Beyond The Boardwalk

Harold Dow Reports On Four Grisly Killings In Atlantic City

(CBS)  On April 3, 2007, police, acting on a tip, searched Oleson’s home in rural southwest New Jersey. They discovered a surveillance camera inside a birdfeeder. Oleson came in for questioning.

As it turns out, in the fall of 2006, Oleson was doing odd jobs at the Golden Key motel, just steps from where the bodies were found. He stayed in a corner room, and fellow guests say he was a loner.

Relatives say Oleson was estranged from his family for years, and had been having domestic difficulties with a long-term girlfriend. That seems to match the trait of social alienation mentioned on John Kelly’s profile.

“Mister Oleson comes across as being a very non-social, shy person,” Kelly says.

Days after the search, Oleson was charged with an unrelated offence - videotaping a minor in the nude with a hidden camera. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

“He is charged ultimately with being a peeping tom…. Yet, they’re treating him like he is ‘Jack the Ripper,’” says Oleson’s attorney, James Leonard. “Terry Olson is not a serial killer. He is not a monster.”

Leonard points out that his client, a divorced father, has no felony convictions and is supported by his family. “In our opinion, he is an innocent man who has been caught in this tangled web of an investigation,” he explains.

But Olesons’ alleged interest in surveillance video is consistent with another trait on Kelly’s profile: visual artistry. “If that’s enough to call someone a serial killer, then that list of suspects is gonna grow a lot longer,” Olesons’ attorney argues.

Leonard says Oleson actually helped investigators search for evidence back when the bodies were first found. And so far there’s nothing to suggest he’s ever had a foot fetish, or any kind of contact with the victims. “I did ask him, very candidly if he knew any of these women. And he answered me, very adamantly, ‘No,’” Leonard says.

And last October, a clean-cut Oleson , out on bond, recalled how he was questioned by police. “’We know you did it.’ That was their exact words. And I’m like ‘You knew what. How did you get from this to this that’s it that’s it I’m done,” he said.

Atlantic County authorities took a hard look at Terry Oleson, even getting him to give a DNA sample to compare with evidence from the victims. But so far, they have not charged him with anything related to the murders.

“I wish I had some information for everybody. I have no idea how I got involved in any of this but I hope they find whoever did this,” Oleson said.

The identity of the man in the sketch still remains a mystery.

For now, there will be no Hollywood endings or clichés about closure for the families of the victims. Precious memories, and heartfelt tears will have to suffice.

“Dominique is holding up well considering,” Barbara Breidor says.

Like Barbara, Tracy, Molly and Kim sadly all left young children behind.

In the meantime, in Atlantic City, tourists swarm the boardwalk, and the working girls on the track maintain their wretched routine.

“I make some money, then I go get some drugs. Then when the drugs are gone I go and make more money,” Kristen says. “I’m a good person, I’m just stuck in a bad life.”

For Kristen, the young drug-addicted streetwalker, the future is painfully clear. “It’s hard cause part of you wants to get better and part of you is sick,” she says. “I know what is going to happen. I am not going to lie to myself, I’m not going to lie to people. It’s jail or death.”

But for all the lost souls trapped on Atlantic City streets, there is one ray of hope. Val and her husband have adopted Dominique and are raising her with their two sons in Florida. Dominique’s homelife is stable, she’s getting counseling, and she’s performing superbly in school.

“I plan to go to college, all the way up to college. And stay in college for ten years,” she says, laughing.

“Dominique's future is very bright,” Val says. “This isn't the end for her, at all.”

---

Atlantic County now has a new prosecutor. He says the case remains open and under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case can call the Atlantic County Major Crime Unit at [phone].

[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!!