Finding BTK

Summary

Cold Case Files: "Finding BTK"

Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Paula Barros
Podcast: Cold Case Files (A&E / PodcastOne)

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Overview

This gripping episode of Cold Case Files meticulously retraces the decades-long pursuit, terror, and eventual capture of Dennis Rader, infamously known as the BTK killer—an acronym for "Bind, Torture, Kill." Drawing on interviews with witnesses, survivors, journalists, and the law enforcement officials who dedicated their lives to the case, host Paula Barros guides listeners through the chilling series of murders that traumatized Wichita, Kansas for over 30 years. The episode emphasizes the doggedness of detectives, the impact on victims' families, and the breakthroughs in forensic technology—DNA analysis and digital forensics—that finally brought BTK to justice.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Early BTK Murders and Community Fear

• Initial Murders (1974–1977):

  • The Otero family is found murdered—an event described as "the worst crime scene Wichita had ever seen" ([04:17]).
    • Joseph and Julie Otero, and their children Joey (9) and Josephine (11), were bound, strangled, and in Josephine’s case, hanged in the basement with clear signs of sexual assault.
  • Shirley Vian is murdered after BTK invades her house, ties up her children in the bathroom, and kills her ([03:03]).
  • Nancy Fox is murdered after BTK makes a phone call to police directly referencing the location ([06:44]).

• Community Impact:

  • Wichita is shaken; a sense of pervasive fear takes over.
    "This just didn't happen in Wichita, Kansas... That really shook up the people. That scared people to death." — Larry Hatteberg, KAKE-TV News ([05:13])

The Killer’s Taunting Letters and Search for Recognition

• Communications with Press and Police:

  • BTK sends taunting letters to police and media, providing crime details only the killer could know.
  • Seeks recognition: "How many do I have to kill before I get a name in the paper or some national attention?" — BTK letter ([08:11])
  • Reveals a need to feel in control and part of a "game" with authorities.

• Challenge for Investigators:

  • Letters give police some insight, but investigators are frustrated with the lack of leads.
  • A special unit, dubbed the "Ghostbusters," is created in 1982 to re-examine evidence with emerging DNA technology ([10:03–11:05]).

The DNA Revolution and Advances in Detection

• Early Use of DNA Profiling:
  • Wichita detectives are among the first in the US to use DNA in a homicide case ([10:55]).
  • However, useful databases do not yet exist; DNA can eliminate suspects but cannot point to a culprit ([11:17]).
  • With time, DNA will become pivotal in linking cases and ultimately identifying the killer.

The Cold Case Heats Up: BTK’s 2004–2005 Resurgence

• BTK Re-emerges:

  • After decades of silence, BTK sends a package to Wichita Eagle (2004), containing the ID and photos of Vicki Wegerly, a victim from 1986 ([14:38–15:13]).
  • Subsequent letters escalate, including novel chapters and personal details, and referencing local news anchors—demonstrating BTK’s ongoing need for attention ([17:13]).

• Police Play Along:

  • Detectives encourage communication to keep him engaged—and hope for a mistake.
    "If we can keep him talking, we're going to catch him. Because he will make a mistake." — Ken Landwehr ([17:52])
  • BTK inquires whether floppy disks can be traced; police falsely assure him they cannot ([22:48]).

The Killer’s Critical Error: Floppy Disk and Digital Forensics

• The Trap and Mistake:

  • BTK delivers a floppy disk marked "BTK bomb" containing correspondence ([23:38]).
  • Detective Randy Stone uses Microsoft Office metadata to reveal the disk’s author: "Dennis" at Christ Lutheran Church ([24:16–25:14]).
  • Dennis Rader, the church’s congregation president, is quickly identified as a suspect.

• DNA Confirmation:

  • A DNA sample from Rader’s daughter is subpoenaed; a familial match is made to BTK ([29:02–29:19]).

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The Arrest, Confession, and Prosecution

The Arrest and Interrogation

• Arrest (February 25, 2005):

  • Rader is arrested after surveillance confirms his identity and vehicle ([31:05]).
  • Rader immediately acknowledges Ken Landwehr: "Hello, Mr. Landwehr." ([31:29])

• The Confession:

  • In a prolonged exchange, Rader confesses in chilling, matter-of-fact detail.
    • "Why don't you just say who you are? I'm BTK. Basically, that was it. Who are you? Say it. I'm BTK. And after that, the floodgates just open." — Landwehr recalling interrogation ([33:49–34:06]).
  • Rader reveals two additional not-previously-credited victims: Maureen Hedge and Dolores Davis ([34:20]).

