Offender Record · OFF-2026-151
Dennis Rader (photo from the Radford University biography)
Dennis Lynn Rader
Also known as BTK, BTK Killer, BTK Strangler
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'11"
Born
1945
Custody
Incarcerated
States
KS, CO, AL, JP, CA, TX
Distinguishing featuresSymmetrical facial features, bushy mustache
Custody
Incarcerated at El Dorado Correctional Facility · #0083707
Custody record at the facility
Sentenced August 18, 2005, to 10 consecutive life sentences with earliest possible release date of February 26, 2180.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Dennis Lynn Rader, known as the BTK Killer (Bind, Torture, Kill), pleaded guilty to 10 counts of first-degree murder in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Between 1974 and 1991, Rader killed at least 10 people in and around Wichita and Park City, Kansas, typically targeting women in their homes whom he bound and strangled. He was arrested on February 25, 2005, and sentenced on August 18, 2005, to 10 consecutive life sentences with a minimum of 175 years before parole eligibility. Rader is currently incarcerated at El Dorado Correctional Facility.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Jan 15, 1974, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Julie Otero)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Julie Otero, age 34, was strangled with rope while her children watched. She was bound and gagged.
SourcesDennis Rader; 20 years ago this week: Dennis Rader, BTK serial killer, sentenced to prison
Offense date Jan 15, 1974, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Joseph Otero Jr.)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Joseph Otero Jr., age 9, was bound with rope with hoods covering his head and suffocated.
SourcesDennis Rader; 20 years ago this week: Dennis Rader, BTK serial killer, sentenced to prison
Offense date Jan 15, 1974, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Joseph Otero)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Joseph Otero, age 38, was strangled by Rader after Rader cut phone lines and forced entry into the home. Rader took a watch and radio from the scene and left semen.
SourcesDennis Rader; Dennis Rader - Otero family murders court testimony; 20 years ago this week: Dennis Rader, BTK serial killer, sentenced to prison
Offense date Jan 15, 1974, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Josephine Otero)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Josephine Otero, age 11, was hanged from a sewer pipe in the basement after her parents and brother were killed. Rader took photographs and left semen.
SourcesDennis Rader; 20 years ago this week: Dennis Rader, BTK serial killer, sentenced to prison
Offense date Apr 04, 1974, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Kathryn Bright)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Kathryn Bright, age 21, was stabbed multiple times and strangled while her brother Kevin was also present. Kevin was shot but survived.
SourcesBTK killer waives trial, admits 10 slayings; Dennis Rader
Offense date Mar 17, 1977, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Shirley Vian)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Shirley Vian, age 24-26, was tied up and strangled after Rader locked her three children in the bathroom. A phone call interrupted the crime, causing Rader to flee early.
SourcesBTK Victims; BTK serial killer's daughter: 'We were living our normal life'
Offense date Dec 08, 1977, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Nancy Fox)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Nancy Fox, age 25, was strangled in her home and Rader called police to report the homicide. He took her driver's license as a souvenir.
SourcesBTK Victims; BTK serial killer's daughter: 'We were living our normal life'
Offense date Apr 27, 1985, Park City, Kansas
First-degree murder (Marine Hedge)
Wichita Police Department, Park City Police, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Marine Hedge, age 53, Rader's neighbor, was abducted from her Park City home on April 27, 1985, and her body was found May 5, 1985, along a roadside ditch. Rader later transported her body to his church to take photographs.
SourcesDennis Rader BTK; Dennis Rader
Offense date Sep 16, 1986, Wichita, Kansas
First-degree murder (Vicki Wegerle)
Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Vicki Wegerle, age 28, a pianist, was strangled in her home while her 2-year-old child was present. Rader posed as a telephone lineman to gain entry. He took her driver's license and photographs of her body.
SourcesBTK Victims; Case File: Dennis Rader
Offense date Jan 19, 1991, Park City, Kansas
First-degree murder (Delores Davis)
Wichita Police Department, Park City Police, Sedgwick County · Sedgwick County District Court · Docket Sedgwick County · Kansas murder statute · Arrested Feb 25, 2005 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole, served consecutively
Dolores Davis, age 62, was abducted from her Park City home on January 19, 1991. Rader broke a sliding glass door to enter. He strangled her with pantyhose and dumped her body under a bridge.
