Dennis Rader
Dennis Lynn Rader (born March 9, 1945), also known as BTK (an abbreviation he gave himself, for "bind, torture, kill"), is an American serial killer who murdered at least ten people in Wichita and Park City, Kansas, between 1974 and 1991. Although Rader occasionally killed or attempted to kill men and children, he typically targeted women. His victims were often bound, sometimes with objects from their homes, and either suffocated with a plastic bag or manually strangled with a ligature.
Dennis Rader | |
|---|---|
Mugshot of Rader by the Kansas Department of Corrections. | |
| Born | Dennis Lynn Rader March 9, 1945 Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S. |
| Other names | BTK BTK Killer BTK Strangler |
| Education | Butler County Community College (AE) Wichita State University (BS) |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Children | 2 |
| Motive | Sexual sadism |
| Conviction(s) | First degree murder – 10 counts |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 175 years (10 consecutive life sentences) |
| Details | |
| Victims | 10–12+ |
Span of crimes | January 15, 1974 – January 19, 1991 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Kansas |
Date apprehended | February 25, 2005 |
| Imprisoned at | El Dorado Correctional Facility |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | U.S. Air Force |
| Years of service | 1966–1970 |
| Rank | Staff sergeant |
In addition, Rader stole keepsakes from his female victims, including underwear, licenses, and personal items. He often sent taunting letters to police and media outlets describing the details of his crimes. After a 13-year hiatus, Rader resumed sending letters in 2004, leading to his 2005 arrest and subsequent guilty plea. He is currently serving ten consecutive life sentences at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.