BTK KILLER

The Beginning of BTK

In Wichita, Kansas on January 15, 1974 a young 15 –year-old boy walked home from school to discover the most

gruesome sight. He discovered his mother, father, 9-year-old brother and 11-year-old sister had been brutally murdered. This was the start of a 30

year reign of terror for the ‘BTK Killer’. However BTK appeared to stop in

1978 and did not resurface until 2004.

The 10 Victims

• The Otero family – Joseph and Julie Otero and two of the children Joseph Jr and Josephine

• Kathryn Bright – her brother, Kevin, was also involved but he survived

• Shirley Vian Relford• Nancy Fox• Marine Hedge• Vicki Wegerie• Dolores Davis

Crime Scenes

• All the killings had taken place in the victim’s house. Sometimes the killer broke in and sometimes the killer would use deception.

• The phone lines were cut prior to the killings.

• An item was stolen from each crime scene, in the Otero case the killer took Joseph’s watch

• The house in each crime scene appeared like it had been cleaned after the killing.

• No murder weapon found, most likely the killer brought it and took it with him

• Could suggest that he selects his victims as they are not crimes of opportunity

• Suggests knowledge of telecommunications – could these be signs of occupation or hobby

• Suggests the killer likes to take souvenirs, maybe to remember previous crimes

• Suggest intelligence and unwillingness to be caught

• This suggest premeditation and planning to commit murder.

M.O.Modus Operandi

• The victims were found with their hands and feet bound, ligature marks suggest they were bound before they died.

• Strangulation is the cause of death with all victims.

• Semen was found on the bodies but no physical signs of rape

• Few defensive marks on the victims suggest there was no struggle and Kevin Bright was shot in a struggle. The killer must have used a gun to force his victims to tie themselves up.

Communication with the Police

BTK made numerous communications with the police. The killer mainly sent the police

letters detailing his crimes which authenticated the letters. The spelling in the

letters was questionable and common mistakes in grammar were made. He cited works by James Joyce and Thomas King in his letters. These were literature studied at the Kansas university. Could the killer have

studied or worked there? Or are these a ploy to misdirect the police of his real identity?

The killer also mentions criminal literature and shows some knowledge of police procedures.

Relationship With the Media

• BTK occasionally wrote to the local newspaper – The Wichita Eagle.

• One letter showed he was angry that he had not been mentioned in the media and wrote ‘how many people do I have to kill to get my name in the paper?’

• This could show evidence of narcissism or egocentricism?

Profile• Male who lived in the area at time of first killings• Aged between 25 and 30 at the first killings• Possible military or police background due to his efficient

methodology and comfort with a gun• No rape but masturbation on victims shows he has strict

sexual fantasies that he must gratify and possible immaturity or uncomfortableness around women.

• Loves and feeds on the attention of the media and police• Knowledge of crime and police techniques suggest he is, or

could have been, or wants to be a police officer• Knowledge of serial killers suggest his ego places himself

with other notorious killers• An educated man, intelligent most probably studied at the

Kansas university

BTK Suspect Arrested!

In 2005 a man named David Rader was charged and later convicted of the 10 murders,

although it is often speculated that he committed many more. He was caught when a floppy disk he had sent the police was traced back to

his church. From this they were able to get a warrant for Rader’s

DNA and eventual arrest.

Killer Revealed

• David Rader, born 1945 in Wichita• From 1965 – 1969 he was in the Air Force. Born To Kill,

a unit in the Air Force, was the inspiration for his name.• Joseph Otero also served in the Air Force at that time.• Worked in a camping gear firm from 1971 – 1973 where

he also met two of his victims.• He worked in Security Services from 1974 – 1989. This

is where he picked up his skills of gaining entry to houses and also it is thought he meet his future victims this way.

• Graduated with a degree in Administrative in Justice• Married with two children