Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner refuses to use the label “cold case”, when referring to the unsolved murders of four women whose bodies were found dumped 12 years ago today in a drainage ditch in West Atlantic City.
Prosecutor Tyner said law enforcement needs the public’s help as the investigation continues 12 years later.
“Somebody knows something about this case. Somebody has to know something,” Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner says of the discovery on Nov. 20, 2006, of the bodies of Kim Raffo, Molly Dilts, Barbara Breidor and Tracy Roberts that were dumped in a drainage ditch in West Atlantic City.
“At the end of the day, Kim Raffo, Molly Dilts, Barbara Breidor and Tracy Roberts were someone’s mother, daughter, sister, and wife. And I shudder to characterize them as four prostitutes whose bodies were found because it’s not about that. Instead, I say these were four women who were found dead in West Atlantic City on Nov. 20, 2006. They will not be forgotten,” Prosecutor Tyner said.
Prosecutor Tyner said that 12 years after the bodies of these women were discovered, investigatory work continues every day on the case in a joint effort of law enforcement, including these agencies: ACPO Major Crimes Unit, the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, the Atlantic City Police Department, FBI and the New Jersey State Police.
“As an original supervisory member of the investigative team assigned to this case, I can confirm that these victims are not forgotten. All member agencies involved in this investigation, Local, County, State and Federal, remain diligent in our pursuit of the person or persons responsible. We urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement,” said Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Raymond Davis.
THE CASE:
On November 20, 2006 the four victims were found in the drainage ditch behind the Golden Key Motel in West Atlantic City (Egg Harbor Township). The drainage ditch contains fresh water run-off and is also tidal measuring five feet deep and ten feet across. It runs parallel with Route 322.
Kim Raffo was the first victim discovered when her body was located by two women out for a walk. They were walking along a path that ran parallel to the drainage ditch.
After 911 was contacted and uniformed officers arrived, three more female bodies were discovered as officers searched along the path for additional evidence.
The ACPO Major Crimes Unit arrived and the crime scene area was secured.
The bodies were recovered during the evening hours and the scene remained secured until daybreak on November 21, 2006.
The area from which the bodies were recovered was searched east to the bridge and west for approximately one mile between Route 322 and the Atlantic City Expressway.
All four bodies were identified: Kim Raffo, Molly Dilts, Barbara Breidor and Tracy Roberts; and families contacted within a week’s time.
Anyone with any information in connection to this investigation to come forward and speak with law enforcement.
“These horrific crimes have not been forgotten by all of the law enforcement agencies in Atlantic County and the Atlantic City Police Department is committed to continuously working with our law enforcement partners to bring the perpetrator(s) of these crimes to justice and help bring some much needed closure to the families,” Atlantic City Deputy Police Chief James Sarkos said.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page.
People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
Photos: (Left to right)Kim Raffo, 35,Barbara Breidor, 42, Molly Dilts, 20, Tracy Ann Roberts, 23