The dust from the resulting uproar hadn't begun to settle when another mysterious letter arrived, this time on May 5, 2004 at the studios of KAKE-TV, the Wichita ABC affililiate. This was a lengthy word puzzle consisting of columns of letters and a few numbers mixed in. The FBI verified that this also came from BTK, as he characteristically used his unique signature, but couldn't make any particular sense out of the puzzle. There were a number of words and phrases discerned within it, but what did it all mean?
On June 9, 2004 a package was found taped to a stop sign at the corner of First and Kansas, in the middle of the city. This contained a disturbing collection of documents, including a letter detailing the grisly murders of the Otero family and a sketch of a nude and bound female hanging by a rope. Eleven year old Josephine Otero had been hanged by a rope in the basement of their home in 1974. The sketch was labeled, "The Sexual Thrill is My Bill." Also enclosed was a chapter list entitled "The BTK Story" that mimicked the chapter list of David Lohr's original article on BTK at the on-line Crime Library. Chapter One was entitled, "A Serial Killer is Born."
On July 17, 2004 a package marked "BTK" was found in a book return at the Wichita Public Library downtown. It contained a worrisome message: "I have spotted a female that I think lives alone and/or is a spotted latchkey kid. Just got to work out the details. I'm much older (not feeble) now and have to conditions myself carefully. Also my thinking process is not as sharp as it uses to be ... I think fall or winter would be just about right for the HIT. Got to do it this year or next! ... time is running out for me." This same package contained an intriguing claim that he, BTK, had engineered the recent death of a 19 year old man from Argonia, Kansas, named Jake Allen. Jake Allen had committed suicide by lying on railroad tracks 12 days earlier. BTK claimed to have lured the young man to his death via a series of computer chats. (This claim was later disproven as a hoax, as there was no evidence that Allen had ever had any such Internet chat with anyone, and his death is still seen as a suicide).
Despite huge pressure from the public, the police refused to release many details of the packages from June on, as it was feared that hearing these things could provoke BTK into a killing frenzy. Many of the details of the package contents weren't made public until after Dennis Rader pleaded guilty to 10 murders on June 27, 2005.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
What a captivating and enthralling story. Thanks!
2 - uao
This is a really fascinating piece; very well done.
BTK is one of the most remarkably arrogant serial killers in recent memory. Ironic how it was this arrogance that ultimately put him away.
3 - Deej
Thanks for this fascinating article. I follow this case on TV and on the internet but had never heard about some of the details in his communications until just now when I read your article.
Thanks
4 - Stacy L Harp
I watched Dateline last night as they aired confessions of BTK and I was amazed at his arrogance. Great story, and I'll be checking out your site too.
5 - Kim
Great story , how about some info on his earlier communications. One of my big wonders is about the baby picture that he sent. Has anyone ever found out who the baby is in that photo?
Thanks
6 - Frank Waldron
The baby photo sent to KSN-TV in April 2004 was never validated as a BTK drop by the FBI or even by BTK himself. No one seems to know who the baby is, but conspiracy theories abound.
7 - Debbie Goodine
I would like to know if a serial killer can't help themself then how did btk go 20 years without continuing to kill.
8 - Frank Waldron
We don't know for sure that he did stop killing, as there are unsolved homicides in the Wichita area right up until 2004. BTK has made statements that as he got older he became less sure of himself such as if he got into a physical fight with a victim. It also presumably means he became less sexually driven as well. But the 10 murders he is charged with are the ones where sufficient evidence exists for a conviction. There could be a number of others.
9 - JoJo
Wow- what a loser. Hopefully he'll get BTKed in the prison yard.
10 - Frank Waldron
The links for The BTK Site and BTK Victims, Survivors and Evidence Gallery in this article don't work correctly. The correct URL for The BTK Site is here. The correct URL for BTK Victims is here. Sorry for the errors.
11 - Annonymous
Frank, I'm wondering if they ever released a copy of the "Death to Landwehr" poem BTK sent in his 5th communicaton? I haven't ran across it anywhere, so doubt they released it?
12 - Frank Waldron
Good question. I've never seen anything in the media about the exact words written, just general statements.
We can't edit these blogs once they are published, but it should be corrected to say that Rader was arrested on his way home to lunch, not after his lunch.
13 - sam
i hate btk he is the worst man in the world i hope he gos to hell for doin that to all them poor peoples i fell so sorry fir them.i will be prayin for those peoples familys
14 - Sophiered
Frank your site is amazing. You couldn't find anything on the web that is more complete when it comes to information on BTK.
I had no idea we could comment, I always find so many links here to use that I didn't know if we scroll down we could comment.
Well done.
Anne.
15 - chiloe mcdonald
wow man your site is awesome