The eighth drop was another cereal box from the "cereal" killer, this one a Post Toasties. It was discovered on January 25, 2005 as the result of a tip from drop #9, which was a postcard sent to KAKE from an S. Killet using as return address the address of the Otero house. The Post Toasties box was found leaning against a road sign on a desolate unpaved section of North Seneca to the north of the Wichita city limits. KAKE videotaped the box without touching it and notified police. It had a brick on top of it and appeared weathered. It was later revealed to have contained another doll, this one with a rope tied around its neck and tied to a plumbing fixture, simulating the hanging of Josephine Otero. (For a silent video of BTK dolls, sketches, driver's licenses, see this clip from KWCH.com).
The tenth drop was another postcard that arrived on February 3, again sent to KAKE. Return address was Happ Kakemann, a 1950s character from KAKE's past. This one stated: Thank you for your quick response on #7 and 8. Thank to the news team for their efforts. Sorry about Susan's and Jeff's colds. Business issues: Tell WPD that I receive Newspaper Tip for a go. Test run soon. Thanks. PS: May want to use KTV-PC-etc code # and Letters from me for my Verification code to you. He was referring to an actual newspaper ad in the Wichita Eagle placed there by detectives. In a previous communication, BTK had asked the police if it would be safe to put his writings onto a computer diskette. The responding ad assured him in agreed-upon code: Rex it will be OK. (For more images of evidence items, plus victims and survivors, see BTK Victims, Survivors and Evidence Gallery).
Drop #11 arrived at the studios of KSAS-TV on February 16, the Fox affiliate in Wichita. It contained a letter, a piece of jewelry and a purple diskette referred to as "Test Floppy for WPD review." Detectives wasted little time analyzing the diskette and found software on it from Christ Lutheran Church in Wichita and the name Dennis. BTK had apparently thought he had erased the original contents of the diskette and that it would be "safe" to use it for his purposes. A quick Internet search brought up a website for the church mentioning its current president, Dennis Rader. A group of detectives quietly drove by Rader's house in Park City and noted a black Jeep Cherokee parked in the driveway. Rader was placed under surveillance while a subpoena was secretly obtained for a DNA sample of his daughter from medical records. The familial DNA was a match to DNA found from semen at BTK crime scenes and the case was solved.
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