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76-583: The Wichita Police Department was created on April 13, 1871. A notable figure in the Department’s history was O.W. Wilson, who was considered an innovative police reformer. Wilson was credited with starting the Criminal Justice Program at Wichita State University, previously called the Municipal University of Wichita in 1937. O.W. Wilson was a protegee of Chief August Vollmer and later became

152-460: A Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in administration of justice. Rader initially worked as an assembler for the Coleman Company , an outdoor supply company. He then worked at the local Wichita office of ADT Security Services from 1974 to 1988, where he installed security alarms. Ironically, many of his clients were concerned homeowners seeking security from his own killings as BTK. Rader

228-477: A floppy disk , could be traced or not. The police answered his question in a newspaper ad posted in the Eagle , saying it would be safe to use the disk. On February 16, 2005, Rader sent a purple 1.44-Megabyte Memorex floppy disk to Wichita station KSAS-TV . 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

304-523: A black Jeep Cherokee—the type of vehicle seen in the Home Depot surveillance footage—was parked outside. This was strong circumstantial evidence against Rader, but they needed more direct evidence to detain him. Police obtained a warrant to test a pap smear taken from Rader's daughter at the Kansas State University medical clinic. DNA tests showed a "familial match" between the pap smear and

380-517: A date (October 2004) and was stalking his intended victim. That month, a manila envelope was dropped into a UPS box in Wichita. It contained many cards with images of terror and bondage of children pasted on them, a poem threatening the life of lead investigator Lieutenant Ken Landwehr and a false autobiography with many details about Rader's life. These details were later released to the public. In December 2004, Wichita police received another package from

456-504: A drawing of an upside-down pair of glasses, which were found at the Fox crime scene. They hoped the message would influence the killer to turn himself in, but it was unsuccessful. Attempted Murder of Anna Williams During this time, Rader also intended to kill others, such as Anna Williams (63), who, in 1979, escaped death by returning home much later than expected. Rader explained during his confession that he became obsessed with Williams and

532-431: A female mask while bound. He later admitted that he was pretending to be his victims as part of his sexual fantasy. However, Rader kept his proclivities well hidden, and was widely regarded in his community as "normal, polite, and well mannered." After graduating from Wichita Heights High School , Rader attended Kansas Wesleyan University . He received only mediocre grades and dropped out after one year. Rader served in

608-417: 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. The videotape of Mendoza's interview ended up being used on NBC 's Dateline . NBC claimed Rader knew the interview might be televised, but this was false according to

684-513: A letter with chapter headings for the "BTK Story", fake IDs and a word puzzle. On June 9, a package was found taped to a stop sign at the corner of First and Kansas roads in Wichita, which contained graphic descriptions of the Otero murders and a sketch labeled "The Sexual Thrill Is My Bill." Also enclosed was a chapter list for a proposed book titled The BTK Story , which mimicked a story written in 1999 by Court TV crime writer David Lohr . Chapter One

760-709: A local four-day camp for boys between the ages of 7 and 10. Herman Hill riot The 1979 Easter Sunday Herman Hill riot in Wichita, Kansas , United States – a confrontation between 500 law-enforcement personnel (from Wichita and surrounding jurisdictions) and the 3,500 attendees at a rock concert in Herman Hill Park – was one of the largest riots in the history of Wichita, drawing national attention and creating political and legal controversy. The event resulted in over 50 injuries, to more than two dozen police officers and dozens of civilians, and over 80 arrests. Tear gas

836-518: A lot of lucky people", meaning that he had thought about and developed various levels of murder plans for other victims. Massachusetts psychologist Robert Mendoza was hired by Rader's public defenders to conduct a psychological evaluation and determine if an insanity-based defense might be viable. He conducted an interview after Rader had pleaded guilty on June 27, 2005. Mendoza diagnosed Rader with narcissistic , obsessive-compulsive and antisocial personality disorders : he observed that Rader has

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912-399: A potential victim and began stalking her. On December 8, 1977, Rader knocked at her door. When nobody answered, he cut the phone lines before breaking in to wait for Fox in her kitchen. Her murder would be described by Rader as "what I call a perfect – perfect hit. Although she gave me a lot of verbal static, she cooperated, and she didn't fight me. I had complete control of her, that's why it