The Courtroom and Sentencing

• Court Testimony:

  • Rader’s cold, remorseless descriptions shock the courtroom:
    "He spoke very matter-of-factly, almost as if I'm speaking with you today. He has no remorse. He was very proud of what he did and he would have continued to do it without a doubt." — Law enforcement testimony ([35:52])
  • Graphic explanations of his sexual sadism and autoerotic activities are revealed.
    "What did Mr. Raider tell you about his need for bondage... He would dress himself up in victim's clothing..." — Lt. Ken Landwehr ([39:16])

• Victims' Families Speak:

  • Family members confront Rader; one child of a victim says:
    "If I embrace bitterness, I would remind you that you are nothing but a despicable, child-murdering, cowardly, impotent eunuch and pervert masquerading as a human being." ([41:48])

• Rader’s Final Words and Sentencing:

  • Rader attempts to draw parallels with his victims and gives 'thanks' to those around him, displaying disturbing self-absorption ([42:25–43:54]).
  • Judge Gregory Waller sentences Rader to ten consecutive life sentences and a mandatory 40 years before possibility of parole ([44:19]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• The Reluctance and Relief of Capture:

  • "That was one of those pivotal moments that you just can't describe... when we found the Jeep Cherokee sitting in the driveway, that pretty much took away that doubt." — Detective, on seeing Rader’s car ([26:27–27:01])

• On BTK’s Need for Control:

  • "It was a game that he was playing. He wanted recognition. He wanted us to know that he was in control and that we had no control over him." ([08:11])

• Wichita’s Terror:

  • "This just didn't happen in Wichita, Kansas... That really shook up the people." —Larry Hatteberg ([05:13])

• Police’s Calculated Risk:

  • "If we can keep him talking, we're going to catch him. And that's basically because he will make a mistake." — Ken Landwehr ([17:52])

• Rader’s Self-Absorption:

  • "Kathleen Bright... she spent time on her grandparents' farm. Well, I did too as a kid... Dolores Davis loved animals... I have a great fondness for animals." ([42:25])

• Family Impact:

  • "Yesterday was the first day of the rest of my life... I’m going to be happy because I know this monstrous mother will never see daylight again." — Family member ([44:45])

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------| | 00:52 | BTK arrest announcement | | 03:13 | Eyewitness account: Shirley Vian murder | | 04:17 | Otero family murders described | | 05:13 | Wichita’s shock and fear | | 06:44 | Nancy Fox murder and BTK’s call | | 08:11 | BTK’s taunting letters | | 10:03 | “Ghostbusters” and DNA beginnings | | 14:38 | BTK resurfaces: Wegerly murder package | | 17:13 | BTK letters to news anchors | | 22:48 | BTK inquires about floppy disk tracing | | 23:38 | Police receive and analyze floppy disk | | 25:14 | Dennis Rader identified | | 29:02 | DNA match via Rader’s daughter | | 31:05 | The arrest of Dennis Rader | | 33:49 | The confession: “I’m BTK” | | 34:20 | Details on uncredited victims revealed | | 35:52 | Rader’s court testimony and lack of remorse| | 41:26 | Victims’ families speak in court | | 42:25 | Rader’s twisted “eulogy” | | 44:19 | Sentencing: 10 consecutive life sentences |

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Conclusion

"Finding BTK" is a harrowing but essential listen, tracing the collision of evil, justice, and technological progress across decades. The episode stands as a testament to determined investigators, the power of forensic science, and most importantly, the enduring impact that these crimes and their eventual closure had on the community and the victims' families. It balances chilling confessions with moments of hard-won relief and allows the voices of those haunted by BTK to be heard at last.

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Note: This summary omits advertisements and non-content sections, focusing solely on the investigative journey and its resolution.

Transcript

[A]

Hi, cold case listeners. I'm Marissa Pinson, and before we get into this week's episode, I just wanted to remind you that episodes of Cold Case Files, as well as the A and E classic podcasts, I Survived American justice, and City Confidential, are all available ad free on the new A and E crime and investigation channel on Apple Podcasts and Apple plus for just $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. And now onto the show. This episode contains stories involving violence against children. Listener discretion is advised. There are over 100,000 cold cases in America. Only 1% are ever solved. This is one of those rare stories.

[B]

Agents from the kbi, agents from the FBI, and members of the Wichita Police Department arrested Dennis Raider.

[A]

On February 26, 2005, the Wichita Police Department holds a news conference for the.

[B]

Murders of Joseph Otero, Julie Otero, and.

[A]

Tells the world they have caught a serial killer.

[B]

The bottom line, BTK is arrested. This is the investigations division.

[A]

Lt. Ken Landwehr has hunted BTK for most of his career. Cold Case Files was granted unique access into the investigation that ended in an interrogation of Dennis Raider.

[B]

Why don't you just say yes? You guys know, say, say, say who you are. It's very difficult to sit across from someone that you've chased this long, that you despise the way I despise Dennis Raider. I'm btk. Basically, that is it. Who are you? Say it. I'm btk. And after that, the floodgates just open.

[A]

This is Dennis Rader speaking at his plea hearing.

[B]

If you read much about serial killers, they go through what they call the different phases. That's one of the phases they go through as a trolling stage. Basically, you're looking for a victim at that time, but once you lock in on a certain person, then you become stocky, and that might be several of them, but you really home in on that person. That's the victim.

[A]

Dennis Raider's arrest and conviction provided the final chapters to a story that began three decades earlier with a little boy and a knock on a door.

[B]

He asked me, are your parents home?

[A]

In 1977, Steve Relford is six years old when he opens his front door and finds a man on the other side.

[B]

I told him, my mother, she's sick in bed. Then he proceeded to come on in, started pulling down the blinds, turned off tv, wretched in his holster, and pulled out a pistol. About that time, my mother stepped to the bedroom door. What the hell's going on here?

[A]

The man herds Steve, his brother and sister into the bathroom. Then he runs a rope from the doorknob to the sink so the children can't get out.

