BTK Serial Killer Named Prime Suspect in Two Unsolved Killings
Authorities have identified the notorious BTK serial killer, Dennis Rader, as the “prime suspect” in two unsolved murders in Oklahoma and Missouri. In response to this development, law enforcement officials have launched an investigation and conducted a search near Rader’s former property in Park City, Kansas.
The investigation into Rader’s potential involvement in additional crimes began with the re-examination of the 1976 disappearance of Cynthia Kinney, a 16-year-old cheerleader from Pawhuska, Oklahoma. This case, which had been intermittently investigated over the years, was reopened in December of last year. Undersheriff Gary Upton stated that the investigation expanded and “spiraled out from there” into other unsolved murders and missing persons cases. Rader, also known as the BTK killer, is believed to be responsible for a series of killings between 1974 and 1991, earning his moniker which stands for “bind, torture, and kill.”
Sheriff Eddie Virden decided to pursue the connection between Rader and the unsolved cases when he discovered that Rader had included the phrase “bad laundry day” in his writings. Additionally, it was revealed that Rader worked as an installer for ADT, a security company, in the same area where Kinney disappeared. While there is no confirmation that Rader installed alarms near the location, authorities continue to explore this lead.
One of the cases being investigated as potentially linked to Rader is the death of Shawna Beth Garber in McDonald County, Missouri. The body of the 22-year-old was discovered in December 1990, with an autopsy revealing signs of rape, strangulation, and restraint. It wasn’t until 2021 that her remains were identified. Although Rader has denied any involvement in Garber’s death, investigators from both Oklahoma and Missouri are working together to uncover any evidence linking him to the case.
Dennis Rader’s reign of terror ended when he was arrested in February 2005, following a period of silence after years of taunting police and the media with letters and packages detailing his crimes. The breakthrough came when a computer diskette sent by Rader was traced back to his church, where he had served as president. Rader ultimately confessed to ten killings in the Wichita, Kansas area, and was sentenced to 10 consecutive life prison terms.
Authorities are now re-examining other missing person and homicide cases, suspecting that Rader might be connected to even more heinous crimes. However, no specific details about the recent search near Rader’s former property have been revealed, other than the discovery of “items of interest” that will undergo further examination. It is clear that authorities are determined to uncover the truth and provide closure to the families of victims linked to the infamous BTK killer.
Rader’s daughter, Kerri Rawson, has been actively cooperating with investigators and hopes that the search on her father’s property will shed light on the unsolved cases that Rader may have been involved in. Rawson emphasized the importance of finding answers, stating, “If my dad has harmed somebody else, we need answers.”
Law enforcement agencies from Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri are collaborating on the investigation, with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation involved in the re-examination of cases. The search for truth continues as authorities delve into the dark history of Dennis Rader’s crimes.