988-401: A precursor to adopting a city-wide implementation strategy. In 1994 two supervisors, Stephen Cole, and Thomas Stolz, were selected to lead the initiative. They selected 15 staff members trained to work with diverse populations, mediate neighborhood disputes, problem-solve, and use community resources. The officers were relieved of 911 call responsibility and focused on developing partnerships with

1064-403: A rambling thirty-minute monologue that the prosecutor likened to an Academy Awards acceptance speech . His statement has been described as an example of an often-observed phenomenon among psychopaths : their inability to understand the emotional content of language. Rader was sentenced to ten consecutive life sentences , with a minimum of 175 years. Kansas did not enforce the death penalty at

1140-512: A result of the riot, 62 adults and 22 juveniles were taken into custody. Reports stated that 22 citizens and 31 police officers were injured during the riot. Many local law enforcement agencies attended, including the Kansas Highway Patrol , Sheriff's Offices and Police Departments of nearby towns (including Arkansas City, Colwich, Goddard, Derby and Haysville). Representatives of a total of 22 different law enforcement groups were present on

1216-467: A result, the ten known murders were at that point believed to be the only murders for which Rader was actually responsible, although Wichita police are fairly certain that he stalked and researched a number of other potential victims. 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. Rader stated in his police interview that "there are

1292-402: A section of grass that had previously been used as an overflow parking area. The conflict began when police ordered people to remove these vehicles from the grass. Tensions escalated after officers who responded to the complaints saw an individual dispensing beer from the back of a pick-up truck. A combination of the people's refusal to disperse, the confrontation with the owner of the pick-up, and

1368-401: A serial killer. Police found metadata embedded in a deleted Microsoft Word document that was, unknown to Rader, still stored on the floppy disk. The metadata contained the words "Christ Lutheran Church" and the document was marked as last modified by "Dennis." An Internet search determined that a "Dennis Rader" was president of the church council. When investigators drove by Rader's house,

1444-608: A supernatural element that also motivated Jack the Ripper , the Son of Sam and the Hillside Stranglers . He also asked for the police to send him a hidden message. In response, and with the knowledge that the BTK killer watched KAKE, police decided to flash a subliminal message during one of the station's evening newscasts for a split second. The message stated: "Now call the chief," and featured

1520-661: A thirteen-year hiatus, Rader resumed sending letters, leading to his 2005 arrest and subsequent guilty plea. He is currently serving ten consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility . Dennis Lynn Rader was born in Pittsburg , Kansas , on March 9, 1945. His parents were bookkeeper Dorothea Mae Rader ( née  Cook ; September 17, 1925 – October 14, 2007) and Kansas Gas Service worker William Elvin Rader (November 21, 1922 – December 27, 1996). He

1596-411: A young girl. Otero Murders On January 15, 1974, four members of the Otero family were murdered in Wichita. The victims were Joseph Otero Sr. (38), Julia Maria "Julie" Otero (33), Joseph "Joey" Otero II (9) and Josephine "Josie" Otero (11). Their bodies were discovered by the family's three older children, who had been at school at the time of the killings. After his 2005 arrest, Rader confessed to

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1672-616: Is an American serial killer who murdered at least ten people in Wichita and Park City , Kansas , between 1974 and 1991. Although he occasionally killed or attempted to kill men and children, Rader typically targeted women. His victims were often bound, sometimes with objects from their homes, and either suffocated with a plastic bag or manually strangled with a ligature . In addition, he stole keepsakes from his female victims, including underwear, driver's licenses, and personal items. Rader often sent taunting letters to police and media outlets, describing his crimes in detail. In 2004, after

1748-702: Is arrested." On February 28, 2005, Rader was charged with ten counts of first degree murder . Soon afterward, the Associated Press cited an anonymous source alleging that Rader had confessed to other murders in addition to those with which he had been connected. However, the Sedgwick County district attorney denied the story, yet refused to say whether Rader had made any confessions or if investigators were looking into his possible involvement in more unsolved killings. On March 5, news sources claimed to have verified by multiple sources that Rader had confessed to

