Crime Stoppers reward offered in murder case

NEWARK, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino and Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura announced Sept. 14 that the Essex County Sheriff’s Crime Stoppers Program is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Steven Damon, 47, of Newark. Damon is wanted for the murder of his wife, Tanya […]

Prosecutor’s Office seeks help in murder of Maplewood woman

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose announced Aug. 17 that the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, is seeking assistance from the public in identifying two persons of interest in connection with the […]

New law ensures stiffer penalties for drunken drivers who commit vehicle homicide

TRENTON, NJ — Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John McKeon, Mila Jasey and Valerie Vainieri Huttle to ensure stiff penalties for anyone who commits vehicular homicide while driving drunk is now law. The new law, A-3686, known as “Ralph and David’s Law,” establishes a new crime of “strict liability vehicular homicide” for killing a […]

Men plead not guilty in Maplewood triple homicide

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The two men who have been charged in the Jan. 29 triple homicide in Maplewood pleaded not guilty to the murder charges in Superior Court on June 12. Lavell Davis, 37, and Jimmy Mays Jr., 34, appeared separately before Judge Ronald Wigler in Newark on an 11-count indictment that charges each man […]

Son charged in death of Maplewood Man

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino announced June 7 that authorities had made an arrest in connection with that morning’s killing of Wesley Reason, 53, inside his Maplewood home on Broadview Avenue. The victim’s son, Alexander Taylor Reason, 19, has been charged with murder and […]

Police investigate homicide in Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino announced June 7 that the Maplewood Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force are investigating a homicide. At approximately 2:30 a.m. on June 7, Wesley Reason, 53, of Maplewood sustained fatal injuries when he […]

Driver in Short Hills Mall carjacking murder convicted on all counts

NEWARK, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced March 31 that an Essex County jury has convicted Basim Henry, 36, of South Orange of murder and felony murder for the Dec. 15, 2013, murder of 30-year-old Hoboken lawyer Dustin Friedland, following a trial before Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin. Henry was […]

Man indicted for killing three women

NEWARK, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced Feb. 27 that Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of Orange has been indicted on three counts of murder in connection with the deaths of three women between Sept. 1, 2016, and Nov. 22, 2016. He has also been charged with kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and attempted […]