Dennis Rader was a normal man to those around him. At the time of his arrest in 2005, Rader was the president of the Christ Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas, a Boy Scout troop leader, and a father and husband. However, between 1974 and 1991, Rader had killed ten people and had two more planned.

Dennis Rader was born March 9, 1945, Rader was the eldest son of William and Dorthea Rader. Rader has said that he knew from an early age that he was interested in bondage and that he had the potential of becoming a killer. After Rader graduated high school, he joined the Air Force. In 1970, Rader left the Air Force and returned to Wichita, Kansas. Upon his return, he began dating Paula Dietz whom he would marry in May the next year.

Dennis Rader committed his first murder in January of 1974. He killed Joseph and Julie Otero along with two of their children. Three months later Rader murdered Kathryn Bright and attempted to murder her brother Kevin. Rader’s first child was born in 1975 and his second was born in 1978, however, that did not stop him from murdering. Rader struck again in March 1977, December 1977, April 1985, September 1987, and lastly January 1991.

During the times of hiatus, Rader either was busy with his family, church, or work and used those things to distract himself from his dark thoughts.

Dennis Rader was not heard from again until 2004 when he began sending packages and letters to the media and the police department. These items provided details of his crimes typically with information that only the police or the killer himself would know. It was one of these communications with the police in 2005, that got him caught.

Dennis Rader was sentenced to 180 years before he would be eligible for parole and is currently serving his sentences at El Dorado Correctional Facility in El Dorado, Kansas.

Ramsland, K. M. (2016). Confession of a serial killer: The untold story of Dennis Rader, the BTK killer. ForeEdge.