1824-509: The Associated Press reported that Rader was considered the prime suspect in two further killings in Oklahoma and Missouri . Authorities discovered "possible trophies" from victims after launching a search for evidence at Rader's former Park City home, resulting in the investigation of his potential involvement in additional unsolved disappearances and murders: By 2004, the investigation of

1900-589: 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. Christ Lutheran Church, Rader's office and the main branch of the Park City library were also searched. At a press conference the next morning, Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams announced, "The bottom line: BTK

1976-626: The United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970. On discharge, he moved to Park City , a suburb of Wichita, where he worked in the meat department of an IGA supermarket where his mother was employed as a bookkeeper. Rader married Paula Dietz on May 22, 1971. They had two children, Kerri and Brian. He attended Butler County Community College in El Dorado , earning an associate degree in electronics engineering in 1973. He then enrolled at Wichita State University and graduated in 1979 with

2052-495: The Arkansas River as it flows out of the city. This event inspired a song by Manilla Road , "Herman Hill", released in 1979. 37°38′56″N 97°20′19″W  /  37.64889°N 97.33861°W  / 37.64889; -97.33861 Dennis Rader This is an accepted version of this page Dennis Lynn Rader (born March 9, 1945), also known as BTK (an abbreviation he gave himself for " bind, torture, kill "),

2128-644: The BTK Task Force in 2004. The Wichita Police Department, in conjunction with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, filed the very first Federal Racketeering case in Kansas history on September 28, 2007. Two indictments name 28 defendants - all Crips Gang members - citing 4 murders, 11 attempted murders, and other crimes including arson, robbery, cocaine, and crack cocaine possession with intent to distribute and transportation of minors to engage in prostitution. According to

2204-513: The BTK killer was considered a cold case . However, Rader initiated a series of eleven communications to local media, which led directly to his arrest in February 2005. In March 2004, The Wichita Eagle received a letter from someone using the name "Bill Thomas Killman" claiming that he had murdered Vicki Wegerle in 1986. Enclosed with the message were photographs of the crime scene and a photocopy of Wegerle's driver's license, which had been stolen at

2280-537: The Investigations Division to transition the Investigations Division to Community Policing. Results from the project indicate that clearance rates for homicide improved, and three cold cases were also solved during the year. Robbery clearances improved from 39% to 48%, aggravated assault clearances improved 11 percent, and rape clearance skyrocketed from 78% to 98%. Overall violent crime clearance rates improved from 52% to 60% between 1998 and 1999. In 2003

2356-460: The Otero murders. He claimed that he first targeted the family two months prior, when he spotted Julie leaving to take her children to school and followed them. On the morning of January 15, Rader cut the phone lines and entered the Otero residence when Joey opened the back door for the family dog. Rader told the Otero family that he was a "wanted" man in California before he ordered them to lie on

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2432-551: The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office. Rader mentioned the interview during his sentencing statement. On October 25, 2005, the Kansas attorney general filed a petition to sue Mendoza and Tali Waters, co-owners of Cambridge Forensic Consultants LLC, for breach of contract, claiming that they intended to benefit financially from the use of information obtained through involvement in Rader's defense . On May 10, 2007, Mendoza settled

2508-723: The South Central Prostitution Project. In 2003, the International Association of Chiefs of Police awarded the department the "Webber Seavey Excellence in Law Enforcement Award" for a project addressing violent crime in the Planeview neighborhood of Wichita . Also in 2003, the Boy Scouts of America gave the department the "Whitney Young Jr Community Service Award" for their support of Camp Awareness,

2584-653: The Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Another well known historical figure was Wyatt Earp, later known for his role in the shootout at the OK Corral. He was hired by then City Marshal Mike Meager as a police officer in Wichita on April 21, 1875 and fired on April 19, 1876. He then moved to Dodge City. On September 15, 1978, eighty-four (84) members of the police department turned in their badges and identification cards and went on strike to support

