At a press conference the next morning, Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams announced, "the bottom line: BTK is arrested. Immediately after, law enforcement officials, including a Wichita Police bomb unit truck, two SWAT trucks, and KBI, FBI, and ATF agents, converged on Rader's residence near the intersection of I-135 and 61st Street North. A poem in one of the killer's letters was similar to a folk song taught by a professor on that campus in that time period, though Rader himself dismissed any connection. After a decade-long hiatus, Rader resumed sending letters in 2004, leading to his 2005 arrest and subsequent guilty plea. His chosen victim was a young mother, Vicki Wegerle. The murders spanned from 1974 to 1986, in which the majority of those years he was married and raising two children, leading a boy scout troop, and being deeply involved in his church. Similarly, she is a Christian with the solar sign of Virgo. The 10 known murders are now believed to be the only murders that Rader is actually responsible for, although Wichita police are fairly certain that Rader stalked and researched a number of other potential future victims. He married Paula Dietz on May 22, 1971, and they had two children. Police in Wichita, Park City, and several surrounding cities looked into unsolved cases before, during, and after 1974 and 1991 in cooperation with the state police and the FBI. Rader had stalked two women in the 1980s and one in the mid-1990s. Many observers noted that he described the gruesome events without any sign of remorse or emotion. Rader mentioned the interview during his sentencing statement. [38], He also intended to kill others, such as Anna Williams, who in 1979, aged63, escaped death by returning home much later than expected. But psychologist and professor Dr. Terence G. Leary, who helps lead the largest non-governmental serial killer database in the world, Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Research at Gulf Coast University, told Heavy he thinks there are even more secrets in Raders childhood that made him the serial killer he grew up to be. Dennis Rader, aka the BTK Killer, murdered 10 people between 1974 and 1991. . Mendoza diagnosed Rader with narcissistic, antisocial and obsessivecompulsive personality disorders: He observed that Rader has a grandiose sense of self, a belief that he is "special" and therefore entitled to special treatment; a pathological need for attention and admiration; a preoccupation with maintaining rigid order and structure; and a complete lack of empathy. Father of Private and Private After a long hiatus in the 1990s through early 2000s, Rader resumed sending letters in 2004, leading to his 2005 arrest and subsequent conviction. [57], Rader was arrested while driving near his home in Park City shortly after noon on February 25, 2005. Dubbed the "Night Stalker," Richard Ramirez was an American serial killer who broke into California homes, raping and torturing more than 25 victims and killing at least 13 over a two-year rampage. killed four members of the Otero family, including two children, to fulfill a sexual fantasy. The police answered his question in a newspaper ad posted in the Wichita Eagle saying it would be safe to use the disk. Rader did not contest the divorce, and the 34-year marriage was ended. In March of that year, he tied up and strangled Shirley Vian, after locking her children in the bathroom. The last known BTK killing was in 1991, making all known BTK murders ineligible for the death penalty. According to several reports, including his own confessions, as a child he tortured animals. Ramsfield told Rolling Stone that even after six years of conversations with him, I dont think he told me everything, and I dont think he always told me the truth. This greatly agitated Dennis Rader, and being the narcissist that he was, he started sending a series of letters to the police once again to revive interest in the BTK murders. By Aly Vander Hayden Snapped Notorious BTK Killer: First Signs 1:25 Crime News Dahmer on Dahmer Bonus: Days Before the Internet 1:36 Crime News A search of the church web site turned up Dennis Rader as being president of the congregation council. Strangulation and souvenir-taking would become part of his modus operandi, or pattern of behavior. Dennis Rader was a very shrewd man, adept at living a double life. He is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. Married with children by now, he now focused more on his career and rose to the position of installation supervisor. Leary told Heavy in a phone interview that Raders methods of torture and murder are a sign of someone who was regularly exposed to horrific abuse.. Dennis Rader is an American serial killer also known as the BTK "Bind, Torture, Kill" Killer or the BTK Strangler. Death to Nancy," a parody of the lyrics to the American folk song "O Death". In October 1974, Rader started sending a series of chilling letters to the police, outlining the gruesome details of the murders he had committed and claimed to be the BTK aka Bind, Torture, Kill murderer. But if he is if thats the truth then let the truth be the truth. The police now had strong circumstantial evidence against Rader, but they needed more direct evidence in order to detain him. His father was arrested in 2005 following 10 counts of crimes where he had killed more than ten people. And may God have mercy on his soul.. Explore how the celebrity world connects. [18] Rader married Paula Dietz on May22, 1971; they had two children, Kerri and Brian. Several weeks later, he sent a letter to a local television station stating that he was responsible for killing Vian, Fox and another unknown victim. Investigators also noticed his Jeep on security tapes of some of the package drop-off areas, and cemented their case by obtaininga DNA sample from Rader's daughter. John Wayne Gacy, often called the "Killer Clown," was one of the worst serial killers in U.S. history, murdering at least 33 young male victims. This is a nature explanation for Rader's gruesome acts. In October 1974, Rader