BTK killer took victim's corpse to church

[Steff]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/18/btk.killings/index.html

 

 

Rader snapped photos of woman he had strangled

 

Thursday, August 18, 2005; Posted: 9:25 a.m. EDT (13:25 GMT)

 

Editor's Note: The following report includes graphic content that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.

 

 

WICHITA, Kansas (CNN) -- After strangling his 53-year-old neighbor in her home on April 27, 1985, Dennis Rader took the body of Marine Hedge to the Lutheran church he attended and snapped photographs of her in bondage positions, a Sedgwick County sheriff investigator testified Wednesday.

 

Rader spent about five hours cleaning up the scene before dumping the body in a remote ditch. He later returned to retrieve a cord from the body, fearing it could point investigators to him, Sgt. Tom Lee said during a sentencing hearing for Rader.

 

Lee said Rader told investigators he took the body to the church to "have his way with her" -- to fulfill his sexual fantasies. Rader had left black plastic sheets and other material at the church in anticipation of the killing.

 

"He advised to me that she was going to the church alive or dead -- either way," Lee said.

 

Rader seemed particularly proud of the killing because Hedge lived just a few houses from him. He had dubbed his plan "Project Cookie."

 

"He stated to me that if he could really pull it off, right by his house, it would really be a biggie," Lee said. "He told me it was really bad for a guy to knock one of the neighbors off -- it's not good for a serial killer because you don't want to kill in your own habitat."

 

At the time of his arrest last February 25, Rader, a father of two grown children, was the president of his Lutheran church.

 

Hedge was one of 10 victims killed by Rader in a spree from 1974 to 1991. Investigators gave graphic testimony of the killings on the first day of his sentencing hearing, which could last three days.

 

The testimony revealed new details of BTK's 31-year reign of terror in Wichita, which ended with Rader's arrest.

 

Investigators said Rader told them he would use a squeeze ball as exercise to build up his hand strength in preparation for stranglings, that he typically masturbated after killings, and that he took underwear from female victims and wore them.

 

He also had "after-life" plans for his female victims, including one who was to be his mistress and another who would act as his bondage servant.

 

Some of the victims would regain consciousness after being choked and Rader would whisper in their ears that he was "BTK."

 

"That was his form of torture," said Tim Relph, a Wichita police detective. "He certainly wanted them to know that you were being killed by BTK."

 

Rader, 60, who nicknamed himself BTK for his preference of "binding, torturing and killing" his victims, sat emotionless through much of the hearing.

 

The only emotion he appeared to show was rubbing his forehead when investigators displayed the photograph of 11-year-old Josephine Otero hanging from a noose, her mouth bound and her tongue slightly protruding. Other times, he sipped coffee.

 

Killer: 'I'm a nice guy'

Rader, dressed in a business suit and tie, was brought into the court in shackles. Steve Relford -- who was 6 years old when he watched Rader kill his mother, Shirley Vian, in their home in 1977 -- stared intently as Rader walked into court, and he kept standing until Sedgwick County District Judge Gregory Waller asked everyone to be seated.

 

Waller is to decide if Rader will serve his 10 life sentences concurrently or consecutively. Prosecutors are pushing for the strongest possible sentence -- a minimum of 175 years -- to make sure he is behind bars for the rest of his life.

 

Wichita Police detective Dana Gouge said even after detailing the killings to investigators, Rader told them he could be mean at times, but, "On the other hand, I'm a nice guy, I'm a nice guy."

 

Gouge said Rader told him that the killing of Vian, who was sick at home with her three children, did not go as planned. He had hoped to kill the children, but he had to leave the scene before that happened.

 

Gouge said that when Rader recounted that the children survived, the killer angrily shouted, "Christ!"

 

Wichita Police detective Clint Snyder said Rader expressed disappointment that he reverted to stabbing Kathryn Bright -- instead of strangling her -- in April 1974, just months after his first killings.

 

"She fought like a hellcat," Snyder quoted Rader as saying. "There was no way I was ever going to do what I wanted to do, and I had to put her down."

 

Rader, he said, added that stabbing or shooting somebody was not his "forte."

 

Rader rushed that killing because Bright's brother, Kevin, was also home. Rader had tied the brother up in a bedroom and tried to strangle him, but Kevin Bright fought off his attacker, Snyder said.

 

Rader said he shot the brother twice, including one shot in which he did "one of those John Wayne things," Snyder said. Rader thought the brother was dead and went to finish off his sister, but Kevin Bright ran from the home. Rader stabbed Kathryn Bright 11 times, Snyder said.

 

Rader appeared proud as he recounted the killing: "He commented to me at one point, 'I'm sorry, I know this is a human being, but I'm a monster,'" Snyder said.

 

Kevin Bright recovered from his wounds.

