Murder in America – EP. 226: SERIAL KILLER: BTK (Bind Torture Kill) | Pt. 2: The Murders
Release Date: Nov 28, 2025
Hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen

Brief Overview

In Part 2 of Murder in America's deep-dive series on the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) Killer, co-hosts Courtney Shannon and Colin Browen explore the chilling details of Dennis Rader's murders, focusing primarily on the period from 1977 through 1991. Moving chronologically through his crimes, the episode balances the dark procedural elements of Rader’s modus operandi with a compassionate memorialization of his victims and a sobering look at the impact on their families and the wider Wichita community. The hosts maintain their signature blend of meticulous research, empathy for victims, and atmospheric storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap and Context ([01:58]–[05:38])

• Dennis Rader’s Double Life: Recap of Part 1 on Rader’s seemingly ordinary family and community involvement versus his hidden violent obsessions.
• Escalation to Murder: How years of fantasy manifest in the Otero family murders (1974) and continued violence with new victims.

2. Failed Attempts and the Murder of Shirley Vian ([05:38]–[26:40])

• Target Selection Process: Rader’s careful stalking, naming targets as “Projects”—Project Green and Project Blackout—detailing months of surveillance and planning. [07:03]
  • Quote: "He had many targets on his list... he knew firsthand that things don't always go as planned." – Courtney [07:03]
• Shirley Vian's Murder: After failed attempts, Rader acts impulsively, following a 6-year-old home and invading Shirley Vian’s home while her three children are present.
  • Shirley’s background and life memorialized by hosts. [13:43]
  • Rader’s manipulation, tying up the children (promising, “Everything is going to be alright” [18:53]), and murder of Shirley by suffocation. Graphic first-hand survivor account from Shirley’s son Steven. [22:00]
  • Quote: “I peeked through the crack in the door. I seen everything... stripped down, naked, feet taped, taped her hands behind her back, face down.” – Steven (victim’s son) [23:38]
  • Aftermath: The children’s trauma, foster care, lasting generational pain.

3. The Murder of Nancy Fox & BTK’s Public Taunts ([29:13]–[54:25])

• Nancy Fox’s Background: “A golden child”—hardworking, beloved, fiercely loyal. [30:10]
• Stalking and Attack: Rader’s escalating obsession, methodical planning, and home invasion.
  • The chilling confrontation: "Get out of my house." / "I'm here to sex with you. I have this sex fantasy I want to fulfill." – Rader [40:21–41:05]
  • Nancy’s defiance and tragic fate. Her calm amid terror, attempting to outsmart him but ultimately murdered by strangulation. [44:50–46:24]
• Aftermath: Rader’s taunting call to police revealing the murder [49:03], deep grief and long-term impacts on Nancy’s family.
• Chilling Letter to Media: Rader’s poems and confession letters sent to the police and media (e.g., “Shirley Locks”), demanding recognition for his crimes and notoriety as “BTK”. Disturbing art and threats included.
  • Quote from letter: “There are seven in the ground, who will be next?” – BTK [59:13]
• Police and Public Response: First public confirmation of a serial killer, citywide panic, and the term “serial killer” still new to law enforcement. [64:55–67:34]

4. Escalation, Failed Attempts, and Near Misses (1978–1979) ([68:53]–[79:49])

• Personal Life: Birth of Rader’s daughter, attempts to “fix himself”, family man facade [68:53]. Paula discovering bondage fetish but not suspecting murder.
  • Quote: "She exploded in a fury. I was so embarrassed and ashamed." – Rader, on his wife's discovery of his fetish [71:20]
• Project Pinecone (Anna Williams): Near-miss with Anna, who escapes murder by not coming home as expected. The poem “Oh Anna, why didn’t you appear?” is sent to her and media. Impact: Anna moves away out of fear. [74:47]
  • Poem excerpt: “Oa why didn’t you appear?” – BTK (read aloud, [76:37])

5. BTK’s Vanishing Act and Evolution ([81:26]–[120:12])

• Integration into Community: Rader’s continued blending-in as ADT supervisor, Boy Scout leader, loving father seen helping with children in the neighborhood. [81:26]
• Police Investigation: Despite years of work, Rader eludes suspicion due to his bland, law-abiding persona.
• Long Cooling-Off Periods: Rader balances family life, indulges in disturbing self-bondage and masturbation fantasies—sometimes in public or on Boy Scout trips, in his parents’ basement, or local motels. [123:09–126:40]
  • Quote: “I lived to be trapped. Over and over and over, Dennis posed and took pictures of himself, pretending to be one of the women he wanted to torture." – Courtney [125:57]

