Wichita Eagle: BTK Strangler

BTK: What you didn't know

L. KELLY — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:04 CST

The Eagle's new book on the BTK investigation takes readers inside a case that terrorized Wichita and captivated a nation.

The reporters who authored "Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Next Door" (HC, an imprint of HarperCollins) knew going into the project that some might think there'd be little new to say -- especially considering The Eagle's extensive coverage and the 24/7 attention BTK got from cable news shows.

But when BTK -- family man, church president and killer of 10 Dennis Rader -- was finally in his prison cell, Wichita police Lt. Ken Landwehr and key members of his task force told their side of the story in intimate detail, revealing comprehensive new details and twists in the 31-year case.

First excerpt from 'Bind, Torture, Kill'

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:04 CST

Landwehr's cell phone rang just after a nurse stuck a needle into Cindy's arm and started the saline drip that precedes surgery.

"This is Landwehr," he said.

"You're not going to believe what we just got," Gouge said.

MARINE HEDGE

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

In a sweet Southern voice reminiscent of her Arkansas roots, Marine Hedge always prefaced each sentence with "says well."

"And then she'd just start talking," her daughter-in-law, Phyllis Hedge, said. "She talked like Dolly Parton. She was amazingly sweet."

A petite woman, Hedge loved shopping and jewelry. She was always meticulously dressed, her shoes matching her clothes.

These three classified ads were published in The Eagle.

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

These three classified ads were published in The Eagle. The Web address has been deleted because of the site's adult content.

Jan. 28 through Feb. 3:

Rex, it will be ok, Contact

The Otero family

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Editor's note: The following is an Eagle transcript some of Dennis Rader's court testimony Monday. Some of the content is graphic, and reader discretion is advised.

The Otero family

Waller: In regards to count one, please tell me in your own words what you did on the 15th day of January 1974, in Sedgwick County, Kansas, that makes you believe you are guilty of murder in the first degree.

Transcript of the news conference

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Editor's note: This is the transcript of the Feb. 26, 2005, news conference announcing the arrest of Dennis L. Rader.

Mayor Carlos Mayans: Good morning. Thank you for being here with us. I want to especially thank the families for being here today with us. I would like to recognize my colleagues in the City Council. Vice Council Carl Brewer, Council persons Bob Martz, Sue Schlapp, Mr. Gray, Mr. Lampke and Sharon Fearey. As you know with a group this large I'm going to miss some, so I'm going to count on the chief to fill in those which I missed. Congressman Tiahrt is on the way. He's a little bit delayed. U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren is here today. Also Phill Kline, Attorney General; Larry Welch, KBI; Kevin Stafford, FBI; Nola Foulston, District Attorney, and State Senator Carolyn McGinn.

It has been a very long journey that has brought us to this day. It certainly has been a challenge. The national spotlight has been shining upon us. Through diligence, tenacity, determination and just plain good police work, the men and women of the Wichita Police Department have once again made us proud of their accomplishments. Today I stand a proud mayor of the city of Wichita and our police department. I am proud of our Police Chief Norman Williams, Lt. Kenneth Landwehr and the members of our Wichita Police Department who have put thousands and thousands of hours into this senseless and horrendous series of crimes that plagued our city many years ago. This has not been an easy task. Our fine police Department has been at many times been questioned. Their competence questioned. Their actions were often second-guessed. But all the while, these officers were steadfast in their commitment to solve the biggest police case in Wichita history. We knew that these officers were doing their job and that one day this madness would end. I would now like to ask our team of experts, led by our Police Chief Norman Williams to brief you on the case, known as the BTK. Chief?

Nancy Fox

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Rader: Nancy Fox was another one of the projects. When I was trolling the area, I noticed her go into the house one night and anyway put her down as a potential.

Waller: Let me ask you, you say you are patrolling the area?

Rader: It is called stalking, or trolling.

JOSEPH OTERO

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

There was Joseph Otero the dad -- sometimes stern with high expectations for his five children. Report cards with B's required explanations.

Then, there was Joseph Otero the man -- obsessed with aviation and cars, a talented bongo player, a flirt, a cut-up.

Charlie Otero remembers both sides of his father. As a 15-year-old, he was just beginning to bond with his dad when Joseph died in 1974 at the age of 38.

Search and find

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Here are some of the more than 130 words, phrases, numbers and abbreviations that The Eagle found in the "Chapter 8" puzzle that BTK sent to KAKE:

VICTIM, FOLLOW, PJ, USD 259, WICHITA, MO, OAS, OR, DNA, KIA, SOS, DOB, ER, RR, PR, PX, PEO, GAO, CIO, CO, AWOL, INS, MIT, TIM, SOX, BOA, CIG, VISE , SET, POD, ODD, RON, CRUISE, SEX, SOW, PROWL, SLIT, LIT, RUM, FIR, OAK, NEE, BEE, BEES, SEE, ORCS, ANN, NOG, ROE, ZEN, GAR, RAG, SIM, SPOT, POT, DETAILS, GO FOR IT, FANTASIES, BUILDS, STEAM, TEAM, TELEPHONE CO, LARRY, IAN, ANDERSON, STRONG, SCHOOL, LOO, POET, HIT, NEW, 316, 8M, PET, LOST PET, HELP, FOR SALE, POE, RUSE, REALTORS, INSURANCE, SERVICEMAN, VICE, HANDYMAN, REMODEL, MODEL, DOME, MODE, MOD, LED, REAL, AX (twice), WRONG, ADDRESS, ADD, DAM, FAKE ID, VEND, RAN, SEA, POD, RIB, WIT, HAT, FOP, PLAN, SIX, FIB, PIG, LEO, DAUB, HELM, PIN (twice), NIP, DIN (twice), PAR, RAP, SAT, LEE, CAD, 'NAM, MAN, AMY, EAR, WEND, RAE, MAY, YAM, ADT....

