Four woman are found in a drainage ditch in Atlantic City In the autumn of 2006, the life of 20-year-old Molly Jean Dilts, a young mother from Black Lick, Pennsylvania, came to a tragic and mysterious end. Having recently arrived in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area, she was just beginning a new chapter in her life, one that was cut brutally short. Her family last heard from her on October 7, 2006, when she made a call from a payphone in Atlantic City. It would be the last time they ever spoke to her.
On November 20, 2006, a grim discovery was made in a drainage ditch behind the Golden Key Motel in Egg Harbor Township, an area just outside the neon glow of Atlantic City. There, the bodies of four women were found, all positioned with their heads facing east. Molly Dilts was among them, and it is believed her body had been in the water for the longest period, possibly up to a month.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, the exact cause of her death could not be determined by the medical examiner, though the case is being treated as a homicide.
The discovery of the four women, who became known as victims of the 'Eastbound Strangler,' launched a massive investigation that continues to this day. While Molly had no police record for prostitution, authorities believe she may have been involved in sex work during her short time in Atlantic City. Despite the years that have passed, no arrests have ever been made in connection with the deaths of Molly Dilts and the three other women found with her: Kim Raffo, Barbara Breidor, and Tracy Ann Roberts.
In the course of the investigation, a former handyman who had been staying at the nearby motel was questioned extensively by law enforcement, and his home was searched. However, he was ultimately released without being charged, leaving the case of who was responsible for the deaths of the four women an agonizingly open wound for their families and the community. The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office continues to actively investigate the murders, holding out hope that advances in forensic technology may one day bring justice for Molly and the other victims.
