Three people have been arrested in connection with the beating and stabbing death of a 20-year-old Orange woman earlier this week, the city's police reported yesterday.

Police Director Charles Cobbertt indentified the suspects as Harvey Holland, 28, of Glenwood Avenue in East Orange, a 17-year-old girl who lives on the same street and Keela Simon, 21, of Ward Street in Orange.

The three have been charged with the murder of Aliha Reese of New Street in Orange.

According to Cobbertt, more arrests, involving at least three other women, are expected.

Reese died about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, shortly after she was attacked in the street by six women who beat her before stabbing her once in the leg and once in the heart, he said. The stabbing was the end result of a dispute Reese had with a woman near Park and William streets about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, he noted.

After the two fought in the street, the suspect left Reese, drove into Newark and got five women friends and one man, Cobbertt said, and the group returned to Orange in a van and a car.

Holland's connection with the homicide is that he drove some of the suspects to the murder scene, Cobbertt explained.

About two hours after the original fight, Reese was found bleeding and sprawled on the ground at New and Park Streets.

The police said the murder motive apparently stems from a fight Reese and a woman had over a man.

Detective Sgt. Joseph McNair and Detective Steven Crumpton are credited with arresting the first three suspects.

In addition to McNair and Crumpton, Cobbertt said, the continuing investigation is being handled by Detective Capt. Anthony Benevento, Lt. Dominick Scarola, Detectives Todd Bertolini, James Cullen and Clarence Derricott, and members of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

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“Reach Back with One Hand and Pull Someone Else Up With You.”

– Charles C. Cobbertt

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