Kathryn Bright

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Editor's note: The following is an Eagle transcript of some of Dennis Rader's court testimony Monday. Some of the content is graphic, and reader discretion is advised.

Kathryn Bright

Waller: All right, Mr. Rader, we will now turn to count 5: April 4, 1974. Can you tell me what occurred on that day?

KATHRYN BRIGHT

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

"When I think of Kathy," said Marcia Brown, "I think of laughter."

Brown grew up with Kathryn Bright. The cousins spent weekends at their grandparents' farm in Valley Center and Sunday mornings at the First Baptist Church there.

Marcia and Kathryn were the same age. Marcia remembers herself as "a nerd."

Marine Hedge

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Rader: Well, actually, kind of like the others, she was chosen. I went through the different phases, stalking phase, and since she lived down the street from me I could watch the comings and goings quite easily. On that particular day, I had another commitment. I came back from that commitment, and parked my car over at Woodlawn and 21st Street at the bowling alley there at that time. Before that, I had some other clothes on, changed clothes. I went to the bowling alley, went in there under the pretense of bowling. Called a taxi. Had a taxi take me out to Park City. Had my kit in the bowling bag.

Waller: Is that Park City in Sedgwick County, Kansas?

Rader: Yes, sir.

JULIE OTERO

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Julie Otero was a lot tougher than she looked, her son Charlie remembers.

A 34-year-old mother of five, she was petite, weighing in at only about 100 pounds. And she was as sweet as an angel, Charlie said.

But her angelic exterior hid an inner fighter -- literally.

BTK suspect's minister reacts in sermon

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

The following is the sermon delivered Sunday morning by pastor Michael Clark of Christ Lutheran Church, where Dennis L. Rader was a congregation leader:

The events that have unfolded the past 48 hours have the power to destroy, to devastate us as a body of Christ or these events can bring us together and strengthen us as a faith community in a way that will never be the same.

These events have the power and energy to be a wedge that drives us apart, or they can be a force that will hold us together in these trying times.

Shirley Vian Relford

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Waller: Can you tell me what you did on that day?

Rader: Actually on that one, she was completely random. There was actually someone across from Dillons that was a potential target. It was called project Green, I think... I had project numbers. That particular day I drove over to Dillons and parked in the parking lot and watched this particular residence and then got out of the car and walked over to it. It is probably in the police report, the address. I don't remember the address now. I knocked and no one answered it.

So I was all keyed up, so I just started going through the neighborhood. I had been through the neighborhood before so I kinda knew a little bit of the layout of the neighborhood. I had been through the back alleys, etc., knew where certain people lived. While I was walking down Hydraulic, I met a young boy and asked him if he'd ID some pictures. Kind of as a... ruse as you call it... feel him out... saw where he went... went to another address and knocked on the door and nobody opened the door, so just noticed where he went and went from there.

DOLORES DAVIS

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Amy Davis remembers the nutty things Grandma did.

The way she carried wet wipes everywhere to scrub any surface -- faces included -- that might possibly be germy.

The way she "hid" matches on top of the fridge, even after her children were grown.

Vicki Wegerle

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Rader: Again, Vicki Wegerle was another potential victim. I went through those different phases, I locked in on her as I would call it, and decided I would try that day. I used a ruse as a telephone repairman to get into her house. I drove over there in my own personal car around lunchtime, or it was earlier in the morning than that. I actually went somewhere else and changed my clothes, what I call my "hit" clothes.

Waller: Hit clothes?

Rader: Basically different, things I would need to get rid of later. Not the same kind of clothes I had on. I don't know what better word to use, crime clothes, I just call them hit clothes. I walked from my car as a telephone repairman. As I walked there, I donned a telephone helmet, I had a briefcase -- I went to one other address just to kind of size up the house. I had walked by it a couple of times, but I wanted to size it up more. As I approached it, I could hear a piano sound and I went to this other door and knocked on it and told them that we were recently working on telephone repairs in the area. Went to hers, knocked on the door, asked her if I could come check her telephone lines inside.

Liked by many, loathed by some

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

On a questionnaire he filled out at a 1984 reunion of his eighth-grade class at Riverview School, Dennis Rader offered his philosophy of life.

"Do it now -- Life is complicated and short so stay young at heart as long as possible: It was so easy in '59."

Life is indeed now complicated for Rader, who has been arrested as a suspect in the BTK serial killings and booked on suspicion of 10 counts of murder.

Dolores Davis

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Rader: That particular day I had some commitments. I left those, went to one place, changed my clothes, went to another place, parked my car, finally made arrangements on my hit kit, my clothes, and walked to that residence. After spending some time at that residence, it was very cold that night and I had some reservations about going in. I had cased the place before and she was in the house, so I finally just selected a concrete block and threw it through the plate glass window on the east and came on in.

Waller: Where is this residence located?

Rader: On Hillside, but I couldn't give you the address. It is probably 61... uh, 62 something.

City warns BTK souvenir hunters

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:44 CDT

Park City intends to prosecute anyone caught trying to steal or sell pieces of the house once owned by BTK serial killer Dennis Rader, Park City Mayor Dee Stuart said Thursday.

Park City recently purchased the home at 6222 Independence, where Rader and his family lived for 25 years, and officials plan to tear it down soon, Stuart said.

The city will not announce when demolition will begin, she said: "This is not meant to be a spectacle."