Otero Family and the BTK killer & other strangled victims

8 of the 10 victims of the BTK killer.

• Julie and Joseph Otero, 2 of the 4 Otero family members, strangled by the BTK killer on January 15, 1974. Josephine Otero and Joseph Otero Jr (children) are not shown.
• Kathryn Bright, murdered by the BTK strangler - April 04, 1974.
• Shirley Vian was strangled by the BTK killer - March 17, 1977.
• Nancy Fox was strangled by the BTK killer - December 08, 1977.
• Marine Hedge, murdered by Dennis L Rader - April 27, 1985.
• Vicki Wegerle was another victim of BTK - September 16, 1986.
• Dolores E Davies, BTK's last victim, strangled - January 18, 1991.

BTK killer Facts - Dennis Rader's Lutheran Ancestory

BTK killer Fact: Dennis Rader's double ancestory can be traced back to Andrew Jacob Rader (1794) and Catherine peters(1797) who descends from Adam Roder (1645-1723) who died in Mutterstadt in Germany.

THE MARSHFIELD MAIL
BTK killer has local connections By: Alyssa Spradlin, Mail staff writer 03/09/2005

Historically the BTK killer of Wichita, Kansas and his family are Lutheran. Simeon Rader, Dennis's great great grandfather was a leader and an elder in the early Lutheran church in Rader.
A question being asked by the Webster County Rader's of Missouri is "Is the BTK killer of Wichita, Kansas somehow a relative?.... kind of:

BTK killer fact: The Rader community moved from Tennessee in 1871 and BTK strangler is the great great grandson of Joseph Rader, one of the original Rader's.

William E. Rader, Dennis's father was the son of two Raders, Ruben Rader and Dorthea M. Rader. Dorthea was the daughter of Simeon Rader and Christine B. Kruse (later Rasmussen). Simeon was the son of Joseph Rader's and his first wife, Barbara Nease, who passed away prior to the family moving to Missouri..

Joseph and Barbara had 11 children, Sarah Catherine Rader Peters, Christene Rader Rader, Adam Frank Rader, Darius Rader, Regina 'Sis' Rader Wheeler, Simeon Rader, Maryan 'Polly Ann' Rader Popejoy, Philip Rader, Joseph Melanchton Rader and Pernina and Lavina Rader, who were twins.
He and his second wife, Magdalene Renner, had seven children, Alice Eliza Rader Keesling, Otto Rader, Polycarp Rader, Loy Rader, Barney Rader, Ezra Rader and Orpha Rader Saunders.

Rev. Andrew Rader, Joseph's brother, had 12 children with his wife Catherine Peters. They were Elizabeth Rader Davis, Sarah Rader Renner, Jacob Rader, Albert Jerome Rader, David H. Rader, Hester Rader Rader, Silas Newton Rader, Luther Sylvenus Rader, John E. Rader, Iranaeus W. Rader, Susan C. Rader Fullington and Ida Cordelia Rader Buck. Jacob, David and John died at an early.

Joseph and Andrew Rader are thought to be the heads of the original Rader family settlers. At the time of the red Rader book's printing in 1971, there were approx 4,000 names listed, all of whom are direct descendants of the original settlers.

BTK's immediate family starts on page 112 of the red Rader book, with the marriage of his grandparents Dorothy and Ruben. It goes on to name their four children, noting the marriage of William E. Rader to Dorothea M. Cook. The book lists Dennis L(1945) and his three brothers: Paul W(1947), William G(1949) and Jeffrey D(1955)

Letters from & Questions & answers - BTK Killer, Wichita Kansas

When the Wichita Eagle newspaper offered to answer questions relating to letters, facts from the BTK killer, the heavens opened up. Some people had been following the case of the Wichita, Kansas BTK serial killer, Dennis L Rader for years.
Questions came from local residents and as far away as Canada.

Some of the questions emerging from the March 20 & March 28 question & answer session are as follows:

