Khalil Wheeler-Weaver (born April 20, 1996[1]) is an American serial killer and arsonist. Using the social networking site Tagged, Wheeler-Weaver lured several women to secluded locations in Orange, New Jersey, and subsequently strangled them to death throughout late 2016. One of the victim's sister created a fake account and lured Wheeler-Weaver to a meeting before notifying police.[2]
Khalil Wheeler-Weaver | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 20, 1996 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Conviction(s) | Murder (3 counts) Attempted murder Aggravated sexual assault (2 counts) Aggravated arson Kidnapping Desecrating human remains (3 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | 160 years imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3–4 |
Span of crimes | August – November 2016 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | New Jersey |
| Imprisoned at | New Jersey State Prison |
After a jury found him guilty in 2019,[3] he was convicted of three counts of murder and desecration of human remains, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated arson and kidnapping, and was sentenced to 160 years in prison,[4][5][6] with parole eligible after 140 years.
In March 2022, Wheeler-Weaver was charged with the October 2016 murder of 15-year-old Mawa Doumbia. Her remains were found in a house in Orange, New Jersey on May 9, 2019. Doumbia's remains were unidentified for more than two years.[7] Wheeler-Weaver maintained his innocence, claiming he was framed.[8][9][10][11]
Early life
editWheeler-Weaver was born on April 20, 1996, and grew up in the "well-to-do" neighborhood of Seven Oaks[12] in Orange, New Jersey. He comes from a family of law enforcement officials employed in the region: his stepfather is a detective in the neighboring town of East Orange and his uncle is retired from the Newark Police Department.[13]
As a member of the class of 2014 at Orange High School, he had few friends, did not participate in extra curricular activities, and did not date.[13]
A high school classmate described Wheeler-Weaver's style as nerdy, and thought that his tucked-in shirts, khaki pants, and plain white shoes were evidence that he came from a "good home, a good family."[13]
At the time of his crimes, Wheeler-Weaver worked as a security guard with Sterling Securities and, according to the search history on his phone, had hopes of becoming a police officer.[13]
Victims
edit- Robin Daphne Michele West (19): strangled, set on fire[14]
- Sarah Butler (20): strangled[15]
- Joanne Browne (33): asphyxiated[16]
- Mawa Doumbia (15): strangled, alleged[17]
Tiffany Taylor, who woke up in the middle of an attack, was Wheeler-Weaver's sole surviving victim.[18]
Crimes
editWheeler-Weaver used a variety of usernames–including LilYachtRock, and pimpkillerghost–on the social networking site Tagged in order to arrange dates with victims. He specifically targeted sex workers and offered money in exchange for sex in his online conversations with victims. A member of the prosecution in his 2019 trial argued that he chose to target these women because, "[Wheeler-Weaver] made a wager that no one would miss them."[19]
Little physical evidence ties Wheeler-Weaver to the murders he committed, as he wore gloves and condoms during encounters with victims. A small amount of his DNA was found beneath the fingernails of one victim.[20] His phone's geolocation data, though, tracked his movements during and after the murders, both to the places where he arranged to meet victims and the locations where their bodies were later discovered.[13] He also used his phone to search the phrase, "homemade poison to kill humans."[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Offender Details". Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Serial killer lured by fake social account gets 160 years". news.yahoo.com. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Panico, Rebecca (2019-12-19). "N.J. man now a serial killer as jury convicts him of murdering 3 women, trying to kill a 4th". nj. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Dating app serial killer caught with help of victim's friends is sentenced to 160 years behind bars". WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio. 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Nobile, Tom. "NJ serial killer Khalil Wheeler-Weaver sentenced to 160 years in prison". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Serial killer lured on social media by a friend of a victim gets 160 years". NBC News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Kanzler, Kaitlyn. "Convicted Essex County serial killer faces new murder charge in death of 15-year-old". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ Panico, Rebecca (2021-10-06). "Convicted serial killer, rapist sentenced to 160 years in prison". nj. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Levenson, Michael (2021-10-09). "Serial Killer Gets 160 Years After Victim's Sister and Friends Help Solve Case". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Serial killer lured by fake social account gets 160 years". AP NEWS. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Essex County Prosecutors Office". www.njecpo.org. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Story Map Series". www.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ a b c d e f "He murdered three women and was hunting a fourth. These women outsmarted a serial killer". www.northjersey.com. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ Mazzola, Jessica (2017-03-05). "Father searches for answers in suspected serial killing". nj. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Cohen, Noah (2016-12-17). "Slain Montclair college student mourned at funeral". nj. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Cohen, Noah (2016-12-19). "Man accused of killing N.J. college student charged with second murder". nj. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "New Jersey Serial Killer Charged in Teenager's 2016 Murder". NBC New York. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
- ^ Moriarty, Thomas (2019-01-30). "Alleged serial killer's surviving victim woke up in the middle of the attack, prosecutors allege". nj. NJ Advance Media for. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ Martin, Tom Nobile and Julia. "Serial killer suspect says his life is a 'nightmare' as the case reaches closing arguments". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ Maag, Tom Nobile, Julia Martin and Christopher. "Serial killer Khalil Wheeler-Weaver guilty of murdering three women in 2016". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
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