 

Killer told girl she 'would soon be in heaven'

Rader's killing spree began on January 15, 1974, when he entered the home of Joseph and Julie Otero -- a home he selected because he had targeted their 11-year-old daughter, Josephine, for sex and a killing, Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents testified.

 

Rader first killed the girl's parents in their bedroom as she and her 9-year-old brother, Joseph Jr., watched. He then dragged the boy to his room, wrapped two T-shirts around his head and covered it with a plastic bag; Rader pulled up a chair and watched as the boy struggled on his bed and rolled onto the floor, where he died, said Larry Thomas, a KBI special agent.

 

Thomas said Rader told authorities he then prepared for his "encore" -- killing Josephine. Rader escorted the girl to the basement of the family home, removing her clothing along the way and rubbing her. He had already prepared a noose around a basement sewer pipe.

 

"As he walked her over toward that position, he first asked for a camera because he wanted to take a picture. She responded that she did not have a camera. She then asked, 'What's going to happen to me?'

 

"And he told her that she would soon be in heaven with the others."

 

A gag was placed in her mouth and he hoisted her with the noose. As she writhed, Rader masturbated, Thomas said.

 

"He said it was a sexual release for him."

 

KBI special agent Ray Lundin said Rader had picked the Otero family because he was attracted to "Hispanic-looking people."

 

"I guess Hispanic people just turn me on," Lundin said Rader told authorities.

 

Rader said he was particularly fascinated by the 11-year-old.

 

"Josephine would really be his primary target because he was attracted to 'younger women,' I think is what he called it," Lundin said. "I don't know how you call an 11-year-old a woman, but he said 'younger women.'"

 

Victims' relatives weep

Three of the surviving Otero children were in court for the testimony.

 

Charlie Otero shook his head, arms folded across his chest, as he listened to how Rader entered the home and proceeded to murder his family. His sister, Carmen Otero Montoya, wept when a close-up photograph of her mother's strangled face was shown to the court. Charlie Otero bent over and cried as a photograph of his dead sister was shown. He was comforted by his brother, Danny.

 

The court appearance was the first for Rader since he pleaded guilty in late June, describing in cool and dispassionate detail how he killed his 10 victims to satisfy his sexual fantasies.

 

Rader cannot face the death penalty because Kansas did not reinstate the death penalty until 1994, three years after his last killing.

[farmteam]

There's honestly no words for that.

[The Critic]

I have some words for that.

If there was any real justice, he would have the same things done to him, just to the point of almost dying, and then be left to recover so it could be done to him again and again and again, every day for the rest of his pathetic, miserable excuse for an existence.

T-shirt and plastic bag over the head, bound, gagged, jacked off on by other inmates, all of it, constantly every day forever. And if he seems to enjoy it, find another torture he doesn't like. Take your time and find the right torture, cuz that assbag ain't goin' anywhere.

[Kid Gleason]

Skinned alive. That's all you need to do. But leave him so he can live. This is the type of guy where there is no punishment too cruel, and anything is too good for him.

[LowerCaseRepublican]

When Columbine, Jonesboro and all the other school shootings occurred we were inundated with "Well it was obviously Marilyn Manson songs and violent video games like Doom and Wolfenstein that made them commit these crimes."

 

BTK was a major player in his local church leadership structure. Where are the people "Well, the church obviously influenced him to commit these crimes!" and trying to shut down the church like they've been trying to censor music and video games.

[The Critic]

When Columbine, Jonesboro and all the other school shootings occurred we were inundated with "Well it was obviously Marilyn Manson songs and violent video games like Doom and Wolfenstein that made them commit these crimes."

 

BTK was a major player in his local church leadership structure.  Where are the people "Well, the church obviously influenced him to commit these crimes!" and trying to shut down the church like they've been trying to censor music and video games.

You know, that IS a valid point.

If this guy was into Howard Stern or Slipknot or Wes Craven films, people would hop up and down bellowing about how those things should be censored, shut down and thrown off the air.

But when a "religious community leader" turns out to be an animal, it's suddenly an individual weakness/sickness. I highly doubt we'll hear any discussion about whether the church or religion could possibly have influenced his mind in any way.

I don't think it did, but I also don't think that other stuff does either.

[AddisonStSox]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/18/btk.killings/index.html

Rader cannot face the death penalty because Kansas did not reinstate the death penalty until 1994, three years after his last killing.

 

 

<_>

[LowerCaseRepublican]

You know, that IS a valid point.

If this guy was into Howard Stern or Slipknot or Wes Craven films, people would hop up and down bellowing about how those things should be censored, shut down and thrown off the air.

But when a "religious community leader" turns out to be an animal, it's suddenly an individual weakness/sickness. I highly doubt we'll hear any discussion about whether the church or religion could possibly have influenced his mind in any way.