2660-448: The WPD received national attention for its lack of action in handling racism and extremism on the force. Department managers failed to appropriately discipline Wichita Police Department members who exchanged racist, sexist and homophobic texts and images. A city report stated the police force mismanaged investigation of the incidents. A committee appointed by Wichita City Manager Robert Layton said

2736-540: The Wichita Fire Department, who were already on strike. The FOP cited pay and overtime compensation as the main reason for the strike, along with their inability to obtain a new union contract. Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon fired 84 striking police officers, which grew to 122 officers by the end of the strike. Although the Police Chief said he would not hire the officers back, he eventually rehired most of

2812-667: The Wichita Police Department again received national recognition by receiving the Webber Seavey Award for Best Policing project in 2002 for a midsized City. The Police Department was recognized for the Plainview Project, which addressed juvenile crime. Officers organized a soccer league and a summer camp for children from kindergarten through 8th grade. Juvenile crime, including auto theft and vandalism, fell 32 percent from 2001 to 2002. The WPD made national news for

2888-702: The Wichita Police Department and in 1983 the International Association of Chiefs of Police officially adopted the Torch Run. Many of the original participants in the Torch Run were later inducted as Hall of Fame members by Special Olympics. In the Herman Hill riot of 1979, 88 people were arrested and at least 51 were injured. In 1993, Deputy Chief Mike Watson proposed the Police Department implement community policing in specific high-crime targeted areas as

2964-520: The area. Weapon violations and prostitution offenses declined dramatically. The neighborhood recorded an 11 percent decrease in crime for 1995 compared to 1994, with even more significant decreases observed in property crimes. In 2001 the Wichita Police Department received recognition as a top 30 semifinalist for the Webber Seavey Excellence in Law Enforcement Award from the International Association of Chiefs. The Police Department restructured

3040-555: The basement, where he hanged her with a noose from a pipe. Later, police found Rader's semen near Josie's partially clothed body. Rader eventually wrote a letter that he stashed inside an engineering book in the Wichita Public Library in October 1974, describing the Otero killings in detail. Murder of Kathryn Bright On April 4, 1974, Rader broke into the Wichita home of Kathryn Doreen Bright (21) through her screen door but

3116-504: The bathroom, Rader took Relford to the rear bedroom. Relford vomited before being tied to her bedpost by her legs. Rader strangled her with rope after placing a plastic bag over her head, while her children screamed and banged down the hallway. Similar to the Otero murders, Rader intended to murder Relford's children, although they were ultimately able to escape before he could do so. Murder of Nancy Jo Fox When Rader noticed Nancy Jo Fox (25) going into her home in Wichita, he marked her as

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3192-630: The community while solving neighborhood problems. In March 1996, the Police Department expanded community policing to cover the entire city and assigned 36 officers, each assigned to a beat, to community policing. In 1996 the Wichita Police Department received the Webber Seavey Excellence in Law Enforcement Award presented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for a community project aimed at reducing prostitution in South Central Wichita. Traditional law enforcement activities such as prostitution stings only provided short-term relief to

3268-505: The community. In 1994 the Wichita Police Department adopted and implemented a philosophy of community policing in four targeted high-crime neighborhoods, which included the South Central neighborhood. The Wichita Police Department addressed the crime issues using a strategic enforcement plan and proposed two new city ordinances to combat crime in the area. An evaluation of the South Central Prostitution Project indicated that crime decreased in

3344-482: The department must "crack down on biased police officers, poor leadership, botched investigations and poor oversight." Also in 2021, Chief Lemuel Moore received national attention for disciplining members of the department who had sent extremist and racist messages. Moore has criticized an investigation under his predecessor, Gordon Ramsay, that cleared most of the officers of any wrongdoing in racist messaging and ordered “non-discipline” coaching and mentoring for some of

3420-468: The fact that the officers were greatly outnumbered caused the officers to call for reinforcements. The second wave of police launched tear gas canisters into the crowd. Many children were present and were overcome with the gas. In retaliation, some in the crowd began throwing rocks and bottles. A police car was overturned. In panic, many of the concert-goers fled into the surrounding residential area and were sheltered for several hours by local residents. As

