尘封 41 年的纽波特少女谋杀冷案告破 嫌疑人 10 月 6 日落网
罗得岛州纽波特市警方 10 月 6 日宣布，1985 年 17 岁少女希拉里·赫勒韦尔（Hillary Hellewell）谋杀冷案告破，嫌疑人威廉·莫顿（William Morton）当天被逮捕。据《普罗维登斯日报》报道，案件的突破来自 DNA 技术的最新进展。
1985 年，赫勒韦尔的遗体在纽波特一处偏僻地点被发现，年仅 17 岁。案件发生后，警方虽进行了大量调查，但始终未能锁定凶手，案件逐渐成为尘封 41 年的悬案。受害者的家人多年来一直呼吁重启调查。
据警方介绍，近年来调查人员将当年保留的生物物证送交实验室，采用新一代 DNA 检测与家谱比对技术，最终将嫌疑指向莫顿。警方在掌握充分证据后，于 10 月 6 日实施抓捕。莫顿被控一级谋杀罪，目前被羁押候审。
纽波特警察局长在发布会上表示，这起案件的告破证明“正义或许会迟到，但不会缺席”，并感谢受害者家属 41 年来的坚持。检方表示将依法推进诉讼，案件预计将于明年开庭审理。
（来源：普罗维登斯日报、美联社）
41-Year-Old Newport Cold Case Solved: Suspect Arrested Oct. 6 in 1985 Teen Murder
Newport, Rhode Island police announced on October 6 that the 1985 murder of 17-year-old Hillary Hellewell has been solved, with suspect William Morton arrested the same day. According to the Providence Journal, the breakthrough came from advances in DNA technology.
In 1985, Hellewell's body was found at a secluded spot in Newport. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, police were never able to identify the killer, and the case went cold for 41 years. The victim's family spent decades urging investigators to reopen the case.
Police said investigators recently submitted preserved biological evidence for testing using new-generation DNA analysis and genealogical matching, which ultimately pointed to Morton. After building a solid evidentiary case, officers arrested him on October 6. Morton is charged with first-degree murder and is being held pending trial.
The Newport police chief said at a press conference that the resolution proves justice may be delayed but not denied, thanking the victim's family for 41 years of perseverance. Prosecutors said they will move forward with the case, which is expected to go to trial next year.
(Sources: Providence Journal, Associated Press)
图片来源：图：纽波特县法院（弗洛伦斯·K·默里司法综合大楼），位于罗得岛州纽波特。摄影：Daderot，CC0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