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
10
Victims convicted
10
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1974–1991
Victim profile
Young women, Children, Elderly, Men, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual, Power or control
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
bachelor
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
2
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office · KS
Assisted with investigation; Rader held in detention at Sedgwick County detention center
Park City Police Department · KS
Assisted with BTK investigation; participated in cold case searches at Rader's former property
Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office · KS
Prosecutors Nola Foulston, Kevin O'Connor, Aaron Smith, and Kim Parker prosecuted all 10 murder charges
Kansas Department of Corrections · KS
Operates El Dorado Correctional Facility where Rader is incarcerated
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Kansas City Division) · KS
Assisted Wichita Police with investigation; Behavioral Analysis Unit helped unmask Rader; conducted DNA sample collection
Osage County Sheriff's Office · OK
Investigating Rader's possible involvement in 1976 disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney and other unsolved cases
El Dorado Correctional Facility · KS
Maximum-security prison facility housing Rader since 2005 sentence
Kansas Bureau of Investigation · KS
Collaborated on cold case investigations; working with Osage County Sheriff on unsolved cases
Wichita Police Department · KS
Led investigation of BTK murders from 1974-1991; arrested Rader on Feb. 25, 2005
Source: Britannica, Biography.com
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
AL
Mobile, Alabama
Feb 1967 – Jan 1968 · Brookley Air Force Base, antenna installer and maintenance · air force
CA
El Dorado, California
Aug 19, 2005 – present · Maximum security incarceration, inmate number 0083707, serving 10 consecutive life sentences
CO
Denver, Colorado
approx. Aug 1970 – Jun 1972 · Reserve Air Force service · air force
JP
Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Jan 1968 – Jun 1968 · Kadena Air Base, antenna systems work · air force
Tokyo, Japan
approx. Jul 1968 – Aug 1970 · Tachikawa Air Base, antenna systems work · air force
KS
Pittsburg, Kansas
approx. 1945 – 1950 · Birthplace
Wichita, Kansas
approx. 1950 – 1966 · Childhood and adolescence
Salina, Kansas
approx. 1965 – 1966 · Kansas Wesleyan University · Attended college before joining Air Force
Butler, Kansas
approx. 1966 – 1979 · Attended prior to Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas
approx. 1970 – 1979 · Wichita State University · Bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice
Park City, Kansas
approx. 1970 – 1973 · Leekers IGA supermarket, meat department
Park City, Kansas
approx. 1970 – 2005 · Suburb of Wichita, moved here after Air Force discharge
Wichita, Kansas
approx. 1972 – Jul 1973 · Coleman factory, assembler
Wichita, Kansas
approx. 1974 – 2004 · Stalking and hunting grounds, particularly neighborhoods and victim homes
Wichita, Kansas
1974 – 1988 · ADT Security Services, alarm installation technician
Park City, Kansas
1990 – 2005 · Compliance Supervisor for Park City government, duties included animal control
Wichita, Kansas
Feb 25, 2005 – Aug 19, 2005 · Awaiting trial and sentencing hearing
TX
San Antonio, Texas
Aug 17, 1966 – Sep 1966 · Lackland Air Force Base, basic training · air force
Wichita Falls, Texas
approx. Sep 1966 – Dec 1966 · Sheppard Air Force Base, technical training · air force
Timeline
Mar 09, 1945
Dennis Lynn Rader born in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Aug 17, 1966
Rader enlisted in United States Air Force as a mechanic.
Aug 11, 1970
Rader left active duty and entered Air Force reserves.
Jun 20, 1972
Rader discharged from Air Force reserves as sergeant.
Jan 15, 1974
Rader murdered four members of the Otero family (Joseph, Julie, Josephine, and Joseph Jr.) in Wichita.
Apr 04, 1974
Rader murdered Kathryn Bright, age 21, and shot her brother Kevin, who survived.
Oct 1974
Rader left a letter in the Wichita Public Library claiming responsibility for Otero murders and signed it BTK.
Mar 17, 1977
Rader murdered Shirley Vian, age 24-26, by strangling in her Wichita home.
Dec 08, 1977
Rader murdered Nancy Fox, age 25, by strangling in her Wichita home and called police to report it.
Apr 27, 1985
Rader murdered Marine Hedge, age 53, his neighbor in Park City, Kansas.
Sep 16, 1986
Rader murdered Vicki Wegerle, age 28, by strangling in her Wichita home.
Jan 19, 1991
Rader murdered Dolores Davis, age 62, in her Park City, Kansas home.
Feb 25, 2005
Rader arrested near his home in Park City, Kansas after investigators traced a floppy disk he sent to a television station.
May 03, 2005
Rader arraigned on 10 counts of first-degree murder; initially pleaded not guilty; bond set at $10 million.
Jun 27, 2005
Rader pleaded guilty to all 10 counts of first-degree murder.
Aug 18, 2005
Rader sentenced to 10 consecutive life sentences with minimum 175 years before parole eligibility by Judge Gregory Waller.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · Britannica ·
Dennis Rader“Dennis Rader is an American serial killer who murdered 10 people over a span of three decades between 1974 and 1991 before his arrest and confession in 2005.”