3496-632: The indictment, the Crips formed a criminal enterprise engaging in illegal activities including narcotics trafficking, drive-by shootings, and burglaries; sought to preserve and expand their power through intimidation, threats and assaults; attempted to preserve and protect themselves from interference by law enforcement; and tried to keep their victims in fear through violence and threats. The 2017 Wichita swatting that resulted in Wichita resident Andrew Finch being fatally shot by WPD Officer Justin Rapp. In 2021 and 2022,

3572-404: The killer. This time, the package was found in Wichita's Murdock Park. It contained the driver's license of Nancy Fox, which was noted as stolen from the crime scene, as well as a doll that was symbolically bound at the hands and feet with a plastic bag tied over its head. In January 2005, Rader attempted to leave a cereal box in the bed of a pickup truck at a Home Depot in Wichita, but the box

3648-447: The killing spree of Dennis Rader , also known as the BTK serial killer, from 1974 to 1978. He was arrested and convicted in 2005. A tissue sample from his daughter was used to confirm DNA tests that linked Rader to ten killings committed between 1974 and 1991. Homicide Unit Commander Ken Landwehr was the department's expert on the BTK killer case, so the Wichita Police Department's Chief of Police Norman D. Williams assigned Landwehr to head

3724-537: The living room floor at gunpoint. Then, he led the family into a bedroom and bound them with rope he had prepared. Joseph and Joey were on the floor, while Julie and Josie were on the bed. The wrists and feet of Joseph and Julie were restrained. Joseph's head was covered by a plastic bag, which Rader then secured with ropes. After Joseph chewed a hole in the bag, another bag was tightened over his head, causing him to slowly suffocate to death. Rader attempted to strangle Julie, later recalling: "Mrs. Otero woke back up. She

3800-412: The mid-1990s, filed restraining orders against him; one of these women also changed her address to avoid him. One neighbor complained that Rader killed her dog for no reason. Rader was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Wichita, and at one point was elected president of the church council. He was also a Cub Scout leader and would frequently use being with the scouts as his alibi when a BTK killing

3876-559: The most egregious messages. An outside organization will be hired to conduct an investigation into the extent of racism and extremism in the police force. As of 2000, the WPD had the following demographic profile: In 1991, Chief Rick Stone was named "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" by the United States Marshals Service . In 1996 the Wichita Police Department received the Webber Seavey Excellence in Law Enforcement Award for

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3952-486: The murders. He suggested many possible names for himself, including "BTK." He demanded media attention in this second letter, saying, "How many do I have to kill, before I get a name in the paper or some national attention?" A poem was enclosed titled "Oh! Death to Nancy," a parody of the lyrics to the American folk song " O Death ". In the letter, Rader claimed to be driven to kill by "factor X," which he characterized as

4028-444: The officers, but forced them to reapply for their jobs. In 1977 Chief Richard LaMunyon announced plans to implement Neighborhood Team Policing in Wichita beginning July 1, 1978. In June, 1978 the Police Department's structure was changed to accommodate Team Policing. A Captain commanded 31 officers, six Lieutenants, and detectives who all will work as a team in a geographic area to address crime. In 1983 Chief Richard LaMunyon announced

4104-431: The residence by pretending to be a telephone repairman. After the murder, he rearranged her clothes and took a number of photographs of her nude body. Murder of Dolores Davis His final victim, Dolores Earline "Dee" Davis (62), was found dead on February 1, 1991, at West 117th Street North and North Meridian Street in Park City. Rader had killed her on January 19 by strangling her with pantyhose . On August 23, 2023,

4180-625: The restructuring of the Department but retained the team concept. The original six (6) patrol sectors were consolidated into four (4) patrol sectors. Chief LaMunyon cited the lack of budget and manpower as a driving force behind the restructuring. Team Policing in its original structure was discontinued. Chief Richard LaMunyon is nationally known for his role in starting the Law Enforcement Torch Run as part of Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run began in 1981 by Chief LaMunyon in

4256-425: The riot. The concert began in an undeveloped park on the southern edge of the city purportedly capable of holding 1,500 people; later crowd estimates ranged between 3,500 and 5,000 people, but attendees estimated the number to be closer to 1,000. Police responded to complaints about loud noise and drug use. As news of the concert spread, motorcycles, along with some cars and pick-up trucks, began illegally parking on

