Montclair's Sarah Butler Strangled To Death; Police Make Arrest: Prosecutor

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Authorities have charged an East Orange man with strangling 20-year-old college student Sarah Butler and disposing of her body at Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange.

Police charged Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, with murder and desecrating human remains. Detectives arrested Wheeler-Weaver on Tuesday; he is being held on $1 million bail, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office declared Butler’s death a homicide on Dec. 2, almost two weeks after her family reported her missing, according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Montclair Police Chief Todd Conforti.

• See related article: Murdered Montclair Woman Found In N.J. Park, Cops Offer $10K Reward

"An autopsy determined that Butler died as a result of compression of the neck," prosecutors stated on Wednesday.

The Essex County Sheriff Crime Stoppers Program is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Butler’s murder. Anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Montclair officials originally released the following alert about Butler’s disappearance:

“On Nov. 23, family members of Ms. Sarah Butler (20-years-old from Montclair) reported her missing. Ms. Butler was last seen on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at approximately 8 p.m. Sarah Butler is described as a black female, 5 feet 5 inches, about 170 pounds, with brown eyes, black/red hair, a medium build and medium to dark skin complexion. She was last seen wearing a black zip-up jacket labeled ‘Premiere Dance Theater’ with orange stripes, large men's reading glasses, silver hoop earrings, dark blue jeans, a black headband, tall black boots, and a black side bag with a long strap.”

Montclair officials said that Butler was last seen operating a light blue/gray 2007 Dodge Caravan with yellow scrapes along the rear driver side.

'A COLLEGE STUDENT WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE'

The Montclair YMCA stated that Butler was a former lifeguard at its Park Street branch in a Facebook post on Friday.

"As a 20-year-old college student, she had a bright and promising future ahead of her... Her family is grieving and we pray for answers so their healing can begin," YMCA President Jo Ann Short wrote.

Photo: Montclair Township