[B]

I stood on the tub, I think looked over the door as I did that. Seen my mother being stripped. Her hands bam. Behind her back, plastic bag over her head, rope tied around her neck.

[A]

Fifteen minutes later the house is quiet and Steve is able to force his way out of the bathroom.

[B]

He had already left. I run around to the other bedroom. Seen my mother laying there. I think tried to untie it. I couldn't call the cops, call 911, somebody. My mom did.

[A]

26 year old Shirley Vian lies face down on her bed. She has been bound and strangled. Richard Lemonyon is the former chief of the Wichita police.

[B]

The detectives went out and when they came back and reported, they said that there's a real possibility that the Shirley Vianne case is connected to the Otero case.

[A]

The Otero case refers to a nightmare from which Wichita had never recovered. In the winter of 1974, police walked into the worst crime scene Wichita had ever seen. Its first quadruple homicide. Joseph and Julie Otero were found strangled to death in their split level home. Their son, 9 year old Joey lay bound and strangled in the next room in the basement. 11 year old Josephine was found hanging from a pipe.

[B]

He bound her feet and he bound her hands behind her. And he pulled her little panties down and he cut her little bra off in the back. And while he was pulling her up, he hung her like you would in a hangman's noose. And as she was dying, he was masturbating close to her and got some semen on her leg.

[A]

Larry Hatteberg is a cake TV news anchor in Wichita.

[B]

This just didn't happen in Wichita, Kansas. Out here on the prairie, a killing like that, a ritual killing like that happened in New York or in la, but not in Wichita. And that really shook up the people that scared people to death.

[A]

Wichita police questioned three suspects in the Otero case. Before they were ever charged. Detectives were called to the public library to read a letter found stuffed inside a book.

[B]

This letter is very clear to tell us you have the wrong people. You need to stop looking at them. You need to come back and focus your attention on me. I am the important one. I'm the one that's responsible. And you need to get a handle on this one because this could happen again.

[A]

The letter provides details on the Otero murders only the killer would know. The author also wrote, the code words for me will be bind them, torture them, kill Them they will be on the next victim.

[B]

People were very careful in terms of they would not go home alone, specifically women. It, it became just a way of life. I mean no one was necessarily mad but everyone was certainly aware that we had a serial killer.

[A]

Three years after Otero, detectives believe the man known as BTK has returned. Wichita mobilizes quickly. BTK, however, moves even faster.

[B]

Yes, you will find a homicide. 843 S Pershing, Nancy Park.

[A]

At 8:18 on a December morning in 1977, a phone call comes into Wichita police. At the other end of the line, a voice telling police where they can pick up a body.

[B]

What is the address?

[A]

A team of detectives dispatches to the home of Nancy Fox and finds the 25 year old bound and strangled with her own pantyhose. Semen is collected from her nightgown.

[B]

He wanted to brag about it. He wanted to make sure that we, the police found it undisturbed. And he wanted us to see his work and wanted us to realize the type of quote unquote monster we were dealing with.

[A]

The monster is a serial killer known to Wichita police as btk. In his need for publicity, detectives see an opportunity to engage the killer in dialogue and perhaps catch him.

[B]

The thought process was we won't give him credit for it with the idea that this will prompt a communications from him. And it did. Good afternoon. This morning K TV was contacted by the person who police say they believe murdered four members of the Joseph Otero family in January of 1974.

[A]

On February 10, 1978, Cake TV leads its prediction broadcast with a letter it has received from a killer looking for publicity.

[B]

BTK began today's letter with a question. How many do I have to kill before I get a name in the paper or some national attention? It was a game that he was playing. He wanted recognition. He wanted us to know that he was in control and that we had no control over him. And this was the message that he was trying to convey to the community.

[A]

BTK decides to raise the stakes for police. In his four page letter to the news station he lists seven of his victims, six of whom are named. Victim number five, however, is not.

[B]

We were confident that number five was Kathy.

[A]

Kathy is 21 year old Catherine Bright.

[B]

Bright was stabbed to death in her home. The victim's brother was shot twice in the face by the attacker.

[A]

Four years earlier, Bright was found in her home bound and stabbed 11 times. The murder's M.O. fits BTK.

[B]

It comes back to the method of operation, the way he broke into the house. He Broke the back window. He cleaned the glass up. He cut the phone wire.

[A]

With the letter to cake. BTK generates the attention and the fear he needs. For the next year, however, the killer goes quiet. With no bodies, phone calls or letters.

[B]

The hysteria that spread over the community a year ago at this time has died down. The chief does want people to be aware that BTK is probably still around. I have no reason to doubt that the individual will strike again, assuming that he's still free and walking around. There have been a lot of crimes in society that have never been solved. Is this going to be one of them? I think we'll solve the crime. The question is, when will we solve the crime? There were discussions as to whether or not a given case was actually a BTK victim.

[A]

In 1982, eight years after the first BTK murder, Wichita forms a special unit to reinvestigate the seven victims. Detective Jerry Harper is part of the.

[B]

Unit that if he in fact took his show to the road, that that was going to be a major problem.

[A]

The team returns to the evidence files and begins to search, earning themselves a nickname, the Ghostbusters. Their secret weapon is the newly developed technology of DNA led by Dr. Stephan Brady.

[B]

DNA, actually I guess came in through me because I have a brother in law who's a forensic pathologist. And so I mentioned that to the task force, not knowing much about it.

[A]

The Ghostbusters send biological evidence from two BTK cases to one of the few labs in the world doing forensic DNA testing.

[B]

We were probably the first people to use DNA in the United States. I think he was able to send some of our samples back and he was able to get a DNA profile off of it.

[A]

The BTK profile is one of the first ever developed in a homicide investigation in the United States. Unfortunately, it is also of limited value to detectives.

[B]

There was no searchable database or anything like that back then. But it was an opportunity that we had that we could positively eliminate someone with that profile.

[A]

Ken Landwehr is the youngest member of the Ghostbusters. For more than four years, he helps to develop hundreds of leads, but never makes an arrest.

[B]

I was the last one standing. I was the young kid when that started. Those guys were the. They were the experienced ones. They were the ones that taught me how to be an investigator. I mean, my first case was the BTK homicides.

[A]

With no solid suspects to offer, the Ghostbusters are eventually disbanded. And most of Wichita believes they have seen the last of btk. Most of Wichita, however, is wrong.

[B]

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[A]

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[B]

Hey, this is Sarah.

[A]

Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m. Right now and well, you're sweet and.

[B]

All, but I found something more fulfilling.

[A]

Even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure, you met some of my dietary.

[B]

Needs, but they've just got it all. So farewell oatmeal so long you strange soggy Break up with bland breakfast and taste AM PM's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with cage free eggs, smoked bacon and melty cheese on a buttery biscuit. Am P M Too much good stuff Wichita police confirm BTK is back on.

[A]

March 24, 2004, local news station Cake TV leads its broadcast with a bombshell. After more than 25 years in apparent slumber, the monster known as BTK has awakened.

[B]

A letter sent to the Wichita Eagle.

[A]

Last week is believed to be from the serial killer. It is a Story we first broke on Cake yesterday.

[B]

This is actually the photocopy that I made. It was. The return address is Bill Thomas Kilman, btk, which was kind of a clue.

[A]

Hurst Laviana is a reporter with the Wichita Eagle and recipient of what police suspect to be a new BTK letter.

[B]

It was a single sheet of paper, three photographs, a driver's license, and there were some markings on the letter.

[A]

The three photos are of a woman's dead body. The driver's license belongs to Vicki Wegerly, who was killed in her home in 1986 and suspected to be BTK's eighth victim.

[B]

Where is he and where has he been? Two questions police hope to answer. We do believe that BTK is in Wichita.

[A]

Lt. Ken Landwehr worked BTK as a young investigator in the 1980s. Now he heads up a new generation of detectives.

[B]

Grab a pack of leads and move on. The strategy was to try to keep up with the tips. Yeah, yeah. One of the first things I remember was the fact that, of course, when the call started coming in, a lot of them were our same suspects that you guys had kicked around for years.

[A]

DNA from the Weggerly homicide is matched to a genetic profile found at several of the earlier BTK murders. Over 1500 men in Wichita are questioned and sampled for DNA. None, however, match the BTK profile. Meanwhile, the killer himself is busy writing letters.

[B]

When the letter arrived, the receptionist immediately noticed it and sent it back to the newsroom.

[A]

The police were called, and in no time, a detective arrived to retrieve the letter.

[B]

Police have asked.

[A]

We don't reveal everything the letters contain.

[B]

But here's what we can show you.

[A]

Two months after BTK resurfaced, he sends a second letter to the media. This time, it is the outline of a novel.

[B]

The first page said the BTK story.

[A]

It was typed, followed by titles of chapters. I think he liked presenting his case.

[B]

In the media, and I think he liked Cake TV a lot.

[A]

Susan Peters is an anchor for Cake and an object of fascination for btk. He sends a series of messages for police through her station and expresses his concern for Susan and her co anchor, Jeff Herndon. The message shows personality.

[B]

Sorry for Jeff and Susan's colds, it reads, referencing comments by Cake's news anchors. It was eerie.

[A]

It was very eerie when he wrote to us and said, I hope Susan's.

[B]

And Jeff's cold get better, because naturally.

[A]

Everyone'S more afraid for the female than.

[B]

The male of the news kid. I mean, that freaked me out.

[A]

It. To be honest with you, it freaked.

[B]

My husband out it was a little bit frightening.

[A]

And at that particular time I started taking extra precautions and extra security precautions.

[B]

BTK will decide that he wants to write his own story which will start this series of letters.

[A]

Landwehr has no choice but to take in the messages from btk.

[B]

He's going to send them at his discretion to us or to other members of the media and we, we'll play this game with him. Obviously by today's coverage BTK is watching and has been for years. The message has been received and passed on. Our job, as always, is to be the eyes and ears for the public as good journalists. We are here and we are listening and communicating. We need to keep him talking. If we can keep him talking, we're going to catch him. And that's basically because he will make a mistake.

[A]

On July 17, 2004, BTK delivers a letter to the Wichita Public Library writing, I have spotted a female that I think lives alone and or is a latchkey kid. I think fall or winter would be just right for the hit.

[B]

We know sooner or later this guy will probably kill again if we do not stop him and we've got to get there first and we're just trying to keep him talking.

[A]

Three months later he sends a chapter of the BTK story. Chapter two, an alleged biography of his life.

[B]

He claims the following. He was born in 1939, which would make his current age 64 or 65. His father died in World War II and his mother raised him. His mother started dating a railroad detective when BTK was around 11 years old.

[A]

Landwehr continues to go public with the letters, hoping to encourage more communication from the killer. What the lieutenant doesn't release to the public are photographs sent with a biography and taken by BTK of himself.

[B]

He will send us pictures of himself in four different locations where he's tied up to trees in practice, autoerotic, where he's actually buried himself in a grave.

[A]

BTK also begins sending dolls symbols of his victims. One is supposed to be Josephine Otero, the 11 year old girl he hung from a pipe in the 1974. Another doll represents victim Nancy Fox, murdered in 1977.

[B]

He would use those dolls to fantasize about what he did to victims. We have Polaroids of him dressing up with his dolls and tying them up, taking pictures of himself and the dolls in a mirror. That, I mean that was part of his fantasy life. Post Toasty's cereal box on the front of the box and the initials btk.

[A]

Over the next three months, BTK continues to drop all Sorts of packages with chapters detailing his kills. Each one, detectives hope, bringing them a bit closer to their killer.

[B]

Lt. Landwehr and Detective Kelly Otis arrived at the scene. After looking over the box, More officers.

[A]

Were called to the area.

[B]

He's playing with us, he's taunting us, and that's what he's always done. But we knew that in the long run, if we continue to let him do that, that we're going to catch him. And that's the ultimate. The ultimate goal was, of course, put him in behind bars. We're out here at the southeast corner of the parking lot at the Home Depot. And you see a row of vehicles here. And the next row over is where the employee had parked his truck.

[A]

Dana Gouge is a Wichita homicide detective. On January 25, 2005, he's notified about a suspicious package.

[B]

The package was actually in the back end of his truck, and that's where he found it.

[A]

Scrawled on the outside of the package is the phrase BTK bomb. Thinking it may be a joke, the employee has opened the package. There are no explosives. Detectives accessed the store's surveillance videotapes.

[B]

So there were hours of video on that day while he was working that had to be looked at in order to try to find anything that could be someone making a drop into his pickup truck.

[A]

What detectives find is a parking lot surveillance tape recorded at 2:37pm on a Thursday afternoon. On it, a black SUV approaches a pickup truck and appears to slow down.

[B]

What you're seeing on this particular screen is a black jeep that's entering the picture there, which will travel across the top of the screen and park next to the that vehicle. An individual, it appears, gets out of the vehicle, the jeep that parks next to the pickup truck, fools around outside of the vehicle and then gets back into the jeep and leaves the same way it came in.

[A]

Police blow up images of the jeep but are unable to ID a tag number. Still, they believe this might very well be a car owned by btk. It is perhaps their best lead in almost three decades of trying to.

[B]

You're just staring. I stared at that. I must have watched that I don't know how many times, just staring at him, saying, there he is.

[A]

As some members of the task force work the vehicle angle, others investigate the contents of the so called BTK bomb package.

[B]

Inside of it, it had a doll and some jewelry. And it also had a note inquiring whether or not he could communicate with the police by floppy disk without us being able to trace it. In fact, he wrote, be honest and asked us to reply through the newspaper to his question. And of course, we responded by running an ad in the paper, which he asked us to do, basically telling him we can't trace a floppy disk, which we knew of course was inaccurate.

[A]

Landwehr is willing to live with his lie if it helps catch a serial killer.

[B]

Fox KSS24 got a envelope in the mail. And inside that envelope was a postcard with communication and a purple floppy disk. Fox, Kansas receives a package claiming to be from serial killer BTK.

[A]

On February 16, 2005, a local news station receives yet another package from the BTK killer. Inside it, the item police had been hoping for, a computer disk.

[B]

They called us when they got it, and some of the task force members went out and picked it up and they brought it back to our office at the epic center.

[A]

Detective Randy Stone is a computer expert. He slips the disk into his computer and opens the only file says, this.

[B]

Is a TASC 3 by 5 card for details on communication with me in.

[A]

The newspaper, Stone determines the note was created using Microsoft's office software.

[B]

Knowing that office has what's called metadata embedded in it, and that was what we were just looking at in the.

[A]

Formatting, the software is registered to a specific user. In a matter of seconds, Detective Stone pulls up that name as well as information on the author of the note itself.

[B]

We could tell that it was somehow affiliated with Christ Lutheran church and the park city community public library. The next thing we learned, statistics, and it shows here that it was last saved by Dennis. So somehow a dentist who was affiliated with the church or the library was somehow involved with this document.

[A]

Stone searches the Internet for a Christ Lutheran church in Wichita.

[B]

And when we do that, we come up with their webpage that has a link to their people affiliated with the church. You click on that Lincoln, you go to here. And the only dentist we found on there was the prison of congregation council was Dennis Raider.

[A]

In a matter of minutes, one man with a computer has ID'd a suspect and even provided his possible location. Stone turns from his console to receive congratulations from fellow detectives.

[B]

You know, I'm sitting there looking at the computer. I know there's people standing behind me, but then I come up with a name and look up Dennis. And I look behind me and there's nobody there anymore because everybody just disappeared. You know, once we had this information, we were gone.

[A]

Wichita detectives hit the street, zeroing in on Dennis Raider's home address.

[B]

The last known address was at 6220 Independence, which is a. Which is in a city Just north of Wichita.

[A]

Here called Park City, Detectives Tim Relf and Clint Snyder race to Park City. Even before they stop the car, the pair get confirmation that Dennis Rader might actually be the killer known as btk.

[B]

As we pull up to about here, we glance up and we can see the Grand Cherokee, the black Jeep Grand Cherokee parked up in the driveway.

[A]

The Cherokee matches the vehicle seen in the parking lot of the home Depot and linked to btk.

[B]

That was one of those pivotal moments that you just can't describe. Hardly. It's one of those moments in any investigation where you feel like, okay, this is it. You know, we've got you. You know, a lot of us, I can speak for myself. Still weren't sure originally. Oh, yeah, because we thought, this guy can't be. He's setting somebody up, he has to be. But I think the follow up, that was done fairly quickly. When we found the Jeep Cherokee sitting in the driveway, that pretty much took away that doubt.

[A]

Some detectives want to move in immediately and arrest Raider. Lt. Landwehr, however, tells his men in the field to stand down.

[B]

He said, come on back. And as Tim and I have discussed many times, that was the hardest drive probably that we've ever had. And the hardest thing we've ever had to do is to put that car back in gear and drive back to Wichita when we think we're 100 yards away from BTK. I was trying to figure out a way to get the DNA Since I was going to do the interview. I wanted to be 100% sure when I sat down in the interview that I was talking to BTK.

[A]

Lt. Landrier wants to know as much as he can about Raider. Before moving on the suspect, investigators begin to turn over the ground in Raider's personal life to see what might lie underneath.

[B]

When you look at his lifestyle, I mean, he really didn't fit the profile of a serial killer. I mean, he blended in. You know, the president of his church congregation, boy scout leader, you know, lived in the suburbs outside of Wichita. I mean, he blended in.

[A]

For a serial killer, blending in is essential, enabling him to kill for years without being detected. Landwehr orders 24 hour surveillance on Raider. Lieutenant Mike Hennessey runs the operation.

[B]

It became pretty clear to me that he just acted like an everyday individual. He had a person that had a family, raised a family, apparently was married, went to a job every day, came home. We don't want another victim. Of course, after we get the name, that would be a terrible thing to occur. So we're watching real loose surveillance on him. There's so many things that this guy really looks good. He's basically the right age. Everything seems to be falling in line, so we're going to take it very quietly.

[A]

Landwehr wants to collect a covert sample of Rader's DNA, but is afraid to approach the suspect and perhaps tip him off. Instead, Landweir looks to Raider's family.

[B]

We find out that he has two children and we know that we will be able to get a reverse parent match if we get the DNA from one of those children.

[A]

The medical records of Dennis Rader's 27 year old daughter Carrie are subpoenaed and a tissue sample is sent to the state crime lab in Topeka.

[B]

Basically, I get the phone call that the daughter is related to btk. At that point we start writing in search warrants, planning his arrest for the next morning.

[A]

This episode is sponsored by Better Help. So I had this moment the other evening. It was barely past five and already getting dark outside and I realized I hadn't talked to my old roommate in months. I sent her a quick note and she called me right back and we must have talked for an hour. It reminded me how much lighter things can feel just by reaching out and connecting again. As the days get shorter, it's easy to drift into our own heads. This season, Better Help is reminding us to check in with the people who matter and to remember we're not alone. Reaching out for therapy can feel a lot like sending that first message. You think about it for a while, but afterward you wonder, why didn't I do this sooner? BetterHelp makes that step easier. They'll match you with a licensed therapist based on your needs and preferences. And if it's not quite the right fit, you can switch anytime. With more than 30,000 therapists and over 5 million users worldwide, it's one of the largest and most trusted online therapists therapy platforms out there. This month, don't wait to reach out. Whether you're checking in on a friend or reaching out to a therapist yourself, BetterHelp makes it easier to take that first step. Cold Case files listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com coldcase that's betterhelp.com cold case.

[B]

Down here at this intersection to the left, we had all of our unmarked vehicles we with the.

[A]

Arrest team in place on February 25, 2005, the BTK Task Force waits for Dennis Rader to come home for lunch.

[B]

And as he came down off of 61st street and started down this street, the unmarked car with the Lights and the grill came up behind him and put on their lights and stopped him right in this area here. And that's when Raylan Dean from the KBI and Dana Gouge came up and made the arrest. In the backseat of our car was Lt. Landwehr and got him back. When he opened the door, he was handcuffed, and he bent down, he looked over, and he said, hello, Mr. Landwehr. Never denying that he's BTK. Never denying anything. Never asking why we're holding him. It was just, hello, Mr. Landwehr. And pretty much resigned right at the fact that right then that, well, this. This is going to be. It's going to be a long day for him. We will protect your family while they're here. I cannot promise what's going to happen tomorrow, the next day. It's very difficult to sit across from someone that you chase this long, that you despise the way I despise. Dennis Rader.

[A]

Thirty minutes after arresting Raider, Lieutenant Ken Landwehr and FBI agent Bob Morton sit down with their suspect. On the table in front of them is the computer disk traced back to Rader.

[B]

When did you type this? Well, it probably would help to have a calendar, but basically, any way you can get out the DNA, right? You can't get out of your DNA unless you've had a total blood transfer and lost every organ. It's there. He knew that DNA was. He had studied enough that he knew that that was going to be it. Wouldn't that be a bummer if the DPK copycat confessed? He asked several times. That DNA doesn't lie, does it? I said no.

[A]

Landwehr and Morton want to talk about murder. Rader, however, wants to talk about the newspaper ad that was his downfall. Rex, it will be okay. A message planted by police for. For BTK and leading the killer to believe law enforcement could not trace his computer disc.

[B]

My job would message the Rick and said, rex, it's okay. Rex is okay. Yeah, you're right. He thought that this chase should go on forever and that it should be enjoyable for both of us. Sure, if you want. Because I was trying to catch you. I lied to you because I was trying to catch you. And he was incredulous. The fact that I wanted this to end.

[A]

Even in a police interrogation room, Dennis Raider seems to relish the game of cat and mouse. For detectives, however, the back and forth quickly grows old.

[B]

Why don't you just say who you are? I'm btk. Basically, that was it. Who are you? Say it. I'm btk. And after that, the floodgates just open.

[A]

Over the next 30 hours, Dennis Raider provides details on the BTK victims police already knew about. Then he tells them about two more victims BTK never took credit for because they were neighbors.

[B]

Raider's going to live her here, right? 6220 Independence. Five doors down is going to be Marine Hedge. And then of course, Dolores Davis lived here at 61st and Hillside.

[A]

Raider confesses to abducting, strangling and dumping the bodies of Maureen Hedge in 1985 and Dolores Davis in 1991. Both killings share the BTK MO. In the case of Dolores Davis, he covered the victim's face with a painted porcelain mask.

[B]

And of course he had evidence in his home of both of them that he had taken photographs at the death scenes and at the church on Marine Hedge and under the bridge on Dolores Davis.

[A]

Hedge and Davis bring the total number of victims to 10. And the story of the BTK killer to its final chapter. One that will be played out before a packed courtroom in Wichita, Kansas.

[B]

One of the points of prosecutors is.

[A]

To embarrass Dennis Raider.

[B]

They have said that before. They want the world to know what kind of a man Dennis Raider is.

[A]

In June of 2005, the media descends on Wichita to watch BTK in open court.

[B]

I don't know how to exactly say that. I had many, what I called them projects. They were different. People in the town that I followed.

[A]

Watched for almost an hour. Rader wanders through his past, educating a packed courtroom on the business of a serial killer. He begins with the murder of an entire family.

[B]

First of all, Mr. Otero was strangled or a back foot over his head and strangled. Then I thought he was going down and I went over and strangled Mrs. O'. Terrell. I thought she was down. He spoke very matter of factly, almost as if I'm speaking with you today. And then I went over to Junior and put the bag on his head. After that, Mrs. Otero woke back up and you know, she was pretty upset. What's going on? So I came back and at that point in time strangled her for the death strangle at that time with your hands. He has no remorse. He, he was very proud of what he did and he would have continued to do it without a doubt. Josephine walked back up. What did you do then? I took her to the basement and eventually hung her.

[A]

Raider often used a ruse to gain his victim's trust. Vicki Wegerly was home with her 2 year old son when she got a knock on the door. It was BTK Dressed as a telephone repairman.

[B]

Did she allow you in? Yes, she did. What happened then? I went over and found out where the telephone was. Simulated that I was checking the telephone. I had a make believe instrument. And after she was looking away, I drew a pistol at her and asked her if she'd go back to the bedroom with me. Told her I was gonna have to tie her up. She was very upset and we fought quite a bit back and forth. She was physically fighting you? Oh, yeah. Yes, sir. What happened then? Finally got the hand on her and got a nylon sock. Started strangling her.

[A]

Dennis Raider describes 10 separate acts of murder and pleads guilty to each. All that remains is Dennis Raider's sentencing and a final day in court.

[B]

The evidence was there earlier, the DNA floppy. There was no way that I was going to get out of this. He is an individual who has a very deep seated sexual deviancy that he is an individual that could not be stopped.

[A]

On August 18, 2005, District Attorney Nola Folston explains to the world why Dennis Raider should be put away for the rest of his life.

[B]

Even as a child, he got sexually aroused not, not as a human being or a normal person would be by love or attention or emotion, but by violent behavior.

[A]

Every thought, every breath that he takes is sexually motivated.

[B]

He lives it, he breathes it, he walks it, he talks it. His life is centered around what he needs sexually.

[A]

At Dennis Raider's sentencing hearing, each of the detectives in the task force takes the the stand, each offering his own bit of BTK horror. Tim Rel shares the killer's final words to a victim.

[B]

He whispered in her ear and he told her that he was btk. He said that he was a really bad guy. And then what happened? He said at that time, she started to squirm. And that's when he really. And again, he would. He would demonstrate because he had to hold the buckle down with one hand and he would. That time he demonstrated that he would have to really pull on the belt at that point.

[A]

Lt. Ken Landweire testifies last, providing details on the erotic fantasies that underpin BTK's crimes.

[B]

What did Mr. Raider tell you about his need for bondage and why he did what he did? Well, he was a practitioner of autoerotic activity. Basically, he would dress himself, himself up in victim's clothing. He would put himself into peril at some point in time where there's a heightened fantasy of some epoxia that would go on in an autoerotic situation. It's very gratifying. To be able to show what low level of mentality he has of what excites him. Explain that. Basically the theory is that because of oxygen deprivation to the brain, because of either putting something over your face where you're not getting oxygen, or you're cutting off the blood supply to the brain. And if this comes at the time of a sexual release, this is supposed to give you a heightened thrill fantasy. We're going to show a series of photographs taken by Mr. Raider of his self induced bondage. And he would hang himself from a tree. Is that correct? Yes. He's a pervert. Now unfortunately, he's a pervert that had sadomasc tendencies and finally would revert into killing someone. Now this photograph is of a grave. What can you tell us about this? Basically it was a. That he was going to bury a victim because he didn't want his victims to be found at that time and buried him. And he was going to. Didn't get that accomplished. And so he went out there to take photographs of himself. But I mean that was part of his fantasy life. He had a very rich fantasy life that to be honest, was very juvenile. So we're talking about not only an individual who commits homicides, but one who is a sexual predator and. And even more categorized as a pedophile.

[A]

After laying out the motive underpinning Raider's crimes, the state turns the court over to family members who get a chance to speak directly to btk.

[B]

Although we have never met, you have.

[A]

Seen my face before. It is the same face you murdered.

[B]

Over 30 years ago.

[A]

The face of my mother, Julie Otero.

[B]

My mother begged for her life, yet he showed no remorse. He saw that she had a family and a little boy right there in the house with her.

[A]

Yet he continued with his sick plan.

[B]

For the last 5,326 days, I have wondered what it would be like to confront the walking cesspool that took my mother's precious life. Murdering my mother was real personal to me. And I was going to let him know that. What's happened since it's been very personal between Dennis and me. If I embrace bitterness, I would remind you that you are nothing but a despicable, child murdering, cowardly, impotent eunuch and pervert masquerading as a human being.

[A]

Finally, it is Raider's moment on the stand. He begins with a twisted eulogy of sorts, attempting to draw a bond between himself and those he has killed.

[B]

Kathleen Bright. She spent time on her grandparents farm. Well, I did too as a kid. I have met Many, many, many fond memories of that Dolores Davis. She loved animals. And I worked as animal control. I have a great fondness for animals. Joseph Lucaro was in the air force. I was in the air force. He was a husband. I was a husband. That he would even talk about the victims and start comparing himself to them angered me. It was. It was uncalled for. And it just shows you what Dennis Raider is. He's nothing to us.

[A]

Then, as if giving an acceptance speech, BTK gives thanks to those who have helped.

[B]

Thanks. I can't believe the people that have helped me on this. I think you have to appreciate the police department. They've done a lot of work. Even though it took a long time. They gathered evidence. They had that evidence. When they got the keystone, they zeroed in on it very rapidly. Defense. We've had our ups and downs, but also we've been good. Sarah has probably been my. Probably my workhorse. Pastor Clark, he has been my main man. For him to stay with me, remain strong. He's a good man. I appreciate that. He has no remorse. Those tears were for himself. Everybody saw from the first time the public could finally see exactly what he is. He cares nothing about anyone else.

[A]

Raider closes with a final wish for his own salvation.

[B]

I am the light of the world. Now that I've confessed, I expect to heal and to have life. And then hopefully, someday, God will accept me. Mr. Raider did not turn himself in and go peacefully with.

[A]

Mr.

[B]

Raider was caught and intended to commit an 11th murder. But for the actions of the Wichita.

[A]

Police department, Judge Gregory Waller sentences Dennis Raider to The maximum allowed 10 consecutive life sentences and what is known in Kansas as a hard 40. A sentence of 40 years with no possibility of parole. For the families of Raider's victims, a measure of justice after decades of uncertainty doesn't make them whole, but it is enough to begin the healing process.

[B]

I had told her I wasn't going to quit until the animal was caught. Even though I'd pretty much given up that was ever going to happen. Eventually it was. And in my own small, indirect way, I was a part of that. And so I had a sense of satisfaction to her that I could tell her that, you know, now the animal is in a cage and he won't ever get out. Yesterday was the first day of the rest of the my life. And, you know, I'm going to live it. I'm going to be happy because I know this monstrous mother will never see daylight again. Our first major suspect was a was.

[A]

That tip Lt. Ken Landweire. Has been chasing a serial killer for two decades. Landwehr doesn't pretend to fully understand being BTK or what drove him. For the lieutenant, it is enough that the killing days are over.

[B]

Dennis Raider is a pedophile. Dennis Raider is a serial killer. And Dennis Raider is where he belongs for the rest of his life. This October, fear is free on Pluto tv With horror movie collections from Paranormal Activity, the Ring, you will die in seven days, Scream and from Dusk till dawn. This is my kind of place. And don't miss the man made nightmares in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or the World Ending Chaos in 28 Days Later.

[A]

There's something in the blood.

[B]

All the scares, all for free. Pluto TV stream now pay never.