I agree the sex workers are easy targets for predators. While I am haunted by the deaths of all the GB4, Amber is the one that bothers me the most because she was from my neck of the woods, Wilmington, NC. Her sister KO said in an interview that she and Amber were hired for a bachelor party at Beau Rivage Plantation and Country Club and that's how Amber got started in the escort business, IIRC. I've been to luncheons, wedding receptions, weddings, fundraisers, fishing club holiday parties, heck my kids went to cotillion classes there! KO spoke with a distinct Carolina accent and I assume Amber did also. The time out doll placed at her cross had stuffing coming out it's mouth. I've wondered the symbolism of this....was it because of her southern accent or was she being mouthy or what? I don't think those dolls were left by a good intentioned individual. JMO
Do you know if Surfcaster procures or uses either street drugs or prescription opiates with which he could lure these women? KO seemed to think the common denominator with the 4 was drugs...coke, IIRC. But we know Amber also used heroin. I can't remember about Maureen, Melissa and Megan.
Interesting stuff! All of what you wrote! I'm haunted by this in the same way you are seeing that Surfcaster was living in the same town as Amber. Amber and Melissa are the two who bother me the most. Amber for many of the same reasons you mention and Melissa because her little sister was contacted by the killer and because 2 days before her disappearance, she was out on Long Island, at a hotel in Massapequa (which is a short drive from Babylon where Amber lived).
As for the timeout dolls, totally creepy. I get chills thinking of it. My husband actually saw the dolls in person as he used to use the Ocean Parkway to travel to work everyday. I agree that they were placed there for a reason and most likely, it wasn't one with good intent. I think Amber and Melissa got to this guy in a way that the other girls did not.
I do know that Surfcaster used to use prescription drugs, recreationally but I can't speak for if he was taking them during that time. I do know he has a drinking problem and oddly enough I read an interview with Melissa's boyfriend the other day where he says he too received disturbing, taunting calls and the caller sounded drunk. Drugs absolutely could've been a common theme. In the book Lost Girls, I believe I read that each of the girls dabbled in drugs at one time or another. Others had worse problems, like Amber. I think drugs kind of goes with the territory and I believe KO about that.
I believe ALL the girls kept this guy secret from those around them, not just Amber. Melissa too didn't reveal his identity. With that said, maybe the killer manipulated them into believing he was a "somebody" without actually being one. Maybe he was impersonating LE or some other type of public figure. We know he was very calculating and was able to manipulate these women into letting down their guards.
I have my own theories. I think he took the time to build up a rapport with each of the women. That's why we see so much time between killings. Perhaps in his mind, he was cultivating a "relationship" that went beyond the call girl/Jon and when the relationship didn't exceed his expectations, he killed. These girls all trusted him for some reason which leads me to believe there was a familiarity with him. For Amber to leave her home in such casual clothing that day, shows that maybe she wasn't "going to work". Maybe that was a lie he told them to tell anyone who asked. Maybe she thought she was going to hang out with a friend and maybe she lied to Dave because she felt stupid that she was making friends with one of her clients. There are so many possibilities. I may be way off base but I'm just trying to think outside the box.
Going back to Melissa Barthélemy for a second, we know that the killer had her phone and used it to call her sister. In an A&E special on the case, her step father claims that he too received calls. Her boyfriend "Blaze" also claimed to receive those same calls. Their calls were traced back to a prepaid phone registered to "Mickey Mouse". How did the killer know to pick these specific people? I don't think it was ANY coincidence that he specifically chose people who were were closest to her. This means he knew her on a more intimate level and she of all the girls got to him in a very bad way.