Dennis Raider Informative Speech

How well do you really know your neighbor? How do you think Dennis Raiders neighbors and family felt when they found out the truth about their beloved family/friend? Today I will be telling you about the Dennis Raider before he was known as BTK, then I will tell you about his murder timeline. Then I will tell you about the puzzles he left leading up to his arrest and conviction. First, I will discuss the Dennis Raider before he was known as BTK. Dennis Rader was born March 9th,1945 in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was later raised in Wichita, Kansas. During his youth he had claimed that “He had killed animals and developed sexual fantasies that involved bondage.” (Tikkanen) In 1960 he enlisted and went into the U.S Airforce, where he served ten years,

His first murder occurred January 15, 1974, the Otero family, where he strangled the husband and wife and their two young children to death in east Wichita. His second murder occurred April 4, 1974, where he stabbed Kaitlyn Bright to death and shot her brother Kevin – who survived a gunshot to the head. In October 1974, Dennis Raider wrote a note to the Wichita Eagle that stated “Those three dudes you have in custody are talking for publicity… The code words for me will be… Bind them, torcher them, kill them... BTK, you see he is at it again. They will be on the next victim.” (Ott) March 17,1977 BTK strangles Shirley Van but shuts a five-year-old child and two of his siblings in a closet who happened to get out and give a brief description to the police. On December 8, 1977, Dennis strangled Nancy Fox, and after he murdered her, he went to a payphone and called 911 and told the dispatcher “You will find a homicide at 843 South Pershing.” (Ott) February 10th, 1978, he sent a letter to KAKE-TV stating “How many people do I have to kill before I get my name in the paper or some national attention” (Ott). January 19,1991 was the final killing from BTK in which he strangles Dolores Davis and leaves her body by a

The first one came in March 19th,2004 when the Wichita Eagle receives and envelope from Bill Thomas Killman, containing Vicki Wegerle’s missing drivers license, photos of her body, and a chilling message that links her unsolved murder to BTK. He left many clues and puzzles to let people know who was doing all the murders and who he was. In February 25,2005 Dennis Rader was taken into custody and he confessed to his murders. On July 27,2005 Rader pleaded guilty for 10 charges of first-degree murder and he told the courts the explicit details of his crime. August 18,2005 Dennis Rader is sentenced with 10 consecutive life terms, which mean he has a minimum of 175 years without the chance for