No bond for ex-boyfriend charged with murdering Woodridge woman
BY DAN ROZEK Staff Reporter/drozek@suntimes.com December 17, 2012 5:18PM
Mugshot of Adam Belmont, 23 of Northlake, held without bond for the alledged murder of his former girlfriend Alyssa Van Meter, of Woodridge. | Courtesy DuPage County State's Attorney's Office
Updated: January 19, 2013 6:18AM
On the night she was murdered, Alyssa Van Meter texted a disturbing message to her new boyfriend: “Adam just broke into my apartment.”
Two hours later, the 25-year-old Woodridge woman was found stabbed to death in her bedroom.
Her former boyfriend, Adam Belmont, 23, was charged Monday with killing her after she refused his plea to reconcile with him after their recent breakup, DuPage County prosecutors said.
Belmont allegedly stabbed Van Meter to death Saturday night with a keepsake knife that carried their names and their anniversary date, prosecutor Tim Diamond said.
After the slaying, Belmont allegedly performed a sex act on Van Meter’s body, Diamond said during Belmont’s first court appearance.
Belmont, who lived with Van Meter until their breakup earlier this month, faces charges that include first-degree murder, home invasion and aggravated criminal sexual assault.
On Monday, Judge Alex McGimpsey Belmont jailed without bail after prosecutors said he would face a possible life sentence if convicted.
Questioned by police after the killing, Belmont allegedly said he climbed onto the balcony of Van Meter’s second-floor apartment, then used a knife to cut the screen and open a window to get inside, Diamond said.
Inside, he confronted Van Meter and argued with her. She sent the text message about 9:30 p.m.
Belmont told police that he “snapped” and choked Van Meter unconscious after she refused to consider renewing their relationship, Diamond said.
Moments later, as she began to regain consciousness, Belmont plunged the commemorative knife once into her chest, killing her, Diamond alleged.
Van Meter’s brother, who shared the apartment with her, found her body about 11:30 p.m. and contacted police.
Belmont was taken into custody a short time later and eventually gave videotaped statements admitting to her murder, Diamond said.
Police found Van Meter’s keys and the knife they think was used to kill her — blood still on the blade — hidden at Belmont’s parents’ home.
Van Meter worked as a tow-truck driver and had recently returned from the East Coast, where she had done volunteer work after Hurricane Sandy, officials said.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the charges against Belmont “very disturbing.”
“He allegedly took the life of his former girlfriend because she began dating someone new and was moving on with her life,” Berlin said in a statement.
