UPDATE: Death of N.J. college student is ruled a homicide

MONTCLAIR -- Investigators say they are working "around the clock" to determine what happened in nine days between when a New Jersey college student disappeared and the discovery of her body at Eagle Rock Reservation on Thursday.

Sarah Butler, 20, of Montclair. (Facebook)

"We are trying to piece the timeline together," Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly said Friday.

The body of 20-year-old Sarah Butler, a Montclair resident and student at New Jersey City University in Jersey City, was found at the reservation Thursday morning. She was reported missing on Nov. 22.

"It is an extremely active investigation," by the prosecutor's office homicide unit, Fennelly said.

He declined to say where exactly her body was found in the reservation, a more than 400-acre park and recreational preserve that spans multiple towns in Essex County.

Butler's cause of death is still pending a report from the Medical Examiner's office, which could come as early as Friday afternoon, Fennelly said.

Family friend Pluchet Alexander said Friday that the discovery has devastated Butler's loved ones.

"Everyone is in shock that this happened to such a nice girl," Pluchet said.

"This is a family's worst nightmare. She never did anything to hurt anyone and was loved by all."

Friends described Butler as a dancer and volleyball player. She was a freshman at New Jersey City University. She lived on campus, and was majoring in media arts, school officials confirmed.

"NJCU is devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of Sarah Butler, whose life touched so many throughout the campus community and beyond," the school said in a statement.

"At times of tragedy such as this, we must call upon our community to comfort one another, to grieve with one another, and to take solace in knowing we had the privilege of calling Sarah a part of the NJCU family. Our deepest sympathies go out to Sarah's family and friends during this difficult time."

Butler leaves behind a mother, father, and two sisters who are "obviously devastated," Alexander said.

"She had so much more to give, and now we can only hope that her killers are caught."

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at

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