BTK' Busted, Wichita Paper Linked to Case Plans Special Coverage

Editor and Publisher ^ | 2.26.05 | associated press

[TexKat]

This is an undated photo from the Website of the city of Park City, Kan., showing Dennis Rader, supervisor of the compliance department. Officials in Witchita, Kan., announced the arrest of Rader in connection with the BTK serial killer case, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005. (AP Photo)

Kan. Police Make Arrest in BTK Killings

By ROXANA HEGEMAN, Associated Press Writer

WICHITA, Kan. - Police said Saturday they have arrested a man they believe is the notorious BTK serial killer who terrorized Wichita throughout the 1970s and then resurfaced about a year ago after 25 years of silence.

"The bottom line: BTK is arrested," Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams said at a news conference in Wichita with some of the victims' family members.

BTK investigator Lt. Ken Landwehr identified the suspect as Dennis Rader, a 59-year-old city worker in nearby Park City, who was arrested Friday at his suburban home.

The BTK killer — a self-coined nickname that stands for "Bind, Torture, Kill" — had been linked to eight killings committed between 1974 and 1986. Police said Saturday they have attributed two more slayings to BTK, from 1985 and 1991.

No charges had been filed Saturday. Prosecutor Nola Foulston said that while there is no statute of limitations for homicide, the death penalty would not apply to any crime committed before 1994, when the death penalty was introduced in Kansas.

BTK sent letters to media about the crimes in the 1970s, but stopped for more than two decades before re-establishing contact last March with a letter about an unsolved 1986 killing.

Since then, authorities said the killer has sent at least eight letters to the media or police, including three packages containing jewelry that police believed may have been taken from BTK's victims. One letter contained the driver's license of victim Nancy Fox.

The new letters sent chills through Wichita, but also rekindled hope that modern forensic science could find some clue that would finally lead police to a killer most thought was dead or safely locked in prison for some other crime.

Thousands of tips poured in, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation conducted hundreds of DNA swabs in connection with the BTK investigation.

A source with knowledge of the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity said surveillance gave police their "first big piece" of recent evidence, leading authorities to a vehicle and the suspect.

One of the victims newly identified by police, 53-year-old Marine Hedge, lived on Rader's street in Park City. She was abducted from her home in 1985, and her body was found eight days later along a dirt road.

Investigators searched Rader's house Friday and seized computer equipment.

"This has not been an easy task," Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans said Saturday. "Our fine police department has been, at times, questioned. Their competence was questioned, and their actions were often second-guessed.

"But all the while, these officers were steadfast in their commitment to solve the biggest police case in Wichita's history," Mayans said.

The BTK slayings began in 1974 with the strangulations of Joseph Otero, 38, his wife, Julie, 34, and their two children.

The letters began that same year, with poems and graphic descriptions of the crimes. The killer even called police with details of Nancy Fox's 1977 slaying.

When one of his messages, a poem sent to The Wichita Eagle-Beacon in 1978, was mistakenly routed to the classified ads department, BTK sent a letter to KAKE-TV days later complaining: "How many do I have to kill before I get my name in the paper or some national attention?"

Another letter to the newspaper also underscored BTK's need for recognition.

"How about some name for me, its time: 7 down and many more to go," it read in part. "I like the following. How about you? 'THE B.T.K STRANGLER, 'WICHITA STRANGLER', 'POETIC STRANGLER', 'THE BONDAGE STRANGER' OR 'PSYCHO', 'THE WICHITA HANGMAN', 'THE WICHITA EXECUTIONER,' 'THE GAROTE PHATHOM', 'THE ASPHYXIATER'."

The letters stopped in the late 1970s, but picked up last March, when a letter arrived at The Wichita Eagle with information on an unsolved 1986 killing, a copy of the victim's driver's license and photos of her slain body.

The return address on the letter said it was from Bill Thomas Killman — initials BTK. The address appeared to refer to a now-vacant building.

Police have been extremely tight-lipped about the case in the past year.

In December, the arrest of a Wichita resident on minor charges sparked widespread speculation of a possible link to BTK. That man, who had no connection to the case, later filed a defamation lawsuit against media outlets.

___

On the Net:

Wichita Police: http://www.wichita.gov/cityoffices/police

[Lancey Howard]

CNN reporter is in the back of the room, reporting in whispers as the pep rally continues...

"This will be a long putt for a birdie...."

[wardaddy]

I had dinner with a fellow freeper last nite and we discussed serial killers oddly and the way they often implode near the end...like Bundy for example.

Here....I don't know. Maybe he did start craving notoriety again but if it was that....why not start killing again rather than sending notes ...which was new was it not?

