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Birth
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Early Life
As a young child, he hung neighborhood cats and dogs
http://allday.com/post/1070-the-terrifying-true-story-of-the-btk-killer/ (Source 1)
http://www.biography.com/people/dennis-rader-241487#synopsis (Source 2) -
The Otero Family
He cut the family's phone lines and broke into the home. He murdered the father, Joe,with a chord, then strangled Joe’s wife Julie with his hands. He repeated on 9-year-old Joey and attempted to strangle the 11-year-old daughter,Josephine. She came back to, but the Rader proceeded to take her to the basement where he hung her from a plumbing pipe and masturbated over her exposed legs, leaving semen on the pipe behind her. The family's fifteen year old son would later discover the bodies (1&2) -
Kathryn Bright
Radar broke into Kathryn Bright's house, when Bright and her brother, Kevin, arrived, Kevin was shot twice in the head. Radar brought Bright into the bedroom where she fought back, Kevin then came to and ran down the street for help. Radar stabbed Bright to death and left. He was upset he wast allowed to kill the way he wanted to. (http://murderpedia.org/male.R/r/rader-dennis-kathryn-bright.htm) (1) -
The Letter
In October 1974, Radar placed a letter in a book at the public library taking responsibility for the murders. He was seeking attention for his crimes. The letter was placed in the local newspaper where Radar described his urge to kill. He called it a monster an said it was hard for him to control himself. (2) -
Shirley Vian
Radar locked Vian's children in the bathroom, then tied up and strangled her. (http://murderpedia.org/male.R/r/rader-dennis-shirley-vian.htm) (2) -
Nancy Fox
Radar strangled Fox, then called the police to report a homicide.(2) -
Period: to
The Lead Goes Silent
Radar didn't murder anyone else after Fox for 8 years, he came close in 1979 when he awaited the arrival of an elderly woman to her home. He left before she arrived, but sent her a letter to inform her he had been there. Radar continued to work with ADT and graduated from Wichita State University some time later. (2) -
The Poem
Radar sent a poem to the local newspaper about the Vian killing (2) -
Letter 2
(Exact time unknown) Radar sent a letter to a local television station, taking credit for killing Fox, Vian, and another victim who remains unknown. He alluded himself to other notorious killers (2) -
Marine Hedge
Radar murders Hedge, her body is discovered on the side of the road. (2) -
Vicki Wegerle
Wegerle is taken from her home and murdered (http://murderpedia.org/male.R/r/rader-dennis-vicky-wegerle.htm) (2) -
Dolores Davis
Davis is Radar's last known victim (2) -
Arrest
Radar is arrested and later charged on ten counts of first-degree murder. Neighbors and member of his church were shocked by the news, seeing as he been an active member in his church, a boy scout troop leader and a Park City compliance supervisor since 1991.(2) -
The Charges
Radar is serving 10 life sentences. As part of his plea, he was told to give the details of his crimes in court. Many said that as he retold the horrifying events, he showed no sign of remorse or emotion. Radar only escaped the death penalty because he committed his crimes before his state's 1994 reinstatement.(2)
