MONTCLAIR — Authorities say a 20-year-old Essex County man strangled a New Jersey City University student, then dumped her body in the Eagle Rock Reservation.

Tuesday, police arrested Khalil Wheeler-Weaver on charges of murder and disturbing human remains, for allegedly killing 20-year-old Sarah Butler.

Khalil Wheeler-Weaver
Khalil Wheeler-Weaver (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
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Butler, a Montclair resident, was reported missing to the Montclair Police Department on Nov. 23. Her car was reportedly found abandoned in Orange two days later. Her body was discovered by law enforcement officers on Dec. 1 in in the West Orange park, and an autopsy determined she died of compression of the neck, authorities said.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office didn't say in an announcement of the charges what led authorities to Wheeler-Weaver.

Wheeler-Weaver is being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.

Butler lived at the college's Jersey City campus and was home for the Thanksgiving break when she was killed, NJ.com reported. Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray reportedly said the Butler and Wheeler-Weaver were believed to be acquaintances.

Butler was a dancer and a lifeguard at the Montclair YMCA, the report said.

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