• Could the BTK strangler, Dennis L Rader and the Zodiac killer be one ? Although there are similarities in the way letters & facts were sent by BTK and the Zodiac killer to the police and media, no connection has been announced. It is thought unlikely by law enforcement officials as Rader was stationed in Japan from early 1968 to August 1970. It is possible that the BTK killer admired the Zodiac killer's ability to avoid capture.
• Has Rader sent letters from jail to any of the newspapers or TV stations, seeing as BTK enjoyed sending letters? None of the Wichita TV stations or the Wichita Eagle have received letters from the Wichita, Kansas serial killer aka BTK.
• If BTK took pictures of his victims, how did he get those pictures developed? BTK used a Polaroid camera. There were 3 instant photos of Vicki Wegerle contained inside the letter sent to The Eagle in March 2004. Dennis used a Polaroid camera for his work as a Park City compliance officer.
• Is it possible that Dennis Rader was involved in the murder of Phillip Fager and his two daughters in 1987? Wichita, Kansas police officials don't believe that BTK had anything to do with the murders but believe that Rader admired the work (extract from a purported letter sent from the BTK killer to Fager's widow) - a man was later tried but acquitted by a jury.
• Was Dennis Rader abused as a child by his father or mother?
  Not according to Jeff Rader, a younger brother of Dennis, who stated that none of the family had been.
• Has his family spoken to him since he has been in jail?
  The BTK serial killer's wife and children haven't spoken to him whilst he has been in jail and they are currently in seclusion, according to Michael Clark, pastor of the Christ Lutheran Church, where Rader was the church council's president.
• Is there a site map which shows where the serial murders took place? Yes there is a link at kansas.com which points to coverage of the strangler aka BTK.
• Did BTK's family suspect or even know that he might be the BTK strangler?
  Jeff Rader stated that neither he or his family suspected anything.
• Will Dennis Rader or his wife receive his retirement pension from Park City?
  Park City Mayor Emil Bergquist stated that employees of the city belong to KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System) and it is more than probable that Dennis will be eligible.
• Why did Park City's infamous serial killer want to see pastor Michael Clark? Nobody knows for sure except Dennis, who hasn't granted an interview. It is known that BTK was a church member for 30 years.
• Has BTK's behavior been that of a model prisoner whilst incarcerated in jail?
  Gary Steed, sheriff of Sedgwick County like the prison employees have been informed not to discuss the BTK Killer.
• How did BTK choose his victims and did he have any more murders planned? Only BTK can answer those questions.
• What percentage of citation letters from the BTK killer during his role as a compliance officer in Park City were addressed to men? The Municipal court records for Park City show that 55% were to women and 45% to men, from Aug 1999 to Dec 2004.

Contributing: Stan Finger, Roy Wenzl, Deb Gruver, Hurst Laviana and Tim Potter of The Eagle

Serial Killer in Wichita, Kansas aka BTK Facts

Serial killer in Wichita Kansas aka BTK: Facts
In the end, it seems, what made the serial killer in Wichita aka BTK invisible was not what made him different, but the fact that he was in all outward appearances "the guy next door".
Arlyn Smith, formerly a police detective in Wichita, believes that part of the serial killer in Wichita aka BTK's ability to remain elusive for 31 years was due to his ordinariness, just like us.
In 1979 after 5 years of making Wichita a nightmare for many residents he vanished without a trace...Probably dead, incarcerated in jail or simply moved to another area was the majority view.
After 25 years of silence the serial killer in Wichita aka BTK (Dennis L Rader) re-emerged. Hesent a letter to the Wichita Eagle newspaper along with crime scene photos.
It is unknown exactly what made the serial killer in Wichita aka BTK re-emerge, but it is thought that one possibility is that in January 2004, some 30 years since the murder of the Otero family the Wichita Eagle newspaper released an article stating that Robert Beattie, local lawyer & author was writing a history of the serial killer in Wichita aka BTK.
Arlyn Smith, speculated that this annoyed the BTK serial killer because it somehow drew the attention away from him, so he thought that if anyone should tell the story then it should be the serial killer aka BTK, himself.

The act of being a serial killer, not unlike rape, is a power crime. The serial killer in Wichita BTK is driven by his control over victims + the importance he acquires with police, the media and the public.... This is what drives him on.

Unlike most serial killers, Dennis L Rader was different in that he communicated with the police authorities, newspapers.... based on the opinion of Steven Egger (Criminologist at the University of Houston.)
Egger is quoted as saying "These guys don't stop, but they will change their MO [modus operandi] along the way." This belief was confirmed when it was identified that two other women were murdered at the hands of the serial killer in Wichita aka BTK - Marine Hedge (1985) and Dolores Davis(1991).

Rader spent his 60th birthday behind bars and is being held on a £10 million bail; £1 million for each of his ten victims.
The initial hearing on his case was delayed and has now been scheduled for April 19.

BTK killer facts, Wichita, Kansas - suspect's minister reacts in sermon

BTK killer facts, Wichita, Kansas - suspect's minister reacts in sermon

Sunday morning February 27, 2005 - pastor Michael Clarke spoke to the congregation regarding the BTK killer in Wichita kansas.
BTK killer Facts - Dennis L. Rader was a congregation leader at the christ lutheran church and had only been arrested recently.

Pastor Michael spoke to the congregation stating that recent events have the power to destroy, devastate or increase the faith of those who believe in christ and want to strengthen as a community.

BTK killer facts: He continued to explain how the recent events would have caused mixed feelings: relief for some, confusion for others, is there a God, thank God..... a difficult & troubled time ahead.
BTK killer facts: This Sunday's sermon was prepared in advance it was told but only for the police to knock on the church's door and whisper that the BTK killer, Wichita Kansas aka Dennis L Rader had been arrested and was the main suspect in the 31 year BTK, Wichita, Kansas serial killings and that they had the authority to search the church.

BTK killer Facts: "Nothing would ever be the same, whether Dennis rader was guily or not..." stated pastor Michael. Only one thing is sure -- Christ is with us. The light of Christ continues to shine and lead us in the paths of darkness. ....... prayers to the law enforcement people involved and compassion & love to Dennis rader and also to Dennis's wife & children.