Smithfield Man Charged With 1985 Newport Murder Of 22-Year-old Woman

Helene Hellewell was strangled to death more than 41 years ago.

By Joseph Hosey, Patch Staff

Oct 7, 2026 10:39 AM EDT

NEWPORT, RI — A Smithfield man was arrested and charged with the 1985 murder of a 22-year-old woman.

Hillary Hellewell's body was found on an Anthony Street sidewalk by two men walking to work in May 1985 and the medical examiner determined she had been strangled to death.

"Newport Police investigated the incident but were unable to develop a viable suspect at that time," the Newport Police Department said in a media release.

"Throughout the years information became available, however, these leads did not produce any further developments," the release said. "At the time of Hellewell's murder DNA evidence was collected and preserved."

That DNA evidence put the law on the trail of 61-year-old William Morton, the release said.

"The analysis of abandoned trash from Morton led to the production of a DNA profile which was found to be consistent
with the DNA profile recovered from the scene 41 years prior," according to the release.

Police obtained warrants for Morton's arrest and to search his home, the release said, and he was taken into custody Tuesday morning as he was leaving his residence.