The brutal and senseless murder of promising young college student and Montclairian Sarah Butler, 20, has resulted in the arrest of 20-year old East Orange resident Khalil Wheeler-Weaver. Weaver has been charged with murder and the desecration of human remains.
The tragedy unfolded when the body of Sarah was discovered on December 2 in West Orange in Eagle Rock Reservation, after being reported missing by her worried family.
She had been reported missing on November 23, and when her body was found on December 2nd, the authorities worked to gather evidence that would lead them to a suspect.
Her death was caused by “compression to her neck” and now, Butler is being held on $1 million bail.
Here is the official information from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti have announced that authorities have arrested a suspect in the murder of Sarah Butler, age 20, of Montclair, NJ. On December 6th, 2016, detectives arrested Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, age 20, of Orange and he has been charges with one count of murder and one count of disturbing of human remains.
The victim was reported missing to the Montclair Police Department on November 23, 2016. Her body was discovered by law enforcement officers on December 1 in Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange, NJ. An autopsy determined that Butler died as a result of compression of the neck and her death was ruled a homicide. An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force led to Wheeler-Weaver being arrested last night.
Acting Prosecutor Murray commended the work of the Montclair Police Department on the missing persons investigation and she praised the efforts of the detectives and assistant prosecutors of the Homicide Task Force for their work on the investigation.
Wheeler-Weaver is being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility. Bail has been set at $1,000,000 by the Honorable Stephanie Ann Mitterhoff, J.S.C. Wheeler-Weaver will be arraigned in Essex County Superior Court at a later date.
THE CHARGES AGAINST THIS DEFENDANT ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS. HE IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
Updates to follow.