News report · Audacy ·
20 years ago this week: Dennis Rader, BTK serial killer, sentenced to prison“On August 18, 2005, the BTK serial killer Dennis Rader received 10 consecutive life sentences from Judge Greg Waller in Sedgwick County district court.”
News report · Crime Timelines ·
Dennis Rader BTK“February 25, 2005: Authorities arrest Dennis Rader. He is charged with the killings of Marine Hedge, 53, in April 1985 and Dolores Davis, 62, in January 1991.”
News report · A&E Television ·
Case File: Dennis Rader“In January 1991, Rader strangled 62-year-old Dolores Davis with her own pantyhose before dumping her body beneath a bridge.”
News report · Biography.com ·
Dennis Rader“On January 15, 1974, Rader strangled four members of the Otero family—Joseph and Julie, along with two of their children Josephine and Joseph Jr.—to death in their Wichita home.”
News report · Oxygen ·
What Led To Serial Killer Dennis 'BTK' Rader's Capture“On April 4, 1974, Rader broke into Kathryn Bright's home. When she returned with her 19-year-old brother Kevin, Rader held them at gunpoint.”
News report · UPI ·
On This Day, Feb. 25: So-called BTK killer arrested“On February 25, 2005, authorities arrested Dennis Rader, a municipal employee and church leader, for the so-called BTK serial killings. Rader was convicted and sentenced to 10 consecutive life terms.”
News report · ABC News ·
BTK serial killer's daughter: 'We were living our normal life'“Rader's killing spree began in January 1974, when he targeted four members of the Otero family. He killed 21-year-old Kathryn Bright later that year and his next two victims, Shirley Vian and Nancy Fox, in 1977.”
Other government record · Wikipedia citing Kansas Department of Corrections ·
El Dorado Correctional Facility“Dennis Rader, Register Number 0083707, is serving 10 life sentences without parole as a serial killer who murdered 10 people between 1974 and 1991.”
Law enforcement release · FBI ·
FBI Kansas City History“In 2005, the Kansas City Division helped the Wichita Police Department unmask Dennis Rader as the BTK killer. From 1974 to 1991, Rader killed at least 10 women in Kansas.”
Law enforcement release · FBI ·
Serial Murder“The BTK killer, Dennis Rader, killed ten victims in and around Wichita, Kansas. He served honorably in the U.S. Air Force, was employed as a local government official, and was president of his church.”
Law enforcement release · U.S. Department of Justice ·
DOJ Views - H.R. 2102“A computer disk the killer sent was traced to a particular computer and user. This enabled law enforcement officers to arrest Dennis Rader, who eventually pled guilty to 10 murders.”
News report · Voice of America ·
Confessed US Serial Killer Sentenced to Life in Prison“Judge Gregory Waller imposed 10 consecutive life sentences on Thursday after a two-day hearing which included emotional testimony from victims' families and expression of remorse from Rader.”
News report · CNN ·
BTK sentenced to 10 life terms“Dennis Rader received 10 consecutive life terms after the court heard emotional statements from victims' families. With a minimum sentence of 175 years, Rader will spend the rest of his life at El Dorado Correctional Facility.”
News report · NPR ·
BTK Killer: Arraigned, Pleads Innocent“In June, Dennis Rader pleaded guilty to 10 murders that took place between 1974 and 1991.”
News report · NBC News ·
BTK killer waives trial, admits 10 slayings“On April 4, 1974, Rader broke into 21-year-old Kathryn Bright's home. When she returned with her 19-year-old brother Kevin, Rader held them at gunpoint and stabbed and strangled Kathryn, shooting Kevin who survived.”
News report · NPR ·
BTK Killer Arraigned, Pleads Innocent“Dennis Rader was formally arraigned on 10 counts of murder and pleaded innocent initially, though he later pleaded guilty in June 2005.”
News report · Lawrence Journal-World ·
Suspect in BTK serial killings earned good conduct medal in Air Force“Dennis Rader served as an active duty airman in the Air Force from August 17, 1966 to August 11, 1970. He reached the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.”
Court record · Murderpedia ·
Dennis Rader - Otero family murders court testimony“Judge Gregory Waller: In regards to count one, please tell me what you did on the 15th day of January in 1974. Dennis Rader: On January 15th 1974, I maliciously intentionally in premeditation killed Joseph Otero.”
News report · CBS News ·
BTK Victims“Nancy Fox, 25, was strangled with stockings in her home December 8, 1977. Vicki Wegerle, 28, was found strangled in her bed on September 16, 1986.”
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Rader, Dennis“On January 15, 1974, Rader's first victims were Joseph Otero, Julie Otero, Joseph Otero Jr., and Josephine Otero, all strangled in their Wichita home.”
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