I don't think it did, but I also don't think that other stuff does either.

I don't think video games, music or church really had an effect on him either -- I was just hoping for some moral continuity from the talking heads that do spew that kind of stuff.

[AddisonStSox]

I don't think video games, music or church really had an effect on him either -- I was just hoping for some moral continuity from the talking heads that do spew that kind of stuff.

 

You are really wise beyond your years, my man.

 

Moral continuity + America = Non-existant.

[Kid Gleason]

But it is wrong to think that music and/or movies does not play a part in SOME people's crimes. It takes a mind to be weak, and then is said mind is listening to something that might trigger it, then the music will be a part of it. But that being said, it could be opera that even does it. The Columbine goons were into THE MATRIX and they were wearing long trench coats, I think it is easy to make a connection there. If this idiot had been placing a crown of thorns on his head, or had been singing hymns outloud and professed a connection to Jesus through this, I am sure it would be getting mention.

 

Dahmer was obsessed with The Exorcist, so obviously there is going to be a connection with it.

 

When a "normal" book becomes the unhealthy obsession, it also becomes the center of attention, as Catcher In The Rye did with the Lennon killing.

 

BTK never gave any inclination to anything other than being beyond f***ed up.

[SleepyWhiteSox]

When Columbine, Jonesboro and all the other school shootings occurred we were inundated with "Well it was obviously Marilyn Manson songs and violent video games like Doom and Wolfenstein that made them commit these crimes."

 

BTK was a major player in his local church leadership structure.  Where are the people "Well, the church obviously influenced him to commit these crimes!" and trying to shut down the church like they've been trying to censor music and video games.

 

 

So if he was an ice cream truck driver, do we blame the ice cream?

 

Although I do not believe in blaming music and video games at all either, at least there are very graphic and extreme portrayals of violence, sex, drugs, etc. in them so that blaming them as an influence to such immoral acts would actually make sense.

 

Show me the verse in the Bible that says it's moral and just to bond, torture, and kill someone...

[LowerCaseRepublican]

 

So if he was an ice cream truck driver, do we blame the ice cream?

 

Although I do not believe in blaming music and video games at all either, at least there are very graphic and extreme portrayals of violence, sex, drugs, etc. in them so that blaming them as an influence to such immoral acts would actually make sense.

 

Show me the verse in the Bible that says it's moral and just to bond, torture, and kill someone...

2 Kings 2:23 -- God sends FORTY TWO bears to devour children that made fun of Elisha's bald head.

 

Exodus 17:13 -- Joshua with God's approval commits a mass slaughter.

 

Exodus 32:27-28 -- God condones yet another mass slaughter of 3,000 people.

 

You can even look at the story of Moses where he fights with the Egyptians. God hardened Pharoah's heart just so he could throw out all 10 plagues to prove how powerful he was.

 

Now these are just a few examples off the top of my head. I can come back with more if you'd like later but I do need to get a few things done around my apartment before I go to work today.

[Soxy]

2 Kings 2:23 -- God sends FORTY TWO bears to devour children that made fun of Elisha's bald head.

 

Exodus 17:13 -- Joshua with God's approval commits a mass slaughter.

 

Exodus 32:27-28 -- God condones yet another mass slaughter of 3,000 people.

 

You can even look at the story of Moses where he fights with the Egyptians.  God hardened Pharoah's heart just so he could throw out all 10 plagues to prove how powerful he was.

 

Now these are just a few examples off the top of my head.  I can come back with more if you'd like later but I do need to get a few things done around my apartment before I go to work today.

And let us not forget Job. Where God let Satan kill all of his animals, children, and give him some nasty sores just to prove his faith. Then of course, you get to see some of the first religious (at least recorded) hypocrisy when his friends come.

[RockRaines]

The Columbine goons were into THE MATRIX and they were wearing long trench coats, I think it is easy to make a connection there. If this idiot had been placing a crown of thorns on his head, or had been singing hymns outloud and professed a connection to Jesus through this, I am sure it would be getting mention.

 

Dahmer was obsessed with The Exorcist, so obviously there is going to be a connection with it.

 

When a "normal" book becomes the unhealthy obsession, it also becomes the center of attention, as Catcher In The Rye did with the Lennon killing.

 

BTK never gave any inclination to anything other than being beyond f***ed up.

Is it too hard to believe that the people were already messed in the head, and then in turn, liked those things because of their mental state. I refuse to believe that the programs or music had any effect on them prior to their dementia. The BTK killed was very disturbed, and he may have been drawn to the church's spiritualness and almost obsessive focus on beliefs and rules. But I dont think the church made him how he was. I think he was just drawn to certain aspects of religion. Same way with Dahmer, and the trenchcoat mafia.

