Beyond The Boardwalk

Harold Dow Reports On Four Grisly Killings In Atlantic City

(CBS)  The result? An almost surreal juxtaposition: magnificent, opulent casinos surrounded by dead zones of poverty and crime.

“It's definitely a dichotomy. It’s a small town with big city problems,” says Jim Hutchins, a recently retired Atlantic City police captain, who took Dow out on the streets.

Dow and Hutchins cruised Pacific Avenue, known locally as “the track,” just a block inland from the boardwalk, where Hutchins says prostitutes wait for clients. “They’re working girls,” he says. “I don't think they're selling girl scout cookies over there.”

It was in this double world of glitz and grime that Kim Raffo struggled to make ends meet. “Every time we would leave our building, you know, we would be approached by drug dealers and to buy drugs,” Kenny recalls.

Kenny says that eventually, they both got caught up in the scene. “We started drinkin' and fell into the crack scene, you know, and started smokin' it,” he admits.

Kim had left her kids with Hugh. John Pesce says that searing regret drove her drug abuse. “She was in pain mentally, emotionally. It was important to her to take care of her kids. And when she didn't, it really upset her,” he says.

Kim had used drugs socially before. But now, she was a full-blown addict. Asked how crazy things got, Kenny tells Dow, “Absolutely crazy. I thought I was losin' my mind, mentally. I mean, just losin' it.”

Unable to hold their jobs, Kenny launched a new career as a shoplifter, while Kim started turning tricks on the track to support her habit.

Papa Joe Boccino runs a café just off the track, on Tennessee Avenue. He knows all the local prostitutes. But he says Kim was different. “You would think she would be the last person that would be on crack,” he explains. “Kim was too clean cut.”

Kim’s murder hit Kenny hard. “I got a lot guilt because she’s dead. And I shoulda watched her a little better,” he says.

During the interview, Kenny allowed 48 Hours to videotape him smoking crack. “I loved her with all my heart. I’m dyin’ a slow death right here,” he says.

Like Kim, Barbara Breidor also worked the casinos. She was a cocktail waitress. But her sisters say she got trapped in an abusive relationship with Dominique’s father.

Asked how she ended up on the streets, Val tells Dow, “She was a victim. A victim of domestic violence.”

“She ended up self-medicating herself ... with drugs,” Fran adds.

Barbara spent years in and out of rehab programs for heroin addiction, but the situation didn’t improve, especially for Dominique.

“None of my parents watched over me because they were, had something to do. I was left all alone to do nothing,” Dominique says. “My dad locked me out of the house. I called police because he was trying to beat up my mother. He ripped her hand open right there,” she adds, pointing to the palm of her left hand.

Her father ended up in prison; Dominique was taken away from her mother, and briefly put into foster care.

Alone in Atlantic City, Barbara sank into the dark world of the track.

Tracy Roberts, herself a young mother, had developed a bad drug habit back in Delaware. “Tracy gave me the impression that she was a street girl,” explains Papa Joe Boccino.

Friends in Atlantic City say Tracy worked for a time at a local strip joint, and was then out on the track with the other working girls.
Twenty-two-year-old Kristen is a five-year veteran of the Atlantic City streets. Her daily struggle mirrors what Tracy and the other victims were living through shortly before they were killed.

Driven by a $200-a-day heroin habit, Kristen is constantly working, soliciting johns on the track or in the casinos. “You walk through the casino. Like, say you play a slot machine or somethin’. Somebody's going to say something to you,” she explains.

The streets make anyone tough but Kristen’s pain is never far from the surface. “You just miss everything. You miss, I have a little sister, I miss her growing up, you know? It's hard. I can't get out of this damn place, though,” she admits.

Like Kristen, Kim, Barbara, and Tracy were deep into the street life. “I have to support my drug habit. Killer or no killer,” Kristen admits.

Kristen is still out there, and so is the killer.

[formerNJresident]

I saw this program the other night, and was horrified by what happened to these four women. I'm originally from NJ, and am pretty familiar with the stories about drugs and street crime in Atlantic City. I'm now a PA resident, having lived in PA since about 1992. Molly Dilts was from Black Lick, PA, not too far from where my father grew up; my dad was originally from Vestaburg, PA, which is also a defunct coal town, with hardly any jobs or industry. I am only sorry that Molly did not get the help she needed or she'd be with us today, and with her little boy, Jeremiah. It's truly awful what happened to these women. I pray for their children and their families.

