BTK KILLER (blind, torture, kill) By Maddie Gross “I actually may be possessed with demons, I was dropped on my head as a kid.” ~ Dennis Rader

Background Born in Pittsburg, Kansas Grew up in Wichita Kansas Oldest of four brothers Attended Riverview School, and later graduated from Wichita Heights High School. In 1957, he was confirmed into the Zion Lutheran Church. According to several reports, including his own confessions, as a child he tortured animals, one of the warning signs in the MacDonald triad. He also harbored a sexual fetish for women's underwear, he would later steal panties from his victims and wear them himself. He married Paula Dietz, on May 22, 1971, and they had one son and one daughter. From 1972 to 1973, Rader worked as an assembler for the Coleman Company, a camping gear firm. He then worked for a short time for Cessna, in From November 1974 until being fired in July 1988, Rader worked at a Wichita-based office of ADT Security Services, a company that sold and installed alarm systems for commercial businesses during Rader's years there. He held several positions, including installation manager. It was believed that he learned how to defeat home security systems while there. In 1991 Rader was hired to be supervisor of the Compliance Department at Park City, a two- employee, multi-functional department in charge of "animal control, housing problems, zoning, general permit enforcement and a variety of nuisance cases.“ People weren’t fond of him in this position saying he was rude and over jealous. Was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, a Lutheran congregation of about 200 people, near his former high school. He had been a member for about 30 years and had been elected president of the Congregation Council. He was also a Cub Scout leader.

Crimes Committed

CrimeDateVictim(s)Punishment Strangulation and murder with a knife January 15 th, 1974 The Otero family: Joseph Otero Julie Otero, Joseph's wife Joseph Otero Jr, son Josephine Otero, daughter None Murder/ attempted murder April 4 th, 1974Kathryn Bright Shot her brother, Kevin, twice: survived None strangulationMarch 17, 1977Shirley Viannone strangulationDecember 8, 1977 Nancy Foxnone strangulationApril 27, 1985Marine Hedgenone strangulationSeptember 16, 1986 Vicki Wegerlenone strangulationJanuary 19, 1991Dolores Davisnone

Most Recent Crime He did not commit any recent crime but he did send a letter to the police, claiming responsibility for a killing that had previously not been attributed to him. He asked if they could trace crime through a floppy disk and they replied no, so he sent the floppy disk to the police and they found a link to the Lutheran Church and found out his real name.

Evidence DNA analysis of BTK's semen and material taken from underneath the fingernails of victim Vicki Wegerle match the DNA profile of Dennis Rader. Semen found on Josephine Otero or near the bodies of his victims Josephine Otero, Shirley Vian and Nancy Fox was critical evidence linking Rader to the crimes, and DNA obtained from fingernail scrapings of Vicki Wegerle's left hand matched Rader's DNA, eliminating any doubt that he was her murderer. Rader also sent trophies to police in his letters, and others were discovered in his office.

Sentence On August 18 th, 2015 Dennis Rader was sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms: a maximum of 175 years in prison. In the Eighteenth Judicial District Court in Sedgwick County, Kansas F5c

Theory I believe that Dennis Rader falls under the category of labeling. He wanted to be known for his crimes. When he was going through his sentencing he didn’t seem remorseful or ashamed of what he did, but proud. He would send letters to the newspaper to be well known. For Differential Association Theory he lived with his parents and other three brothers. He grew up in a nice and religious household. But he was also reported to strangle stray cats.

Cultural Resources Movies: The Hunt For the BTK Killer, B.T.K T.V Shows: none Books: Snakes in Suits