Providence — Authorities have charged William “Billy” Morton, 61, of Smithfield, Rhode Island, with first-degree murder in the 1985 strangulation and sexual assault of 22-year-old Hillary Hellewell in Newport. Hellewell’s body was discovered on a sidewalk on May 19, 1985. Her death remained unsolved for nearly four decades until DNA evidence led investigators to Morton earlier this month.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced the arrest on October 6, revealing that Morton’s DNA matched genetic material recovered from Hellewell’s clothing. The breakthrough came after investigators obtained a DNA sample from a water bottle Morton discarded at a concert in Woonsocket in August. The sample was compared against DNA collected from sperm found on Hellewell’s pants and a nearby T-shirt in 2004, which had previously failed to match any profiles in national databases or among men connected to Hellewell.

Morton was previously convicted in 1987 of the strangulation and rape of a 15-year-old girl in Newport that occurred about a month after Hellewell’s death. The girl survived the attack and testified that Morton, then 21, was an acquaintance who had offered to walk her home from a social gathering. Court records indicate she was assaulted after Morton dragged her into a wooded area; he was sentenced to seven years in prison. Due to limitations at the time, Morton was not subject to DNA collection following that conviction, which predated current sex offender registration laws and forensic protocols.

Neronha said his office’s Cold Case Unit began reexamining Hellewell’s case in 2023 without any identified suspects at the time. The unit utilized advances in forensic science and genetic genealogy techniques to narrow down potential matches, ultimately leading to Morton.

The circumstances surrounding Hellewell’s death indicate she attended a party on Friendship Street the night before and left to escort a male friend home. The friend arrived safely, but Hellewell did not. At around 4:15 a.m. on May 19, two brothers found her unresponsive on Newport’s Anthony Street. An autopsy determined the cause of death as asphyxia due to strangulation and confirmed sexual assault.

When questioned about whether Morton had been questioned about the homicide during prior incarcerations, Neronha said he was not aware. Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal proceedings.

Morton was arraigned on the murder charge without entering a plea and was assigned a public defender. Authorities have not indicated whether he is being considered a suspect in other cases but noted the investigation is ongoing.

The Cold Case Unit, established three years ago, has reviewed over 200 cold cases with 18 active cold case homicides currently under investigation. In recent months, the unit has secured charges in other long-unsolved cases, including a 2005 rape in Hopkinton.

Neronha, who grew up with Hellewell in Jamestown, described her as a vibrant and well-known figure in the community. He emphasized the challenges in solving decades-old crimes but expressed hope for continued progress as the unit applies evolving forensic methods.