Officials from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office reported today that Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, who is serving 160 years in prison for killing three women and attempting to murder a fourth, has been charged in a new indictment for murdering a 15-year-old girl.
In addition to murder, the defendant is charged with attempted sexual assault of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, and desecration of human remains.
Officials said the investigation into this incident began on April 9, 2019, when the remains of a young woman were discovered in a vacant building behind the Cotton's Funeral Home in Orange.
Officers entered the building and found the mummified and decomposed remains of what they believed were female at that time.
An autopsy showed that the victim, Mawa Doumbia, was of African descent and was reported missing by her father in Newark.
The work from the Newark Special Victims Unit, Orange Police, and the Essex County Prosecutors' Office assured in identification of the girl.
County officials believe that the death of Doumbia is another ‘smoking gun’ case where Wheeler-Weaver left his murderous calling card of evidence that linked all of his victims.
According to sources, she had been strangled to death after her body was reportedly sent to a forensics lab in North Texas, made the connection to Wheeler.
Authorities would not say if Doumbia‘s body was dumped at the abandoned building in Orange or if she was murdered there.
"There were discussions over who would pick up the over $100,000 tab for the forensics investigation, sources said.
Residents in Orange who knew Wheeler said he was the type of person people really wanted to communicate with.
"He was charming, mild-mannered, healthy, and spoke charming," a resident told RLS Media.
Some who knew Wheeler-Weaver believe that his father's death may have activated his violent, destructive, and murderous behavior.
The senior Wheeler perished after being fatally struck by a car while riding a motorcycle, residents said.
Wheeler-Weaver is scheduled to be arraigned before the Honorable Mark Ali on October 21.
These new charges and allegations herein are accusations.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless or until they are convicted in a court of law.