Jaded Evidence · Interactive Investigation Case File
Hillary Hellewell / William Morton cold-case prosecution
Newport, Rhode Island · Updated October 26, 2026
Current status: William Morton is charged with one count of murder and was ordered held without bail. The prosecution is pending.
Case file contents
Overview
Hillary Hellewell, 22, was found strangled in Newport in May 1985. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit reopened the case using new forensic DNA methods. William Morton, 61, was arrested and arraigned on October 6, 2026.
Verified timeline
- May 1985 — Hellewell was found dead outside 25 Anthony Street in Newport.
- 2004 — DNA evidence was uploaded to CODIS, but no match was reported.
- 2023–2026 — Investigators reopened the case and identified Morton as a potential suspect through new forensic analysis.
- October 6, 2026 — Morton was arraigned on one murder count and held without bail.
Evidence and source review
What the reviewed record supports
The attorney general says DNA from a discarded water bottle matched preserved crime-scene evidence. That identification and its collection, testing and chain of custody must be evaluated in court. A charge is an allegation; Morton is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What this page does not treat as established
Unproven allegations, disputed witness accounts, inferred motives and incomplete forensic findings are labeled and are not presented as court findings.
Legal status
William Morton is charged with one count of murder and was ordered held without bail. The prosecution is pending.
Unless a final adjudication is stated, every accused person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Open questions
What does the complaint allege about the DNA and the 1985 timeline? What other corroborating evidence exists? What occurred at the reported October 20 status conference, and what is the next setting?
Sources reviewed
- [1] Rhode Island Attorney General — official charging release
- [2] Rhode Island Current — DNA investigation and arrest
- [3] People — arraignment and reported forensic history
Links were checked during the October 26, 2026 review. Source descriptions identify the reporting or record used; they do not convert an allegation into a fact.
Outstanding records and follow-up
Records still needed
Complaint and arrest affidavit; Superior Court docket and status order; laboratory validation and chain-of-custody records; original Newport police file; defense motions.
Update standard
Future updates should distinguish original records, agency statements, witness accounts, prosecutor allegations, defense positions, expert conclusions and court findings.