[Kid Gleason]

BUt people talk about certain tunes being the best songs to drive to. You never notice a change in your driving habits with certain music playing? Isn't there a certain song you like to hear while flying down the highway? It's an extreme comparison, but these are people with extreme problems.

 

When you work out, to get your blood flowing, don't most people have "work out tapes"?

 

I spent a lot of time in Gracie Jui Jitsu doing a bunch of ground fighting and street fighting techniques. Everytime we did any sparring we had our music to fight to.

[The Critic]

BUt people talk about certain tunes being the best songs to drive to. You never notice a change in your driving habits with certain music playing? Isn't there a certain song you like to hear while flying down the highway? It's an extreme comparison, but these are people with extreme problems.

 

When you work out, to get your blood flowing, don't most people have "work out tapes"?

 

I spent a lot of time in Gracie Jui Jitsu doing a bunch of ground fighting and street fighting techniques. Everytime we did any sparring we had our music to fight to.

I see your point, but then wouldn't the urge to kill fade out when the song was over?

I'm just really tired of music/TV/movies being scapegoated every time some nutbag is caught in a Marilyn Manson t-shirt, especially when the same uproar is absent when it's a guy like this, who was active in the church and the community, like all good Gawd-fearin' 'Merkins oughta be.

[SleepyWhiteSox]

2 Kings 2:23 -- God sends FORTY TWO bears to devour children that made fun of Elisha's bald head.

 

Exodus 17:13 -- Joshua with God's approval commits a mass slaughter.

 

Exodus 32:27-28 -- God condones yet another mass slaughter of 3,000 people.

 

You can even look at the story of Moses where he fights with the Egyptians.  God hardened Pharoah's heart just so he could throw out all 10 plagues to prove how powerful he was.

 

Now these are just a few examples off the top of my head.  I can come back with more if you'd like later but I do need to get a few things done around my apartment before I go to work today.

 

Sure, I'll be waiting for a few more.

 

When you can show me that Christian religions use sex, violence, and drugs as the main attraction to grab people in the same manner that certain video games and music does, I'll agree with you completely...Those stories may exist, but it is far from the message that the Church stands for.

 

Maybe I missed the sermon where violence was glorified and the congregation was shown how violence and torture is a fun and engaging experience?

 

Comparing religion to violent video games and music with negative messages is silly, in my opinion.

[Kid Gleason]

I'll tell you this, I spent a lifetime immersed in Horror Novels and Movies. It's all I watched and read. I was a reviewer for a big Horror site, and I did reviews for Deep Red magazine. Exreme Horror gets into your head, no doubt about it. I stopped watching and reviewing the stuff due to my trying to figure out why on earth I was watching some guy kill a girl, and then have sex with her corpse. I also found that I was having problems sleeping at night, and becoming paranoid. I have no doubt what-so-ever that a stable diet of the stuff, where it is pretty much all you watch and read and are surrounded by, will effect you in one way shape or form, no matter how stable you are. You just can't handle it. I am in no way blaming the music or movies or people who make them, but I am saying that if the mind is unhinged to begin with, then all it takes is an added spark.

 

For the record, I still watch plenty of Horror, but very little of it is modern. Most of the stuff I watch now goes no later than the final Hammer film output of the early 70's. But I still avoid the hell out of the extreme stuff. Pretty much no slashers in my life anymore. Especially not Italian Giallo's.

[Steff]

Some more details at the link about his actions.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8996967/

 

 

And would you guys mind not turning this into an argument dealing with the bible.

 

Thanks.

[The Critic]

Some more details at the link about his actions.

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8996967/

And would you guys mind not turning this into an argument dealing with the bible.

 

Thanks.

Sure, as soon as he stops having been a pastor...

I don't think I was arguing for or against the bible per se - I just don't like the inequity of some folks who blame "evil" things for influencing "sickos" and then ignoring the fact that this particular "sicko" was very involved in the church. Just seems too convenient.

 

....JMO, of course....

 

Oh, and I'm pretty sure your request was aimed more at others, I just felt the need to kinda clarify my own point.

Edited August 18, 2005 by The Critic

[Steff]

Oh, and I'm pretty sure your request was aimed more at others,

 

 

 

[RockRaines]

I spent a lot of time in Gracie Jui Jitsu doing a bunch of ground fighting and street fighting techniques. Everytime we did any sparring we had our music to fight to.

seriously, here in chicago possibly?

[Kid Gleason]

My instructor traveled out to us. But yes, in this area. Crystal Lake is where he went to. This was back around '93.

[RockRaines]

My instructor traveled out to us. But yes, in this area. Crystal Lake is where he went to. This was back around '93.

OK, I know there is still a Gracie Gym down here some where. Stephan Bonner trains there.

[Brian]

Court TV had some of the sentancing trial today. Showed family members giving speeched about their loses and such.