Rita was seen hitchhiking the night before she was found. She was found in November. It doesn't say when Colleen was last seen, but her body was found in January.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-man-charged-with-killing-two-women-20-years-ago/
Right, but he didn't have his first child until around 1997. Not sure when he was married. I think the question about his family being away is in regards to later possible victims of his.