Beyond The Boardwalk

Harold Dow Reports On Four Grisly Killings In Atlantic City

(CBS)  Not wanting to tip the killer, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeff Blitz has remained tight-lipped since his first-and last-press conference. But retired Atlantic City police captain Jim Hutchins thinks the prosecutor should do some explaining.

Hutchins says his former squad, the Atlantic City vice cops who actually knew the streets and the girls, were not brought into the investigation until precious time had been lost. He says he was contacted three days after the bodies were found.

“I would have gave them whoever they asked for to help to knock on doors, to interview witnesses, neighbors. The neighborhood where the girls live. And I wasn't asked to do that,” he says.

Hutchins says that may be why, to this day, investigators still don’t know if the murders occurred right where the bodies were found, or another location such as a hotel room or a car.

Retired Egg Harbor Township Police Captain John DeAngelis points out another problem: there is no apparent motive.

On top of all that, an FBI source tells 48 Hours that the scene at the ditch was contaminated by some of the first responders, limiting the amount of forensic evidence that could be retrieved.

“Decomposition occurred, which made it very difficult for investigators to take fingerprints or any other kind of forensic evidence,” DeAngelis explains.

The prosecutor denies Hutchins’ claims, and has recently stated that crucial evidence was recovered from the victim’s clothes and bodies.

Still, with few signs of progress, some in law enforcement started paying attention to a profiler named John Kelly. “The profile’s goal is to flush the person out. To try and inform the public. To help stimulate the investigation,” Kelly explains.

Kelly thinks he can get inside the mind of the Atlantic City killer.

For one, he believes the killer is a local, from the area.

Kelly, a psycho-therapist, runs STALK, Inc.: an organization of former cops and mental health professionals. They created a profile on their own to help the investigation.

“Some people look at the work of a profiler as some kind of voodoo or something. Does it really work?” Dow asks.

“Certainly it works in many cases. It should be used as a tool. But it’s not some answer all, end all,” Kelly explains.

Certain aspects of the profile are rather exotic. Kelly thinks the killer may be into photography or another visual art. “In watching many of these serials killers, what we've seen is this underlying artistic nature,” he explains.

Other elements are more predictable: for instance, the profile describes the killer as a social misfit, and a patron of prostitutes. “The stroll areas are his hunting grounds. And drug addicted prostitutes are his prey,” Kelly theorizes.

Pursuing the theory that the killer knew the streets, police took an interest in an ex-con named Bill Schlue.

Dante the street hustler and his buddy Smiley say they hooked Schlue up with drugs and hookers - among others, Kim Raffo and Tracy Roberts.

“So he would have these binges with these women for days?” Dow asks.

“Yeah, days,” one man replied.

Schlue was questioned by police, but never arrested. He has denied 48 Hours’ repeated requests for interviews.

Asked what kind of a person committed these crimes, criminal profiler John Kelly says, “A man on a mission. And his mission is to eliminate prostitutes.”

Could the killer be on a religious mission? Kelly thinks the strange fact that all of the victim’s faces were turned to the east could be a sign of reverence for the Holy Lands of Jerusalem or Mecca.

“Whatever the demented message is that he's sending has something to do with the east,” Kelly explains.

That’s how a Muslim named Charles Coles, a convicted drug dealer and a friend of Kim Raffo, says he also wound up being questioned and released.

[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!!