Atlantic County officials said November 20, 2021, marks 15 years since the discovery of the bodies of four women dumped in a drainage ditch in West Atlantic City.
Today, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill reminded the public that the investigation remains active by the ACPO Major Crimes Unit and their law enforcement partners.
“I would like the public to know that not one of those 15 years has passed by without the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and our partnering law enforcement agencies, continuing work on the investigation of the discovery of the bodies of four murdered women in a drainage ditch in West Atlantic City.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is committed to continuing the investigation of the murders of Kim Raffo, Molly Dilts, Barbara Breidor, and Tracy Roberts, to bring justice and closure for their families,” said Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill.
Officials said on November 20, 2006, the four female victims were discovered in the drainage ditch behind the former Golden Key Motel in West Atlantic City (Egg Harbor Township).
The drainage ditch runs parallel with Route 322 and contains freshwater run-off and is also tidal measuring five feet deep and ten feet across.
On November 20, 2006, ACPO Chief of County Investigators, Bruce K. DeShields was serving as a lieutenant in the ACPO Major Crimes Unit.
Chief DeShields was the lieutenant scene commander when the discovery of the bodies was made.
At that time, Chief DeShields had served as an investigator at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office since 1989 and had been assigned to investigate homicides in the county since 1995.
Chief DeShields said there is no such thing as a cold case in Atlantic County. Law enforcement is still chasing every lead that is received in connection to this case and any unresolved homicide, he said.
“Fifteen years later, we have not made an arrest for these homicides, but we’re always looking, we’re always working and reexamining information about this case.
We haven’t stopped. We won’t stop. And 15 years later, we are still in constant communication with our law enforcement partners. We leave no stone unturned,” Chief DeShields said.
Kim Raffo was the first victim discovered when her body was located by two women out for a walk along a path that ran parallel to the drainage ditch.
After 911 was contacted and uniformed police 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.
Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Michael Hughes was a detective at the Egg Harbor Township Police Department 15 years ago when the bodies of Kim Raffo, 35, Molly Dilts, 20, Barbara Breidor, 42, and Tracy Roberts, 23, were discovered in the West Atlantic City section of Egg Harbor Township.
“I remember that night like it was yesterday and getting the phone call about the bodies of the women that were discovered.
I remember exactly where I was going in the car with my family and I dropped everything and said I have to go.
I knew that I had to get there immediately,” Chief Hughes said.
During the evening hours, the women’s bodies were recovered and the scene remained secure until daybreak on November 21, 2006. Within a week’s time, the four female bodies were identified as: Kim Raffo, Molly Dilts, Barbara Breidor and Tracy Roberts.
Atlantic County officials said on Nov. 20, 2006, law enforcement agencies at the scene included: the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Detectives, Egg Harbor Township Police Department, FBI, Atlantic City Police Department and the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit. Fifteen years later, these agencies are still working on the unsolved quadruple homicide case.
“This case is still open and active as can be and I would not consider it cold by any means. We take every lead and phone call that we receive about the case.
Any information that we receive, we will follow up on. I do believe that all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this ongoing investigation for the last 15 years communicate well in reference to resolving this quadruple homicide.
None of these agencies have stopped work on this case,” Chief Hughes said.
Anyone with information about this case or any other 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 https://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 609-652-1234or 1-800-658-8477