Dennis Rader
Meghan Mineweaser
The BTK Killer
(Bind, Torture, Kill)
• “I actually think I may be possessed with
demons, I was dropped on my head as a kid.”
Background
• Born in 1945 in Pittsburg, Kansas
• Oldest of four sons
• His father was a member of the Marine Corps and later worked for
the electric utility KG&E in 1948
• Joined the boy scouts and participated in the church youth group
• Attended Riverview Elementary School
• Described as a quiet and polite young man who kept to himself
• Graduated from Wichita Heights High School in 1963
• Attended Kansas Wesleyan College in Salina
• Served in the U.S. Air Force from the mid to late 1960s
• Married to Paula in 1971 and had two children
• Worked at a camping gear company for a few years
• Went to work for ADT Security Services in 1974
Crime
Murder Strangulation
Date
January 15, 1974
Victims
Punishment
Otero Family- Joseph, 4 life sentences
Julie, Josephine, and
Joseph Jr.
MurderStrangulation and
stabbing
Attempted
Murder- Shot
twice
MurderStrangulation
MurderStrangulation
Murder
Murder
April 4, 1974
Kathryn Bright
April 4, 1974
Kevin Bright
March 17, 1977
Shirley Vian
1 life sentence
December 8, 1977
Nancy Fox
1 life sentence
April 27, 1985
September 16, 1986
Marine Hedge
Vicki Wegerle
1 life sentence
1 life sentence
Murder
January 19, 1991
Dolores Davis
1 life sentence
1 life sentence
Most Convincing Evidence
• Rader was known to taunt authorities by sending letters
or poems about his crimes. In 2004, Rader sent local
media outlets and authorities letters that related to his
crimes. This included pictures, a word puzzle, and an
outline for the “BTK Story”. There was also a computer
disk. That computer disk lead the authorities to Rader’s
church. They also noticed Rader’s white van in many of
the package drop off areas. They also were able to obtain
a DNA sample from his daughter that helped to prove
that he was guilty. While on trial, Rader pled guilty to all
charges. Also, living victims were able to testify against
him in court. He is serving in El Dorado Correctional
Facility in Kansas.
Books
• Bind, Torture, Kill: the Inside Story of the Serial
Killer Next Door – Roy Wenzl, Tim Potter, L. Kelly,
and Hurst Laviana
• Confessions of a Serial Killer: the Untold Story of
Dennis Rader the BTK Killer - Katherine Ramsland
• The Inside Mind of BTK - John Douglas
• Nightmare in Wichita: The hHunt for the BTK
Strangler - Robert Beattle
• The life and Crimes of the BTK Serial Killer Stephen Singular
• My Boss was the BTK Killer- Jim Dobkins
Movies
• The Hunt for the BTK Killer
• I survived BTK
• NBC News: BTK Confessions
Songs
•
•
•
•
•
"Bind Torture Kill" – Suffocation
"Bind, Torture and Kill" – Suicide Commando
"Raider II" - Steven Wilson
"B.T.K." - Church of Misery
"BTK" - Exodus
Theory
The Sociological Theory of Deviance that best explains
Dennis Rader is Psychological. This is defined as the upbringing
that causes the criminal to commit deviant acts. This impacts
cognitive and behavioral development. When Rader was growing
up, there were signs of trouble. It was reported that he would
hang stray cats as a child. We know now that strangulation was
his most common form of killing.
Rader was fascinated with bondage and torture. At a
young age, he learned to keep his obsessions secret from the rest
of the world. As a child, Rader was very shy and kept to himself.
Killing could have been used to express his emotions that he
otherwise kept to himself. Also, this shyness could have led to his
need for the authority’s attention after his murders.