Man Who Stabbed Ex in Heart with Anniversary Gift Gets 47 Years in Prison

A Northlake man was sentenced Tuesday to 47 years in prison for the murder and sexual assault of his former girlfriend. Adam Belmont, 26, stabbed Alyssa Van Meter in the heart with a knife she had given him for their anniversary.

The knife was engraved with their names.

Woodridge police found Van Meter dead Dec. 15, 2012, on the bedroom floor of her apartment on Forest Drive. She had been stabbed once in the heart.

On May 4, Belmont entered a blind plea of guilty to first-degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault.

On the night of the murder, Belmont broke into her apartment. He had been unable to deal with their breakup. He and Van Meter fought, and Belmont choked Van Meter until she was unconscious, the state’s attorney’s office reports. Belmont then stabbed her and sexually assaulted her before he left the apartment.

He was arrested later that evening without incident.

Of Belmont’s consecutive 47-year sentence, 35 years will be served at 100 percent for the murder and 12 years will be served at 85 percent for the sexual assault.

“This was a horrific crime that will continue to weigh heavily on the shoulders of Alyssa’s family and friends for years to come,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin in a statement. “It is my sincerest hope that Alyssa’s loved ones will be able to move forward in their lives with happy memories of Alyssa.”

Related:

• Man Pleads Guilty to Murder, Sex Assault in Stabbing Death of Ex-Girlfriend
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• Man Charged in Stabbing Death, Sex Assault of Woodridge Woman
• Woodridge Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty