ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced Oct. 6 that convicted serial killer Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, now 25, of Orange, was sentenced to 160 years in prison for killing three young women and attempting to kill a fourth between August and November 2016.
In December 2019, an Essex County jury convicted Wheeler-Weaver on three counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Sarah Butler, 20; Robin West, 19; and Joanne Brown, 33. He was also found guilty of the kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted murder of a fourth woman, Tiffany Taylor, who survived her attack.
On Oct. 6, Superior Court Judge Mark Ali sentenced Wheeler-Weaver to 160 years in New Jersey State Prison. Under the No Early Release Act, Wheeler-Weaver must serve 145 years before he is eligible for parole.
“The sentence today sends a clear and unequivocal message that each of these young women mattered. This defendant mistakenly believed that he could kill them and dump their bodies, and no one would care. He miscalculated. The jury made it clear with its verdict when it convicted Wheeler-Weaver on every count. And today the judge, with his sentence, made it clear that each of these women would receive justice. I want to thank the Essex County assistant prosecutors, investigators and others in law enforcement who worked to bring us to this day,’’ Stephens said. “Most importantly, I want to thank the surviving victim, Tiffany Taylor, and the friends and families of the other victims who played a pivotal role in the case.’’
Assistant Prosecutor Adam B. Wells, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Mira T. Ohm, said, “I am grateful to Ms. Taylor, and the families and friends of Joanne Brown, Sarah Butler and Robin West for the grace and strength they showed throughout this horrendous ordeal. I hope that today’s sentencing, and the promise that the defendant will be incarcerated for the rest of his life can allow them to close this chapter and move forward honoring those who are not able to do so themselves.”
After a two-month trial, the jury took less than three hours to find Wheeler-Weaver guilty on all counts, including three counts of murder. In addition to the murder counts, Wheeler-Weaver was also found guilty of kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and attempted murder of Taylor. The jury also convicted him of three counts of desecration of human remains and aggravated arson.
Butler, a Montclair resident who was attending Jersey City University was murdered on Nov. 22, 2016. Her body was found in Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange on Dec. 1, 2016. Brown, a Newark resident, was murdered on Oct. 22, 2016. Her body was found in a vacant home in Orange on Dec. 5, 2016. West, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., who was living in Union Township, was murdered on Sept. 1, 2016, in Orange. Wheeler-Weaver set fire to her body and then torched the vacant home.
Stephens thanked all the law enforcement agencies that worked so closely with the ECPO on this case. He also lauded ECPO Sgt. Christopher Smith, Newark Police Lt. Michael Krusznis, retired ECPO Capt. Thomas Kelly, retired ECPO Sgt. Paul Sarbando and retired ECPO Detective Mario Suarez for their work on the case.
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