Helmon Betwell

Helmon Betwell

A 19-year-old from Dubuque has been charged with first degree murder for causing the death of a woman found beaten and lying on the ground outside a Dubuque apartment building early Tuesday morning.

The adult woman was alive when police arrived on the scene just before 6 a.m. Tuesday, but she died later at a Dubuque hospital. Dubuque police say the woman had been sexually abused and authorities say Helmon Betwell admits he assaulted her. He’s been charged with first degree sexual assault and two counts of third degree burglary as well as first degree murder.

The name and age of the victim has not been released.