Four days after body found at Eagle Rock, here's what we know and what questions remain
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has yet to identify the body of a man found shot to death on Friday at Eagle Rock Reservation.
The man was found on a hiking trail in the early afternoon by several hikers.
Here is what is known about the man found fatally shot in the reservation, and what questions remain.
Who was the victim
The man has not been identified yet and little is known about the circumstances of how he was killed, according to Kathy Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
The prosecutor's office is treating the man's death as a homicide, with Carter acknowledging that he had visible gunshot wounds.
What's next
The unidentified man's autopsy was expected to be performed on Tuesday. Carter said the prosecutor's office would fingerprint the man during the autopsy to try and identify him.
She said once they have identified him and notified his next of kin, more information would be released to the public.
About the location
Eagle Rock Reservation is comprised of over 400 acres and encompasses parts of West Orange, Montclair and Verona, running along the Watchung Mountains ridgeline. Its preliminary design was developed by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
The park is home to the Highlawn Pavilion restaurant which was previously an Italian-style summer house. It was saved from demolition and more vandalism by turning it into the restaurant. It was popular for weekend visitors from New York and there used to be automobile races in the early 19th century.
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Prior incidents
This unidentified body is not the first to be found in the popular recreation site.
Sarah Butler, the final victim of Essex County serial killer Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, was found in Eagle Rock Reservation in December 2016. Wheeler-Weaver hid her body in the weeds near the valet parking lot.
The body of 17-year-old Phoebe Jane Paullin was discovered in the park in November 1883. According to a New York Times article from that time, she was "killed in the same way that a pig or sheep is stuck." The article said officers at the scene said it looked like Paullin was killed by a butcher or "someone accustomed to killing animals."
Kaitlyn Kanzler covers Essex County for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: kanzler@northjersey.com
Twitter: @KaitlynKanzler8
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Body found in Eagle Rock Reservation leaves questions. What we know
