DNA From a Discarded Water Bottle Leads to Arrest in 41-Year-Old Murder Case

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND — More than four decades after 22-year-old Hillary Hellewell was found murdered on a sidewalk, investigators have arrested a suspect following a breakthrough involving modern DNA technology and evidence collected from an ordinary water bottle.

William “Billy” Morton, 61, was arrested on October 6, 2026, and charged with murder in connection with Hellewell’s death in May 1985. The case had remained unsolved for decades despite an extensive investigation.

A Young Woman Found Dead in Newport

On the early morning of May 19, 1985, two brothers walking to work discovered Hellewell’s body on Anthony Street in Newport.

Hellewell, who was 22 and from nearby Jamestown, had attended a gathering the previous evening. Investigators later determined that she had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

Police launched an investigation and collected biological evidence from her clothing. Despite interviewing people who had been at the gathering and examining possible leads, investigators could not identify a suspect.

Forensic Evidence Preserved for Decades

Investigators developed a DNA profile from biological material recovered during the original investigation. The profile was entered into a national DNA database in 2004, but no match was found.

The case was reopened in 2023 when Rhode Island’s Attorney General’s Office and Newport police revisited the evidence using newer forensic methods.

Testing at a specialized private laboratory helped investigators identify a possible genetic connection to a family line. Further investigation eventually led them to Morton.

A Discarded Water Bottle Becomes Key Evidence

According to court documents described by investigators, detectives began monitoring Morton in August 2026 as they sought a DNA sample for comparison.

An investigator followed Morton to a concert in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where he purchased bottled water. After the bottle was discarded, investigators collected it and submitted it for testing.

Authorities said the DNA recovered from the bottle was consistent with the profile developed from biological evidence associated with Hellewell’s case. That finding became a key part of the investigation leading to Morton’s arrest.

Arrest After More Than 40 Years

Morton was arrested on October 6 and charged with one count of murder. He appeared in Newport County District Court and was ordered held without bail.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the killing. The investigation remains active, and prosecutors must prove the allegations in court.

Morton is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. His next scheduled court proceeding is a status conference on October 20, 2026.

A Cold Case Reaches a New Chapter

The arrest highlights how preserved evidence can become useful long after a crime has occurred. Advances in DNA analysis have helped investigators revisit cases that once appeared to have reached a dead end.

For Hellewell’s family and those who remember her, the arrest marks a significant development after more than 40 years without a publicly identified suspect.

Although the case has entered a new legal phase, the full circumstances of Hellewell’s death will still need to be examined through the court process.

Sources: Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, October 6, 2026; The Boston Globe, October 10, 2026; Associated local reporting.