[ZepZoSoRox]

Why did they just look at him and not the other people who were staying at that hotel???

Oh, I dunno.
Maybe because none of the other people were perverts caught taping a naked under age minor???
Just a guess here!

[toleson1]

If he was a prime suspect then he would still be in jail huh?? There was over 50 people staying at those hotels at the time of the women being found. How is the fact that Terry was there coincidental?? Why did they just look at him and not the other people who were staying at that hotel??? I can give you all kinds of questions and possible circumstances you can look at it.

[toleson1]

I live with and have been living with the currently (Accused) killer. Here are some things to think about. First...why would the state of NJ let Terry out of jail if they for one second thought that Terry actually killed those woman?? Why did the judge lower the bail?? Why was he able to actually bail out of jail?? Why is he still out of jail?? I have the answers to all of it! BECAUSE HE IS INNOCENT!! Nothing ever came back on him being the killer. He has offered and gave DNA as well as everything else that AC wanted. I have been with this man for almost two years now. As I have known him from my past as well. Between the two of us we have 3 children. All of the kids love him, as well as our friends and family,. Yeah you can stick your nose up at him as you pass by, or walk faster when you see him walking. But you NEED to know that he is innocent. I love how all these TV shows do interviews on the woman's families and friends. Hell even people that didn't know them like owners of hotels and diners were all interviewed and asked what they thought. WHY didn't they contact Terry??? Why don't all these shows that want to show what a bad bad man he is contact him and interview him?? I know why!! Cause they don't want to make it look like they did wrong. All the news wants to show is who did this or that. Never in my life have I seen a show where they said "Oops...we made a mistake and we'd like to recant what we said!" NEVER and I believe we never will. If you have a question for him then post it. E-mail him he will answer what ever you'd like to ask!! He is innocent. But in the state of NJ you are not innocent till proven guilty. You are guilty and will ALWAYS be guilty in the eyes of the courts!!

[awinslow2]

Is the maintenance man who lived in the motel still a prime suspect? The fact he lived there at the time of the murders seems to be too coincidental.

[awinslow2]

Is the maintenance man who lived temporarily still a prime suspect? Was their evidence that a car was involved when the bodies were dumped? He would be a primary suspect for me unless the police believe a vehicle was used for each body.

[bozaptap]

I was in the hospital watching this piece. Seems to me no one mentioned the one glaring similarity all four women had in common. They were all mothers that left children behind? I mean what are the odds of one perpetrator "randomly" picking up 4 women on the street with that much age difference that all shared that one characteristic,they left their children behind. No one mentioned rape, all still dressed. Killer probably knew them. The Eastward facing position, no shoes, religious fetish?? Sounds more like facing toward home or removed the shoes so they couldn''t walk away again? I''m not a criminologist of any kind, but the profilers missed this one I think. Look for another street person or john that knew all four women, knew they left their children and that he was left by his mother and lived East of
Atlantic City.
Just a thought.

[bozaptap]

I was in the hospital watching this piece. Seems to me no one mentioned the one glaring similarity all four women had in common. They were all mothers that left children behind? I mean what are the odds of one perpetrator "randomly" picking up 4 women on the street with that much age difference that all shared that one characteristic,they left their children behind. No one mentioned rape, all still dressed. Killer probably knew them. The Eastward facing position, no shoes, religious fetish?? Sounds more like facing toward home or removed the shoes so they couldn''t walk away again? I''m not a criminologist of any kind, but the profilers missed this one I think. Look for another street person or john that knew all four women, knew they left their children and that he was left by his mother and lived East of
Atlantic City.
Just a thought.

[toeslayer2000]

If the perpetrater has taken shoes as trophies, then he (more likely male)is a restifist (shoe fetishist) and definately not a foot fetishist.

Believe it or not there is significant difference.

[bahbushkah]

Such a shame that anyone's life is taken so senselessly! And so scary that it is being said that a serial killer is on the loose, when Atlantic City is my backyard~ I am a single woman who often goes out to A.C. for dinner, a show, or even a drink by myself~ I am glad to have read this and will be in company in the future~ you just never know! Anything is possible~ I hope this guy is caught!! and soon!!