Oh well...who knows how loonies think.

I'm just glad they apparently got him.

[Dustbunny]

Thank God !!

[MEG33]

I'm not sure the gospel music thing does tie in to this man..

Ted Bundy was looked at as a possible Republican candidate by friends as he was so charismatic.

Fox saying they have been told daughter volunteered her DNA..I'm not sure when, before or after they picked him up.

[kittymyrib]

Well, if we're suspecting people who are craving notoriety, every one of the bozos at the podium during this pathetic news conference ought to be suspected of something. Someone needs to forward this thread to those ineffective LEOs who are taking credit for something that took 31 years and the perp's daughter to do. What a shameless bid for recognition!

[hoosiermama]

FR mail coming in.

[gopwinsin04]

My guess is that killing the animals at this job probably just 'wasnt enough' for BTK as a suitable substitute for his madness and craved the attention from the media and police again.

Still, this is a faily atypical case to say the least..

[MEG33]

The joy of taunting the police again just overwhelmed him..

[aculeus]

I dunno...you must remember the Columbine cops who were all bundled up in their SWAT gear and wouldn't go in the building for hours, allowing victims to bleed to death inside while the perps were stone-cold dead.

That was a disgrace. We ought to have some sort of national standards or a national school for training all cops. Some of these PD's are clownish.

[rwfromkansas]

Contact police chief Norman Williams about his sick press conference.

I am flat appalled. I understand the need to have some joy at catching this guy, but this was a party. Barely any facts whatsoever for the journalists to gather.

I am pissed off.

Police Chief: nwilliams@wichita.gov
Police offices: policeweb@wichita.gov
Public affairs: 268-4101
Main number: (316) 688-9331
Mayor: CMayans@wichita.gov
Mayor's office: (316) 268-4331

[MEG33]

"When one of his messages, a poem sent to The Wichita Eagle-Beacon in 1978, was mistakenly routed to the classified ads department, BTK sent a letter to KAKE-TV days later complaining: "How many do I have to kill before I get my name in the paper or some national attention?"


Another letter to the newspaper also underscored BTK's need for recognition.

"How about some name for me, its time: 7 down and many more to go," it read in part. "I like the following. How about you? 'THE B.T.K STRANGLER, 'WICHITA STRANGLER', 'POETIC STRANGLER', 'THE BONDAGE STRANGER' OR 'PSYCHO', 'THE WICHITA HANGMAN', 'THE WICHITA EXECUTIONER,' 'THE GAROTE PHATHOM', 'THE ASPHYXIATER'"

Loves the attention and it finally did him in!

[gopwinsin04]

I would hate to be BTK's supervisor in the Park City animal control division right now!

[TexKat]

Dennis Rader Supervisor

Compliance Department

The Compliance Department is a multi-functional department. The Department handles animal control, housing problems, zoning, general permit enforcement and a variety of nuisance cases. The Department currently has two officers.

Overview:

There are two Park City Compliance Officers who provide Animal Control for the City. Dogs must wear a current Rabies tag at all times. The tag number is your pet's best insurance. With it we can notify you if your pet is found or get veterinary treatment if it is injured. Without the tag we can do neither.

All animals must have fresh food and water, weatherproof shelter and veterinary care when needed. Animals housed outdoors must have a clean dry area. All domestic animal shelters shall be cleaned at least once each week or more often if necessary to prevent or control odors, fly breeding and rodent infestation.

If your pet disappears, call immediately:

316.744.2026 Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

It is our hope that by working together we can provide a safe, healthy environment for our community and our pets.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:CmB-un1FYusJ:www.parkcityks.com/index.asp%3FID%3D163+%22dennis+rader%22+%22park+city%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[gopwinsin04]

Norman Williams, the 'Chief Moose' of the midwest..

[hoosiermama]

Bingo....The perp gets as many of his jollies from being able to pull one over on the authorities as he does from the actual killing...Little god syndrome! I'm more powerful than the people with power. That's why I asked earlier about his wife and daughter's relationship....IMO he probably was a very controlling figure in the home.

How old was the daughter when he took his haitus from killing?....Old enough to be victimized in other ways?....Maybe she's finally getting some justice for herself. JMO

[TexKat]

Barely any facts whatsoever for the journalists to gather

Well ask yourself, how much info would you give journalist these days to misstrew. lol!!!

[gopwinsin04]

And he wanted recognition for what he had done.

Interesting that in the press conference the number was upped to 10 killings.

[MEG33]

I read on the Kansas.com board that the wife is very sweet..but he is arrogant..no surprises there.