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08-18-2005, 04:30 PM
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http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gifPosted on Thu, Aug. 18, 2005http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gifhttp://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gif
Rader ends rambling statement with a brief apology
BY LORI O'TOOLE BUSELT
The Wichita Eagle
District Judge Greg Waller just sentenced BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to 10 consecutive life sentences this afternoon.
His ruling ends investigations and unanswered questions that have terrorized Wichita for 31 years.
Authorities will transfer Rader from the Sedgwick County Jail to El Dorado Correctional Facility.
The sentence -- which includes one Hard 40 sentence that alone guaranteed it would be at least 40 years before he see a parole board -- was the longest possible that Waller could deliver. Kansas had no death penalty at the time Rader committed the killings.
When Rader addressed the court this afternoon, he said that his crimes were self-centered.
"Self centered. Very selfish," he said.
He admitted to dishonesty.
Dishonesty to his victims.
Dishonesty to his family.
To his employer.
To taxpayers.
He said he takes all of the burden on his shoulders.
Rader said he has a dark side.
"I think the light is beginning to shine," he said.
He said he remains a Christian, and quoted a verse from the Bible, John 8:12. He also read a poem from a Christian book and said that "hopefully some day, God will accept me."
Dennis Rader concluded his address to the court prior to his sentencing by apologizing to the families of his victims.
Over the course of about 20 minutes, he said he was taking responsibility for his "selfishness" and referred to his former wife as his "final victim."
Tearfully, he compared his own life and background to those of his victims.
He also told the judge he "always had a great respect for law enforcement" even though he wore "a black hat instead of a white hat."
He said he was honest and cooperated with the police after his arrest, then said he "blew so much smoke" in telling his story that "nobody knows fact from fiction."
He called bizarre stories about his plans for his victims in the afterlife "smoke."
He called Pastor Michael Clark, who visited him many times in jail "my main man."
"For him to stay with me and remain strong... I appreciate that," Rader said.
Rader addressed members of his defense team by name.
"They're basically my family, so I appreciate that," he said.
He noted jail has been a lonely experience, and thanked his fellow inmates and his jailers for their kindness.
He took exception with some "minor" details in the prosecution's presentation of his statements to police "just to set the record straight."
Earlier in the afternoon, Rader wiped his eyes as he listened to the children and siblings of the Oteros -- BTK's first victims -- spoke about how Rader has changed their lives.
Charlie Otero said he has done "irrepreperable damage" to his family.
Rader caused him to challenge this faith, Otero said.
"I have never allowed his actions to send me to the dark side," he said of Rader.
Kevin Bright, who was attacked along with his sister, Kathryn Bright, described the physical damage he's suffered.
Steve Relford, who was locked in a bathroom while his mother Shirley Vian Relford was killed, and Rick Vian, her common-law husband, made brief statments.
Fred Fox, Nancy Fox's older brother, said she is still in the family's heart and talked about the fear they dealt with after her death.
"There was fear in my life after she passed away," he said. "I don't want to give the monster the right to know all that fear. But I hope his sentence is the worst it can be."
Beverly Plapp, Fox's sister, said she lost a friend and confidant.
She gave Rader her own plans for the afterlife: "Nancy and all of his victims will be waiting with God and watching him burn in hell," she said.
Rod Hook, son-in-law of Marine Hedge, called Rader a monster.
Bill Wegerle, husband of Vicki Wegerle, wept and called Rader vicious and cruel.
Hopefully, he said, his family will not have to deal with him or see him ever again.
Wegerle's daughter, Stephanie Clyne, said she didn't have enough time with her mother and asked the court to treat Rader the same way he treated her mother: "show no remorse."
Jeff Davis, son of Dolores "Dee" Davis, delivered a scathing message and called Rader a "depraved predator."
He said that Rader will have to agonize in the reality that the last victims were ironically his own family.
"Your despicable actions will not defeat us," Davis said.
But today was an example of how good triumphs over evil, he said.
"You have now lost everything and you will forever remain nothing," Davis told Rader.
