BTK Serial Killer

BTK took the life of at least 10 people from 1974-1991 in the Wichita, Kansas area. His first victims in 1974 were four members of the Otero family, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Otero and two of their five children, Joseph, Jr. and Josephine. That same year, BTK killed Kathryn Bright and wounded her brother Kevin. BTK would not strike again until 1977 when he killed Shirley Vian as her children were locked in an adjacent bathroom. Later that same year, BTK took the life of Nancy Fox. In 1985, BTK struck close to home when Rader's neighbor, Marine Hedge, was murdered. BTK's next victim, Vicki Wegerle was killed in 1986. Her husband was considered a suspect in the murder until Rader's 2005 confession. The last confirmed victim of BTK was Dolores Davis. She was murdered in 1991.

BTK used this secret symbol to sign many of his communications with police. This piece of evidence was withheld from the public and only a few working on the investigation ever knew that BTK signed his letters with this sexually suggestive mark.

On January 15, 1974, BTK's reign of terror in Wichita, KS began when the bodies of four members of the Otero family were discovered. Joseph Otero, Jr., 38, his wife Julie, 34, Joey, 9, and Josephine, 11, had all been brutally murdered while the family's three other children were at school. The Oteros had all been bound and strangled by the killer. Three of the family members were found upstairs, but young Josephine was found hanging from rope that had been tied to a pipe in the home's basement. Rader stated during his confession years later that he had some "sexual fantasies" after hanging Josie. Police confirmed that they had found semen near her body.

Kathryn Bright was only 21 years old when BTK took her life and wounded her 19 year old brother, Kevin. On April 4, 1974, Dennis Rader broke into Bright's home where he was surprised to find Kevin. He expected Kathryn to be alone and was thrown by Kevin's presence. Rader would later admit that he had lost control of this crime scene and both Kathryn and Kevin had gotten "out of hand." Because of this, Rader confessed that he chose to shoot Kevin in the head twice and ultimately stab Kathryn to death, a departure from his preferred method of stabbing. Kevin would survive this attack, but unfortunately Kathryn was not as lucky.

On March 17, 1977, BTK struck again when he killed 26 year old, Shirley Vian Relford. Sadly, Relford had not been Rader's intended victim that day. Relford's neighbor had been BTK's "potential hit," but she was not home that afternoon. During his confession, Rader stated that he was "all keyed up" with murderous intentions, so he walked around the neighborhood until he ran into Relford's son and asked him if he could identify some photos. Rader watched the boy walk to his house and later knocked on door. When one of the children answered the door, Rader said he was a private detective, showed them a pistol and forced his way into the home. He told Relford he had a problem with sexual fantasies and was going to tie her up. Rader locked Relford's small children in the bathroom with some toys so he could proceed with his plans for their mother. He then tied Relford to her bed, put a bag over her head and strangled her.