4332-426: The sample from Wegerle's fingernails; this indicated that the killer was closely related to Rader's daughter and, combined with the other evidence, was enough for police to arrest Rader. Rader was arrested while driving near his home in Park City shortly after noon on February 25, 2005. An officer asked, "Mr. Rader, do you know why you're going downtown?" Rader replied, "Oh, I have suspicions why." Wichita Police ,

4408-440: The scene. Reports cited damage of around $ 10,000. At least two citizens were shot at. There was public outcry against the police's handling of the riot. There were no lasting injuries among officers, and police were not found to have broken any laws. In an interview, the city's police chief denied that brutality was used in quelling the riot. After the statement, a video tape was shown in which police hit civilians with batons. In

4484-533: The ten murders he was charged with, but no other ones. On March 1, Rader's bail was set at US$ 10 million, and a public defender was appointed to represent him. On May 3, the judge entered not guilty pleas on Rader's behalf, as Rader did not speak at his arraignment ; however, on June 27, the scheduled trial date, Rader changed his plea to guilty. He described the murders in detail to the court and made no apologies. At Rader's August 18 sentencing, victims' families made statements, after which Rader apologized in

4560-405: The time of the crime. Prior to this message, it had not been definitively established that Wegerle was killed by BTK. DNA collected from under her fingernails provided police with previously unknown evidence. They began DNA testing hundreds of men in an effort to find the killer. Altogether, more than 1,300 DNA samples were taken and later destroyed by court order. In May 2004, KAKE received

4636-491: The time of the murders. On August 19, Rader was moved to the El Dorado Correctional Facility . Rader talked about innocuous topics such as the weather during the forty-minute drive to El Dorado but began to cry when the victims' families' statements from the court proceedings came on the radio. He is now in solitary confinement for his protection (with one hour of exercise per day and showers three times per week). This will likely continue indefinitely. Beginning in 2006, Rader

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4712-481: The years following the riot incident, Herman Hill Park has evolved into a neighborhood-centered and family-friendly destination. The City of Wichita established a police substation in the northeast corner of the park. In 2003, the Water Center, a groundwater remediation facility and interactive museum, opened to the public. Paved trails allow visitors to walk alongside a creek, view an aquarium of native fish, and watch

4788-427: Was "absolutely livid" when she evaded him. He recalled spending hours waiting at Williams' home but becoming impatient and leaving when she did not return from visiting friends. Murder of Marine Hedge Marine Hedge (53) was found on May 5, 1985, at East 53rd Street North in Wichita, between North Webb Road and North Greenwich Road. Rader had killed her on April 27 and took her body to Christ Lutheran Church, where he

4864-400: Was a field operations supervisor for the Wichita area for the 1990 federal census . In May 1991, Rader became a dogcatcher and compliance officer in Park City. In this position, neighbors recalled him as being sometimes overzealous and extremely strict, as well as taking special pleasure in bullying and harassing single women. Two women he stalked in the 1980s, and one whom he stalked in

4940-718: Was allowed access to television and radio, to read magazines and other privileges for good behavior. Following Rader's arrest, police in Wichita and several surrounding cities looked into unsolved cases with the cooperation of the state police and the FBI. They particularly focused on cases after 1994, when the death penalty was reinstated in Kansas. Police in surrounding states also investigated cold cases that fit Rader's pattern. After exhaustive investigations, none of these agencies discovered any further murders attributable to Rader, supporting early suspicions that he would have taken responsibility for any additional murders that he had committed. As

5016-453: Was also strangled and shot in the head, but he survived by feigning death and later escaping. Murder of Shirley Ruth Relford On March 17, 1977, Shirley Ruth Relford (25) was found dead in her home in Wichita. Rader was pursuing Relford and located her by following her 5-year-old son to her home. Rader entered their residence and produced a handgun from his jacket, frightening the family. After tying up her three children and locking them in