placed a letter in a public library book in which he took responsibility for killing the Oteros. In March, he strangled Shirley Vian to death and later that year, he murdered Nancy Fox. In early 1978, he sent another letter to television station KAKE in Wichita, claiming responsibility for the murders of the Oteros, Shirley Vian, Nancy Fox, and Kathryn Bright. While the narrative has been that Rader seemed like a regular kid, the oldest of four brothers raised in a house with stable parents, Leary believes there is more to the story. He cleverly evaded being identified as a suspect and proceeded to kill several others, taking the final toll of his victims to ten. Rader killed her on April27, and took her dead body to his church, Christ Lutheran Church, where he was the president of the church council. Brian Rader Family, Parents, Siblings. Surveillance tape of the parking lot from that date revealed a distant figure driving a black Jeep Cherokee leaving the box in the pickup. He then barricaded the boy and his siblings in a room while he strangled their mother, Shirley Vian, in the other room. Kansas reinstated the death penalty in 1994. By the 2000s, the public interest in the BTK killer had faded off to a great extent. Dennis Lynn Rader Gender Male Age 73 Date of birth Friday 09 Mar 1945 Birth place Pittsburg, Kansas, USA Occupations US Airforce (1966) Education Wichita Heights High School, Wichita, Kansas, United States Riverview School, Wichita, Kansas, United States Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kansas, United States The initials stuck, and the murderer came to be known by variations ofthe "BTK killer" moniker, or simply "BTK. In October 2017 Netflix's crime drama, Mindhunter, was released to critical acclaim. Then everything upended on us', "Charlie Otero finds peace, stability nearly 40 years after BTK murders", "BTK serial killer's victim families to address court", "BTK: 'I took her to the basement andhung her', "Victim's family files suit against Rader", "Transcription of poem "Oh! NBC claimed Rader knew the interview might be televised, but this was false according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office. DNA collected from under the fingernails of that victim provided police with previously unknown evidence. On August 18, Rader faced sentencing. Dennis Rader tormented his Kansas community with a string of murders and taunted the police who couldn't solve his crimes. Bail was continued at $10 million. This time, the package was found in Wichita's Murdock Park. He graduated from Wichita Heights High School in 1963. Kevin later described Rader as "an average-sized guy, bushy mustache, 'psychotic' eyes," according to a TIME magazine article. He was discharged from active duty in 1970. Rader, who called himself the BTK Killer because he bound, tortured, and killed his victims, lived a double life, hiding in plain sight with his wife and two children, who were completely unaware of his crimes. He is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility. [77], The videotape of Mendoza's interview ended up being used on NBC's Dateline. [58] An officer asked, "Mr. Rader, do you know why you're going downtown?" [51][52] Also enclosed were a letter, a gold-colored necklace with a large medallion, and a photocopy of the cover of Rules of Prey, a 1989 novel by John Sandford about a serial killer. [19], On July26, 2005, after Rader's arrest, his wife was granted an "emergency divorce" (waiving the normal waiting period). Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer. He also intended to kill others, notably Anna Williams, 63, who in 1979 escaped death by returning home much later than he expected. The following year, he killed Vicki Wegerle in her home. How could this man be both? Donald asks the courts to let him tweet. The same year, he began his studies at Wichita State University. . [74] Kansas had no death penalty at the time of the murders. However, he never stopped stalking potential victims or playing out murderous fantasies in his head. However, the police was unsuccessful in getting any meaningful clues about the killer. This was the evidence the police needed to make an arrest. Rader was particularly known for sending taunting letters to police and newspapers. This proved to be his major mistake as the police was able to trace the source of the floppy disc to the church Rader frequented. The BTK killer is now the subject of an episode in the second series of the Netflix documentary Catching Killers, airing on February 9, 2022. Family, Parents, Siblings, Education She was born to her father Larry Palmer and her mother Sharon Palmer. The poem was titled "Black Friday", an ode to the day he was arrested. A poem was enclosed titled "Oh! The church he attended, his office at City Hall, and the main branch of the Park City library were also searched. Death to Nancy", "City's 'BTK Strangler' claims he's killed 7", "BTK took body to church, says investigator", "BTK Strangler resurfaces after 25 years", "Police destroy 1,326 DNA samples taken in BTK investigation", "After 31 years and 10 deaths pieces fall in place", "How vanity and a rogue Microsoft Word document led to the capture of evil 'BTK' serial killer", "How the Cops Caught BTK: Playing to a serial killer's ego helped crack the case", "BTK Kansas Serial Killer Full BTK Story", "Policeman details capture of BTK killer", "From DNA of Family, a Tool to Make Arrests", "CNN.com Report: Daughter of BTK suspect alerted police Apr 19, 2005", "BTK Serial Killer Suspect's Charges State of Kansas v. Dennis Rader (page 6)", "BTK Suspect Said to Confess to 6 Slayings", "Rader has admitted to killings, daily says", "Victim's brother describes killing linked to BTK", "Families of BTK victims prepare to wait", "US Serial Killer pleads guilty to ten murders", "BTK killer sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms", "Dennis Rader's listing on the Kansas Department of Corrections, "Everything You Need To Know About BTK, The Disturbing Killer Shown In 'Mindhunter', "Daughter of Wichita serial killer