Helmon Betwell, 19, of Dubuque is accused of raping and murdering a random Dubuque woman who was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" and because he "had nothing better to do."

Helmon Betwell, 19, is accused of raping & murdering a random Dubuque woman who was “in the wrong place at the wrong time” because he “had nothing better to do.”

 

“Wrong Place Wrong Time”

A Dubuque, Iowa woman is dead after being raped and severely beaten by nineteen year old Helmon Betwell because “there was nothing better to do.”

According to KCRG:

Helmon Betwell, 19, told police he had nothing better to do early Tuesday morning and he wanted to get into more trouble. Police said Betwell told officers he did not know the victim and stated “she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Betwell told police he was breaking into vehicles in the area of 17th Street and Central Avenue around 4:40 a.m. when he noticed a female crossing the street, according to court documents. Betwell told police he knocked her unconscious and then carried her to a vacant property at 75 W. 17th Street. He told police that’s where he raped her and continued to “hit her everywhere.”

Nearby traffic cameras recorded Betwell beating the woman and dragging her up the steps to the front yard of an abandoned building, where police said he admitted to raping and continuing to beat the victim, who authorities have yet to identify.

Police claim Betwell ran back to his home on White Street, changed clothes and returned to where he left the woman. He beat her again before running off, authorities said.

Betwell has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree sexual assault and two counts of third-degree burglary. His trial date is set for September 11th. His bail has been set at $1 million.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim of this brutal killing as well as her family and friends.

We’ll likely never know exactly whether or not the victim of this attack could have prevented it. But we can use this gruesome story to remind ourselves and our loved ones to stay vigilant, maintain a high sense of situational awareness, and always be prepared to defend yourself and your loved ones from evil people with “nothing better to do.”


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