1984: A new BTK investigation is opened. Lt. Ken Landwehr Oct. 22, 2004: Package Dec. 14, 2004: Jan. 25, 2005: Feb. 3, 2005: KAKE receives a postcard, Marc h 17, 1977: is one of six detectives assigned to work full time on the found at Omni Center Package containing KAKE receives a apparently from BTK, but at police request case. “The Ghostbusters” spend three years using new package dropbox, 250 Fox’s driver’s license postcard detailing does not report on it until March 1. Shirley Vi an Relford, techniques including DNA testing, computer database N. . and a bound doll found the location and 26, is found tied up Feb. 16, 2005: KSAS receives searches and psychological profiles. BTK RESURFACES in Murdock Park. contents of a and strangled in her “Communication #11” from BTK, Post Toasties house at 1311 S. After years of silence, a flurry of communication, including a computer disk that cereal box; it is Hydraulic. police trace to Rader’s church. April 27, 1985: Park an arrest and a guilty plea found near 69th City resident Marine North and Feb. 25, 2005: FBI obtains a DNA Hedge disappears Seneca. sample from Rader’s daughter to A double life from her home at Dennis Rader lived quietly while killing 10 compare it to an earlier sample 6254 Independence. Jan. 17, 2004: Marc h 17, 2004: A letter May 2004: KAKE June 2004: July 17, 2004: taken from her medical records. Dennis L. Rader was born March 9, 1945, to William E. and Dorthea Rader. One of four boys, he Her home is in the The Wi chita Eagle arrives at The Wichita Eagle receives a letter Police receive Package found graduated from Heights High School in 1963. Rader served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970. Dec. 8, 1977: Nancy same block as publishes a story containing a photocopy of containing chapter a letter. at Wichita Feb. 26, 2005: Police He was stationed in Turkey, Greece, Japan and South Korea. Since about 1971 he lived at 6220 Fox, 25, is found tied Dennis Rader’s. on the 30th Wegerle’s driver’s license and headings for the “BTK Public Library, Chief Norman Williams Independence in Park City. He was arrested Feb. 25. up and strangled in her anniversary of the three pictures apparently Story,” plus fake IDs 223 S. Main. says “BTK is arrested.” Information for this timeline was drawn from public records, including property tax rolls, voter registration home at 843 S. Otero killings. taken by the killer. and a word puzzle. Feb. 28-Marc h 3, 2005: Sedgwick County records, city directory listings and public education records, and from Wichita Eagle archives. Pershing. BTK’s voice sheriff’s officers search the 61st Street is captured on tape Jan. 15, 1974: April 4, 1974: May 2, 1985: Hedge’s car is found at North roadside with metal detectors for when he calls an 21st and Woodlawn. BTK evidence but find nothing. Joseph and Julie Kathryn Bright, 21, emergency dispatcher Otero are strangled is found stabbed to to report the homicide. May 3, 1985: Police recover Hedge’s purse JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE in their home at death in her home in a ditch near 143rd East and 37th North. 803 N. Edgemoor at 3217 E. 13th St. Hedge’s body is found Feb. 25, 2005: Rader is arrested less along with Josephine, Her brother is shot Jan. 31, 1978: A poem written with a child’s printing set on an index May 5, 1985: May 3, 2005: Sedgwick June 27, 2005: near 53rd North and Webb Road. than a block from his home. He is 11, and Joseph II, 9. but survives. Police card arrives at The Wichita Eagle-Beacon. The poem, patterned after interrogated by police detectives. County District Judge Greg Rader pleads The family car is later later conclude their a “Curley Locks” nursery rhyme, refers to the Vian Relford homicide. Waller enters a not-guilty plea guilty to 10 found at the Dillons attacker was BTK. Feb. 26, 2005: Rader is identified in Feb. 10, 1978: A letter from BTK arrives at KAKE claiming responsibility for the deaths of Vian on Rader’s behalf after public counts of first- store at Central Sept. 16, 1986: a news conference as the BTK defender Steve Osburn said degree murder. and Oliver. Relford and Fox and an unnamed victim. At a hastily arranged news conference, Police Chief suspect. His bond is set at $10 million. Richard LaMunyon announces that a is at large and has threatened to strike again. Vicki Wegerle, 28, his client would “stand mute” is strangled in her Marc h 1, 2005: Rader is charged on the 10 charges of first- October 1974: The Wichita Eagle-Beacon April 28, 1979: The killer waits inside a home at 615 S. Pinecrest, degree murder. is alerted to a letter in a book at the public home at 2404 W. Jan. 19, 1991: with 10 counts of first-degree murder but leaves before the 63-year-old homeowner returns. He later sends 13th St. The related to BTK. Three public library. The letter includes details from the Dolores “Dee” the woman a letter letting her know he was there. Police think he was family car is found defenders are assigned to his case. 1972: Death Otero crime scene that only the killer could Davis is abducted targeting her daughter. two blocks away penalties across the have known. The killer first suggests that from her home Feb. 1, 1991: Davis’ body is Rader is fired in the 1300 block Marc h 2, 2005: country are he be called the BT K strangler, adding Aug. 15, 1979: Wichitans listen to repeated radio and television one-half mile east found near 117th North and by Park City for failing to report of North Edwards. 1994: Kansas Legislature reinstates the death invalidated by the that BTK stands for “bind them, torture broadcasts of the voice of BTK from the 1977 phone call. Police of Park City. Meridian. to work since Feb. 25. U.S. Supreme Court. them, kill them.” receive 110 tips during the first day of the broadcasts. penalty for crimes committed after July 1, 1994. 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

1971: Rader works 1973: Rader returns to 1974-88: Rader works 1978: Rader’s 1979: Rader graduates 1988: Rader 1989: Rader works for 1991-2005: Rader works 1993: Rader helps April 10, 1996: Rader is October 2001: Park City Rader attends in the meat depart- 1971-73: ; for ADT Security from daughter is born. from Wichita State stops working the U.S. Census Bureau, as the Park City compliance son create Park City appointed to the Sedgwick Mayor Emil Bergquist Butler County Community ment at Leeker’s he had attended briefly November 1974 to University with a major in for ADT in July. compiling addresses, supervisor, enforcing laws directory as part of County Animal Control presents Rader with an College in El Dorado. IGA, where his in the 1960s. July 1988. administration of justice. from May through July. about animal control, an Eagle Scout Advisory Board on the award for 10 years of service. mother works as a nuisances and inoperable service project. recommendation of then- bookkeeper. 1972-73: Rader works for 1975: Rader’s vehicles, May 1991 to County Commissioner Betsy May 22, 1971: Rader marries Paula Dietz Coleman Co. BTK victims Julie son is born. March 2005. Gwin. He resigns in 1998. (b. 1948), a 1966 graduate of Heights who had Otero and Kathryn Bright worked been working as a secretary at the VA Hospital. at Coleman in the early ’70s. Th e Wi chita Eagle