6. Later Murders: Maureen Hedge, Vicki Wagerly, and Dolores Davis ([87:55]–[143:40])

• Project Cookie (Maureen Hedge, 1985): Chosen for proximity, suffocated in her home, body taken to Rader’s church for post-mortem posing and photographing, then dumped.
  • Rader used a Boy Scout camping trip as the perfect alibi. [91:23] “It was the perfect alibi... he had dozens of people who saw him there that night.”
  • Neighbors suspecting the boyfriend, while Rader participates in neighborhood concern.
• Project Piano (Vicki Wagerly, 1986): Stalked, murdered after failed ruse as telephone repairman. Her fierce fight, Rader’s hurried escape, and tragic family fallout; her husband wrongfully suspected for decades.
• Dolores Davis (1991): Rader uses another scout camp trip as an alibi. Blunt home invasion, abduction, and murder. Elaborate staging of the body with a plastic mask for his own gratification, then dumping the body under a bridge. [132:57]

7. Impact on Investigations, Victims’ Families, and City

• Miscarriages of Justice: In both Vicki Wagerly and Maureen Hedge murders, suspects within the victims’ circles (husbands or boyfriends) are tormented by suspicion, though innocent.
• Generational Trauma: The lifelong psychological wounds to survivors, especially children who witnessed or survived attacks, and families left to grieve with no closure.
• Cat-and-Mouse with Police: Rader’s letters, cat-and-mouse games, and manipulation of media and investigators.
  • Quote from letter: “…no help, no cure except death. Or being caught and put away. How about some name for me? ... Seven down and many more to go. I like the following—how about you? The BTK Strangler…” – Rader [59:13]

8. Rader’s Compartmentalization & Community Reaction ([121:21]–[144:30])

• "Cubing" his Life: Hosts discuss Rader’s ability to switch between the role of family man/community member and serial killer, with chilling seamlessness.
• Final Remarks: On the depth of the harm caused and the city’s enduring fear, with a promise to pick up the case’s final developments and Rader’s eventual downfall in Part 3.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Chilling Victim Testimony:

  • “I peeked through the crack in the door. I seen everything...stripped down, naked, feet taped, taped her hands behind her back, face down.” – Steven (Shirley Vian’s son) [23:38]

• Rader’s own words on fantasy and murder:

  • “I was going to take the boys and put plastic bags over their heads like I did Joseph and Shirley, and then hang the girl. God, oh God, what a beautiful sexual relief that would be.” – Dennis Rader [24:06]

• Victim’s Defiance:

  • “Get out of my house.” – Nancy Fox, confronting Rader [40:21]
  • “Well, let’s get this over with so I can call the police.” – Nancy Fox [41:51]

• Rader’s grotesque pride in his murders:

  • “Dennis would later say that out of all the murders he committed, this one was his favorite. In Confession of a Serial Killer, he described it as his perfect murder.” – Colin [49:03]

• Police confession broadcast:

  • “The only person who would have the type of information…would have to be the killer himself...the initials BTK stand for Bind, Torture and Kill.” – Wichita Police Chief [64:55]

Important Timestamps

• Shirley Vian Stalking and Murder: [11:23]–[26:40]
• Nancy Fox Stalking, Murder, and Police Call: [33:48]–[52:31]
• BTK Letters and Media Involvement: [54:25]–[67:34]
• Attempted Murder of Anna Williams and Ominous Poem: [73:12]–[77:37]
• Maureen Hedge Murder (Scout Alibi): [87:55]–[103:29]
• Vicki Wagerly Murder (Husband Suspected): [105:27]–[118:12]
• Dolores Davis Murder (Scout Alibi II): [129:43]–[143:40]
• Reflections on Family Life and Self-Bondage: [121:21]–[126:40]

Tone & Style

The hosts blend empathetic, careful victim memorialization with grim, sometimes clinical exploration of Rader’s methods and psychology. Their language is direct but sensitive, never sensationalizing. The narrative is driven by immersive storytelling, archival research, and survivor testimony, frequently pausing to humanize victims and reflect on the long shadows cast by Rader’s acts.

Listen Next

Part 3 focuses on Rader’s latter years, the investigation’s breakthroughs, and his ultimate downfall, available soon for Patreon subscribers.

For further context or updates, follow Murder in America on social media, and refer to Colin Browen’s YouTube/Instagram for related content and case photos.

Trigger Warning

This episode contains explicit details of violence, sexual assault, and murder, including offenses against children. Listener discretion is strongly advised.