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Blind Torture & Kill
Dennis Rader/"BTK"
Who is BTK?
The following is a compilation profiling "BTK" before Dennis Rader was arrested:
The killer known as BTK is Wichita's most notorious serial killer, now connected with eight unsolved homicides from 1974 to 1986.
BTK stands for "Bind, Torture and Kill," a style of killing he used. The serial killer used the initials in letters he sent to local media.
Based upon a review of information the killer has provided to police over the years, the following facts about BTK are being made available to the public in the hopes of identifying him:
He claims he was born in 1939, which would make his current age 64 or 65.
His father died in World War II, and his mother raised him.
His mother was forced to work, so his grandparents cared for him.
His mother worked during the day near the railroad.
He had a cousin named Susan, who moved to Missouri.
His family moved a lot, but always lived near a railroad.
His grandfather played the fiddle and died of a lung disease.
His mother started dating a railroad detective when BTK was around 11 years old. This relationship would have occurred during the years 1950 to 1955.
In the early 1950s he built and operated a ham radio.
He has participated in outdoor hobbies including hunting, fishing and camping.
As a youth, he attended church and Sunday school.
He had a female Hispanic acquaintance named Petra, who had a younger sister named Tina.
Around 1960, he went to tech military school. He then joined the military for active duty and was discharged in 1966.
He has a basic knowledge of photography and the ability to develop and print pictures.
In 1966, he moved back in with his mother, who had remarried and was renting out part of his house.
His first job was as an electro-mechanic, requiring some travel.
After attending more tech school, he worked repairing copiers and business equipment; this sometimes required travel and he was away for extended periods.
He admits to soliciting prostitutes.
He has a lifetime fascination with railroads and trains.
Based upon the investigation to date, police believe that BTK:
Frequented the WSU campus in the 1970s.
Was acquainted with PJ Wyatt, who taught a folklore class at WSU in the 1970s.
He has written or still writes poetry. An example of this is the "Oh Anna, Why Didn't you appear" poem and the "Oh! Death to Nancy" poem that were released in earlier media advisories.
Utilized fake identification to gain access to people's homes or to conduct surveillance.
How accurate were they?
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WHO is Dennis Rader?
Dennis L. Rader, 59, has worked as a compliance supervisor for Park City in charge of animal control, nuisances, inoperable vehicles and general code compliance since about 1990.
He grew up in the Park City area and has lived there ever since.
He worked for Coleman in the early 1970s -- as did two of BTK's early victims.
He served in the military during the Vietnam era and worked for years at a home security company in Wichita.
He attended WSU -- long linked to the BTK case -- where he graduated in 1979 with a major in Administration of Justice.
He is married and has grown children.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW!!! THE CRYPTIC NOTE
*** IN DEPTH REPORT DETAILING DENNIS RADER'S LIFE***
**Additional Information**
***More Victims***
DOLORES DAVIS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BTK History
Feb. 11, 1978
'BTK' made first contact through newspaper in '74
August 15, 1979
Tape of BTK call aired; police are hoping for ID
June 17, 1979
BTK is back; intended victim gets poem
Feb. 12, 1978
Was girl 7th victim? Police seek connection
Feb. 11, 1978
Nancy Fox: Found slain Dec. 9, 1977
Feb. 11, 1978
City's 'BTK Strangler' claims he's killed 7
Jan. 17, 1974
Police baffled on motive in mass killing
January 1974
Victims' children return home; clues sought
Jan. 16, 1974
Four in Wichita family found slain at home
Who is BTK?
The following is a compilation profiling "BTK" before Dennis Rader was arrested:
The killer known as BTK is Wichita's most notorious serial killer, now connected with eight unsolved homicides from 1974 to 1986.
BTK stands for "Bind, Torture and Kill," a style of killing he used. The serial killer used the initials in letters he sent to local media.
Based upon a review of information the killer has provided to police over the years, the following facts about BTK are being made available to the public in the hopes of identifying him:
He claims he was born in 1939, which would make his current age 64 or 65.
His father died in World War II, and his mother raised him.
His mother was forced to work, so his grandparents cared for him.
His mother worked during the day near the railroad.
He had a cousin named Susan, who moved to Missouri.
His family moved a lot, but always lived near a railroad.
His grandfather played the fiddle and died of a lung disease.
His mother started dating a railroad detective when BTK was around 11 years old. This relationship would have occurred during the years 1950 to 1955.
In the early 1950s he built and operated a ham radio.
He has participated in outdoor hobbies including hunting, fishing and camping.
As a youth, he attended church and Sunday school.
He had a female Hispanic acquaintance named Petra, who had a younger sister named Tina.
Around 1960, he went to tech military school. He then joined the military for active duty and was discharged in 1966.
He has a basic knowledge of photography and the ability to develop and print pictures.
In 1966, he moved back in with his mother, who had remarried and was renting out part of his house.
His first job was as an electro-mechanic, requiring some travel.
After attending more tech school, he worked repairing copiers and business equipment; this sometimes required travel and he was away for extended periods.
He admits to soliciting prostitutes.
He has a lifetime fascination with railroads and trains.
Based upon the investigation to date, police believe that BTK:
Frequented the WSU campus in the 1970s.
Was acquainted with PJ Wyatt, who taught a folklore class at WSU in the 1970s.
He has written or still writes poetry. An example of this is the "Oh Anna, Why Didn't you appear" poem and the "Oh! Death to Nancy" poem that were released in earlier media advisories.
Utilized fake identification to gain access to people's homes or to conduct surveillance.
How accurate were they?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO is Dennis Rader?
Dennis L. Rader, 59, has worked as a compliance supervisor for Park City in charge of animal control, nuisances, inoperable vehicles and general code compliance since about 1990.
He grew up in the Park City area and has lived there ever since.
He worked for Coleman in the early 1970s -- as did two of BTK's early victims.
He served in the military during the Vietnam era and worked for years at a home security company in Wichita.
He attended WSU -- long linked to the BTK case -- where he graduated in 1979 with a major in Administration of Justice.
He is married and has grown children.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW!!! THE CRYPTIC NOTE
*** IN DEPTH REPORT DETAILING DENNIS RADER'S LIFE***
**Additional Information**
***More Victims***
DOLORES DAVIS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BTK History
Feb. 11, 1978
'BTK' made first contact through newspaper in '74
August 15, 1979
Tape of BTK call aired; police are hoping for ID
June 17, 1979
BTK is back; intended victim gets poem
Feb. 12, 1978
Was girl 7th victim? Police seek connection
Feb. 11, 1978
Nancy Fox: Found slain Dec. 9, 1977
Feb. 11, 1978
City's 'BTK Strangler' claims he's killed 7
Jan. 17, 1974
Police baffled on motive in mass killing
January 1974
Victims' children return home; clues sought
Jan. 16, 1974
Four in Wichita family found slain at home
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