribune.

5. Borges Allegedly Confessed While Making Stabbing Motions

ABC News said Borges allegedly told someone else that he had “done something bad” and had “stabbed a kid and cut his head off killing him.”

He allegedly made stabbing motions and motions indicating he had cut the victim’s head off when he confessed, said Fox 25 Boston, which added that police received a tip about the alleged confession.

Jessica McBride is a Heavy contributor. She was a crime, government, and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and reporter for the Waukesha Freeman newspaper. Her award-winning work has appeared in numerous magazine, newspaper, and online publications. She has also appeared as a crime reporter on Investigation Discovery Channel, History Channel, and Oxygen Channel. She can be reached by email at jessica.mcbride@heavy.com.
December 10, 2016 12:02 pm