BTK; Stephen King 'exploiting my father's 10 victims', "Ahead of the Season 22 Premiere, We Ranked the 30 Best Law & Order: SVU Episodes Ever", "11 episodes of 'Criminal Minds' that were likely inspired by real-life crimes", "That creepy ADT guy on 'Mindhunter'? "[61][62], On February 28, 2005, Rader was charged with 10 counts of first degree murder. Rader's story inspired the Stephen King novella A Good Marriage, which was published as part of the 2010 collection Full Dark, No Stars and later became a feature film. [54] An Internet search determined that a "Dennis Rader" was president of the church council. His father is an American serial killer known as BTK or the BTK Strangler while his mother is a former bookkeeper. From 1974 to 1991, serial killer Dennis Rader murdered 10 people under the moniker BTK Killer, standing for "Bind, Torture, Kill." Around his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, Rader was known as a family man and church leader, and no one suspected he was the man sending taunting letters to police and media detailing his brutal, twisted crimes. "[59][60] Wichita Police, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and ATF agents searched Rader's home and vehicle, seizing evidence including computer equipment, a pair of black pantyhose retrieved from a shed, and a cylindrical container. In 1979, he sent two identical packages, one to an intended victim who was not at home when he broke into her house and the other to KAKE. Police tape hangs across the street in front of Rader's house, 2005. [47], After his capture, Rader admitted in his interrogation that he had been planning to kill again and he had set a date, October 2004, and was stalking his intended victim. Then, Rader initiated a series of 11 communications to the local media. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. [66], On March 1, Rader's bail was set at US$10million, and a public defender was appointed to represent him. An internet search determined that a "Dennis Rader" was president of the church council. Rader maintained the image of being a good husband and father, and his family had no inkling about his murderous streak. This includes one person who was saved when Rader called off his planned attack upon his arrival near the target's home due to the presence of construction and road crews nearby. [44] Altogether, more than 1,300DNA samples were taken and later destroyed by court order. [67] On May 3, the judge entered not guilty pleas on Rader's behalf, as Rader did not speak at his arraignment;[68] however, on June 27, the scheduled trial date, Rader changed his plea to guilty. He was killed in 1994 by a fellow prison inmate. This would be his last killing. He was also a family man, the president of the local Christ Lutheran Church and a boy scout troop leader. But maybe, with me, acceptance is starting to creep in.. He described the murders in detail and made no apologies. Victims' families made statements, followed by Rader, who apologized for the crimes in a rambling, bizarre 30-minute monologue that District Attorney Nola Foulston likened to an Academy Awards thank you speech. She apparently was terrified and told him to go get help. In his police interview, Rader stated that "there are a lot of lucky people", meaning that he had thought about, and developed various levels of planning, the murdering of other victims. He, too, is a Christian, and his zodiac sign is Pisces. "BTK" stands for "Bind, Torture, Kill", which was his infamous signature. It was later retrieved from the trash after Rader asked what had become of it in a later message. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. Once in handcuffs, he was asked by an officer, "Mr. Rader, do you know why you're being arrested?" [21], Massachusetts psychologist Robert Mendoza was hired by Rader's court-appointed public defenders to conduct a psychological evaluation of Rader, and determine if an insanity-based defense might be viable. He is now in solitary confinement for his protection (with one hour of exercise per day, and showers three times per week). The fact that he was able to murder small children without any remorse is truly chilling. As a young boy, he was reserved and quiet. He had been arrested for the murders five days earlier. Dennis Rader is 76 years old, having been born on March 9, 1945. The Oteros' 15-year-old son, Charlie, came home later that day and discovered the bodies. Also included was a poem threatening the life of lead investigator Lt. Ken Landwehr and a false autobiography containing many details about Rader's life. As far as is known, Rader kept his fantasies and his cruelty to animals to himself. Rader also twice shot her brother, Kevin, though he survived. He warned that he would strike again, noting, "The code words for me will be bind them, torture them, kill them, B.T.K." When investigators drove by Rader's house, they noticed the black Jeep Cherokee parked outside. It is believed that he worked briefly for Cessna, the aircraft manufacturer, in late 1973 or early 1974. William Rader{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "William Rader", "gender": "Male" }, Dorothea Rader{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothea Rader", "gender": "Female" }, Wichita Heights High School, Wichita, Kansas, United States, Riverview School, Wichita, Kansas, United States, Butler County Community College, El Dorado, Kansas, United States, Kansas Wesleyan University, Kansas, United States [18] On June9, a package was found taped to a stop sign at the corner of First and Kansas roads in Wichita. The FBI, Civil Air Patrol, and local jurisdictions at Rader's former duty stations also checked into unsolved cases during Rader's time in the service. In December 2004, Wichita police received another package from the BTK killer. The truth of what caused Rader to become the BTK killer may never be fully known. [19][22] Rader was a census field operations supervisor for the Wichita area in 1989, before the 1990federal census. By 2004, the investigation of the BTK Killer was considered a cold case.