Laurel Keating, Davis' daughter, also spoke.
Before the break, Foulston asked the commander of the BTK Task Force this morning if there was anything special about BTK serial killer Dennis Rader or whether he stood out from other serial killers.
"Not in my opinion, no," Landwehr said.
Rader had previously said that he felt he had a special relationship with Landwehr, who had investigated the case for 20 some years.
In contrast to his demeanor on Wednesday, Rader was visibly agitated during Landwehr's testimony, often taking notes and making comments to his attorneys.
Authorities recovered 27 disks from BTK serial killer Dennis Rader's workplace in Park City, Landwehr said.
He said Rader planned to destroy physical evidence but to document his collections, including dolls he photographed in bondage.
Rader's collection included plans for torture, such as drowning someone in their own urine, Landwehr said.
Rader enjoyed participating in autoerotic asphyxiation, the practice of a person cutting off his own oxygen supply to enhance his sexual pleasures, according to testimony.
Rader once performed autoerotic asphyxiation during a Boy Scout event, Landwehr said.
Rader was in the back of his truck and could not get out of his bindings, Landwehr said. He thought he would have to ask for help, but ultimately was able to pull free.
To strengthen his grip for strangulation, Rader squeezed a stress ball that said "Life is good," Landwehr said.
On Rader's nightstand by his bed, authorities found a drop-shaped squeeze ball from a blood drive that he used for the same purposes.
Rader told authorities that strangling humans was more difficult than when he had practiced on dogs and cats.
That surprised him during his first murders, four members of the Otero family, Landwehr said.
It seems he pumped the balls to make his fingers, wrists and arms stronger so that strangling would become easier to do, Landwehr said.
Rader would carry homemade flash cards with him for sexual fantasies, Landwehr said.
On the front of index cards, Rader had affixed photos of child swimsuit models and women bra models from advertisements to use for sexual fantasies, Landwehr said.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, including some with young boys, Landwehr said.
On the back, Rader wrote more about his specific fantasy associated with each photo.
Landwehr said Rader would carry the flash cards with him during errands. Rader would stop and have sexual fantasies about what he would do to the models while he was en route.
They were among items Rader hid in his home.
Others -- stored in a hidden compartment underneath a drawer -- were books about serial killers and criminal minds, Landwehr said. Rader had highlighted passages, including a mention of BTK in one of the books.
District Attorney Nola Foulston asked how nobody in Rader's family found the items in the home.
Rader's ex-wife Paula told authorities earlier that she did not go through his items and that she assumed they were things from work or that they were things that weren't important, Landwehr said.
Much of it was in a closet where Dennis Rader stored his clothes, for example, Landwehr said.
Before taking a midmorning break, prosecutors talked about other criminal activities they believe Dennis Rader committed that are outside the statute of limitations.
Landwehr said those include: stalking, aggravating kidnapping, aggravated battery, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, burglary, theft, criminal threat, animal cruelty and community terrorism.
Rader stole money from his church, for example, Landwehr said.
Landwehr said that items Rader kept in his "stash" -- items stored in his home and his office in Park City, where he worked as a compliance officer, included: a hit kit, trophies from victims such as jewelry and clothing, photos of victims, newspaper clippings and obituaries, feminine apparel from victims and other places, and a collection of Barbie-like dolls.
Among them were notebook or binders in which Rader kept photo cutouts. One was of actress Meg Ryan.
Another notebook contains Rader's acronyms for his actions or terms related to his killings, Landwehr said.
During interrogation, Rader told authorities that he has compartmentalized personalities, including one for her his social contacts (family and people at church) and one of a serial killer, Landwehr said.
Rader recognized Landwehr after his arrest earlier this year, Landwehr said.
"Hello, Mr. Landwehr," Rader told him.
Rader had said that he felt a camaraderie with Landwehr, Foulston said.
Earlier this morning, while talking to reporters as he walked toward the courthouse, Rader's lead attorney Steve Osburn called the proceeding "unnecessary," then added: "There's nothing I can do about it."
