'm new here and I'd like to offer my condolences as well. Nobody deserves to be treated the way this young lady was.
Anything that I have to contribute to this discussion is my opinion and nothing more. I don't believe that the police are currently at liberty to discuss the details of this, or any other related cases, with the media, family members or the community at large. Their burden of proof is quite high and they have one chance at making a case against this killer and getting a conviction.
We are all familiar with the high-profile 2006 case and how it remains unsolved 8 years later. A serial killer got away with it back then and the last thing anyone needs, especially the police, is to have the same guy go on another killing rampage. But recent events indicate that that possibility may be what's happening. Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain acknowledged as much with his statement: “It’s something we’re exploring,” McClain said. “We’d be foolish not to. But we’re exploring this possibility. At present time it remains just a possibility.”
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/eht/police-dogs-search-area-where-woman-s-body-was-found/article_0709e5d2-7988-11e3-97f6-0019bb2963f4.html
That statement was made before Ms. Vanderhoff's untimely demise. However, after Feb 14th, 2014 the police became extremely tight-lipped about this case. Undoubtedly, with this latest discovery, they realized that the
possibility that Mr. McClain had eluded to earlier may have just become closer to a frightening reality. Sometimes, what the authorities don't say speaks volumes.
The police have every reason to be cautious about releasing any information to the public. For obvious reasons, they don't want to tip the killer's hand. They don't want to induce a panic in the community. But they also want to catch this guy to get payback for making them look incompetent with the 2006 investigation. The bar has been raised a notch or two with this latest killing.
Looking at the location and manner in which Ms. Vanderhoff's body was discovered, one cannot help but get the impression that this killer is telling the world that he is proud of what he has done and that there is nothing anyone can do about it. He left her body in plain view on the side of a road making no attempt, whatsoever, to hide her.
That arrogance is not lost on the Investigators. The question is: Are they up to the task?
It's very difficult to catch a serial killer and the burden of proof required to secure a conviction has to be beyond a reasonable doubt. Hopefully the task force that was assembled in 2006 will be refunded and re-assembled. Investigators that worked the case back then need to be consulted. The FBI needs to be brought on board (if they haven't already). All leads, past and present, need to be fully investigated.
Hopefully, The Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce won't have any input into the investigation. We all know the Casinos run AC and that many jobs are dependent on the employment that they provide. But sweeping these crimes under the carpet would be the worst thing anyone could do. Investigators, working with the Casinos, need to focus on how positive of an image it would reflect on everyone if this killer is finally captured and brought to justice.
This killer is going to kill again, regardless. He has to, it's hard-wired into his DNA. This investigation needs to be just as determined in it's efforts to stop him. I, for one, wish them the best of luck this time.