5092-484: Was discarded by the truck's owner. It was later retrieved from the trash after Rader asked what had become of it in a later message. Surveillance tape of the parking lot from that date revealed a distant figure driving a black Jeep Cherokee leaving the box in the pickup. In February 2005, more postcards were sent to KAKE, and another cereal box left at a rural location was found to contain another bound doll. In his letters to police, Rader asked if his writings, if put on

5168-427: Was discovered. By the 2000s, the public's memories of the murders had begun to fade. Local author Robert Beattie began writing a book about the killings, Nightmare in Wichita , after being shocked that many young people he spoke to had never heard of the BTK case. Hungry for attention, Rader re-emerged as BTK in 2004 after learning that the book was being written. On July 26, 2005, after Rader's arrest, his wife

5244-522: Was granted an emergency divorce, waiving the normal sixty-day waiting period. In an interview with ABC News in 2019, his daughter Kerri stated she writes to her father and has now forgiven him, but still struggles to reconcile her "normal" childhood with the knowledge that she was raised by the BTK killer. However, at the 2024 Crime Con in Nashville , Tennessee , Kerri revealed excerpts from her father's journal that revealed he had sexually abused her as

5320-445: Was one of the more enjoyable kills, as I call them." Rader killed Fox by strangling her with his belt on her bed. Before she died, Rader told her that he was responsible for the Otero murders. The following day, Rader called police from a payphone , telling them they would find Fox's body at her home. BTK asks for infamy On February 10, 1978, Rader sent another letter to Wichita television station KAKE claiming responsibility for

5396-528: Was pretty upset with what was going on, and she asked me to save her son, so I took the bag off. She screamed, 'You killed my boy! You killed my boy!' After the initial realization and shock, she communicated, 'God have mercy on your soul,' before I put her down, permanently." Rader strangled Julie to death with rope. With both parents dead, Rader then placed another plastic bag, followed by two T-shirts and an additional bag, over Joey's head, watching as he thrashed and suffocated. Afterward, Rader led Josie down into

5472-465: Was taken aback to discover her 19-year-old brother, Kevin Bright, was also present in the property. He transported Kathryn to another bedroom and tied her down after forcing Kevin, who was being held at gunpoint, to restrain his sister with a rope Rader had provided. Rader attempted to strangle Kathryn before stabbing her three times in the back and lower abdomen with a knife when she struggled too much. Kevin

5548-812: Was the eldest of four sons. Growing up in Wichita , Rader later recalled feeling ignored by his mother. Both of his parents worked long hours and paid little attention to their children at home. From a young age, Rader harbored sadistic sexual fantasies about torturing "trapped and helpless" women. He also exhibited zoosadism by torturing, killing and hanging small animals. Rader acted out sexual fetishes for voyeurism , autoerotic asphyxiation and cross-dressing , often spying on female neighbors while dressed in women's clothing, including women's underwear that he had stolen. He also masturbated with ropes or other bindings around his arms and neck. Years later, during his "cooling off" periods between murders, Rader would take pictures of himself wearing women's clothes and

5624-432: Was the president of the church council. There, he photographed her body in various suggestive positions. Rader had previously stored black plastic sheets and other materials at the church in preparation for the murder and then, later, dumped the body in a remote ditch. Murder of Vicki Wegerle On September 16, 1986, Rader strangled Vicki Lynn Wegerle (28) to death with a nylon stocking at her house in Wichita. He entered

5700-489: Was titled "A Serial Killer Is Born." In July, a package dropped into the return slot at a public library contained more bizarre material, including the claim that BTK was responsible for the death of 19-year-old Jake Allen in Argonia, Kansas , earlier that month. This claim was false, and that death was ruled a suicide . After his capture, Rader admitted in his interrogation that he had been planning to kill again, that he had set

5776-495: Was used and firearms were discharged. The event triggered extensive local, state and national attention, including investigations by authorities at all those levels, and raised major questions about the conduct of law enforcement in the Wichita area. The Herman Hill riot was a riot that took place in Wichita , Kansas , between the audience at a local rock concert in Herman Hill Park and the police on April 15, 1979 (Easter Sunday). Reports stated that 53 people were injured during

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