Benjamin Avrut, 35, of Maplewood Charged with Murder of his Mother Gwen Avrut, 70, of Maplewood1/5/2021
 Benjamin Avrut IMAGE: Essex County This morning, Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul announced that Benjamin Avrut, 35, of Maplewood has been arrested and charged with the murder of his mother Gwen Avrut, 70, also of Maplewood.
Maplewood Police responded to Gwen Avrut's South Orange Avenue home yesterday at 12:56pm and found her unresponsive and suffering from multiple serious injuries. Gwen was pronounced dead at 1:39pm. The investigation is active and ongoing. Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, is asking the public for any information about this domestic violence incident. Calls will be kept confidential. Essex Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task ForceMaplewood Police Department by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com Published 9:11pm  GLEN RIDGE, NJ - Glen Ridge Police Chief Sheila E. Byron-Lagattuta announced the arrests this week of two individuals whom the Essex County Prosecutor's Office believe to be part of a larger crime ring across northern New Jersey. Byron-Lagattuta explained that over the past year and a half, numerous Glen Ridge residents have reported mailed checks that were later found to be fraudulently deposited. The department's investigators believe that the checks were "fished-out" of local US mailboxes using household items such as shoe string, water bottles, and mouse trap glue. On Tuesday, Apr. 17 - Tax Day - at about 2:40am, Glen Ridge Patrol Officers noticed a suspicious car near a US mailbox at the intersection of Ridgewood Avenue and Glen Ridge Parkway; a location which the department believes items were stolen from in the past. According to the Chief, during a car search the officers found items commonly used for mailbox fishing along with "a large pile of mail stuffed under the passenger side door of the vehicle."
Officers investigated and discovered 24 pieces of mail which contained checks totaling over $116,000, the majority of which were being mailed to the IRS. Two suspects were arrested and reportedly they later confessed to removing the mail from the mailbox. The two were subsequently charged with:
Since Apr. 1, Glen Ridge Police have arrested a total of five suspects believed to be connected to the thefts. Anyone with information is asked to contact:
by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com Published 4:30pm  Khalil Wheeler-Weaver NEWARK, NJ - Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, 20, of Orange, was indicted this afternoon for the individual murders of three women whose deaths occurred this past Fall. Wheeler-Weaver was also charged for the attempted murder of a fourth woman who survived the attack. The indictment also charges Wheeler-Weaver with three counts of desecrating human remains. Assistant Prosecutor Adam B. Wells, who is handling the case, said, Wheeler-Weaver has been charged with the following:
 Sarah Butler, of Montclair
It is alleged that Wheeler-Weaver’s interactions with the victims were all of a sexual nature. No further information is available at this time.
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