Dennis Rader

Dennis Lynn Rader (born March 9, 1945) is an American serial killer, who murdered at least ten people in Sedgwick County (in and around Wichita), Kansas, United States, between 1974 and 1991. He was known as the BTK killer (or strangler), which stands for Bind, Torture, and Kill, which was his modus operandi. Letters were written soon after the killings to police and to local news outlets, boasting of the crimes and knowledge of details. After a long hiatus, these letters resumed in 2004.

Arrest and conviction

On Friday, February 25, 2005, Rader, a city inspector, Cub Scout leader, and Lutheran congregation council president, was detained near his home at 6220 61st and Independence in Park City, Kansas and accused of the BTK killings. At a press conference the next morning, Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams flatly asserted, "the bottom line is that BTK has been arrested." Rader pled guilty to his crimes on June 27, 2005, giving a graphic, almost surreal account of his crimes in court. Using personal jargon such as "hit kit" for his killing equipment, Rader casually described his crimes as his "projects" and at one point likened the murders of his victims to killing animals by saying he "put them down." He was sentenced to serve 10 consecutive life sentences, without possibility of parole for 175 years, on August 18, 2005. This includes nine life sentences each without the possibility for parole for 15 years, and one life sentence without the possibility for parole for 40 years.

Related Topics:
February 25 - 2005 - Cub Scout - Lutheran - President - Park City, Kansas - Press conference - June 27 - Jargon - August 18

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