Woodridge Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty

A man accused in the stabbing death and sex assault of a Woodridge resident pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday.

Adam Belmont, 23, of Northlake, is charged with first-degree murder, home invasion, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and abuse of a corpse.

Police say Belmont went to ex-girlfriend Alyssa Van Meter's Woodridge apartment at about 9 p.m. Dec. 15 and climbed through a window in her balcony. About a week earlier, the two broke up. 

It's alleged that Belmont choked Van Meter until she was unconscious, then stabbed her one time in the heart. Belmont is also accused of sexually assaulting the woman after stabbing her. 

According to The Daily Herald, prosecutors turned over 317 pages of reports and 10 DVDs of evidence to Belmont's defense, which will now review the evidence. 

Last time Belmont appeared in court, he collapsed, but the Daily Herald reports "there was no noticeable drama" on Tuesday.

Belmont is being held without bond and returns to court March 18, the Daily Herald reported. 

Read the full story from The Daily Herald. 

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Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.