Also this morning, the court heard more about Rader's final victim, Dolores "Dee" Davis.
He had planned to bury her in Cheney, according to testimony.
But when plans fell through, Rader -- wearing a mask he had earlier placed on Davis' body -- buried himself and used a camera remote to take pictures, Sedgwick County sheriff's Capt. Sam Houston said.
Shortly after Rader killed Davis, he dressed in her clothing and posed in bondage for photos he took in the basement of his parents' home, according to testimony.
On the day after Rader killed Davis, he visited her body in a field to take sexually explicit photos, according to testimony.
Rader found that animals had attacked Davis' body, which Rader put under a rural bridge, and that her body -- specifically her breasts -- looked strange, Sedgwick County sheriff's Capt. Sam Houston said.
"He stated that it kind of creeped him out," Houston said.
Before photographing Davis' body, Houston said, Rader placed a mask on her face.
"I did that because it kind of prettied her up," Rader told authorities.
Rader had drawn in eyebrows, eyelashes, red lips and nostrils to a mask to make it look more lifelike.
It's among masks Rader wore himself.
"I pose myself in bondage pictures with my mask," Rader told authorities.
Authorities found masks, some with red cheeks and long, dark eyelashes, at Rader's home.
They also found photos of Rader tied in bondage while dressed as a woman in a wig and wearing a mask.
"I painted it flesh color, yes, nice lips and a little bit of a smile, like a pretty girl... and I would wear that when I would do my sexual fantasy things, my self bondage things I would wear that," Rader said, according to testimony. "And I would try to take pictures so I looked like maybe I was a female or a person in distress."
Foulston paused her questioning during this morning's BTK sentencing to demonstrate a portion of the time it took BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to kill his final victim, Dolores "Dee" Davis.
The courtroom fell silent.
Time dragged on slowly.
Houston read from a journal in which Rader had written that it took him two to three minutes to kill Davis.
Rader was in a hurry because Davis had told her a man would be coming home, Houston said.
Rader also needed to hurry back to a Boy Scout event at Harvey County Park West, Houston said.
Rader was a Scout volunteer.
Houston testified that Rader stashed Davis' jewelry box and other items from her home in a shed at Christ Lutheran Church in Park City, where he was an active member.
Rader wrote that Davis begged him to spare her life and that after he killed her, blood trickled out of her nose, ear and mouth, Houston said.
Foulston showed the court a sketch Rader drew of Davis portraying a moment before her death.
In the sketch, she is tied on her bed, eyes open, hands behind her back.
Authorities found it in Rader's "mother lode" -- his collection of mementos and notes from his murders.
In 1991, Rader handcuffed Davis and told her he needed food and her car as a ruse to put her at ease, Houston said.
Rader wore pantyhose over his face and used Davis' pantyhose to tie her arms behind her back.
"She stated, 'Don't kill me. Don't kill me,' " Houston said.
Davis was 63-years-old when Rader killed her.
Today is the second day of Rader's sentencing in Sedgwick County District Court. He pleaded guilty in June to 10 counts of first-degree murder.
Also expected to speak today:
• Wichita police Lt. Ken Landwehr, commander of the BTK Task Force.
• Victims' family members.
• Rader, if he wishes.
If time allows, the judge will announce Rader's sentence today; if not, the hearing will continue Friday.
Rader faces life sentences in 9 cases. In the 10th case, he faces the "Hard 40" -- life sentence with no possibility for parole for 40 years.
Rader will be 100 years old in 40 years.
Shortly after his sentencing, Rader will be transferred from the Sedgwick County Jail to the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
See Kansas.com for updates and Friday's Eagle for more on this story.
© 2005 Wichita Eagle and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gifPosted on Thu, Aug. 18, 2005http://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gifhttp://www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gif
Rader ends rambling statement with a brief apology
BY LORI O'TOOLE BUSELT
The Wichita Eagle
District Judge Greg Waller just sentenced BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to 10 consecutive life sentences this afternoon.
His ruling ends investigations and unanswered questions that have terrorized Wichita for 31 years.
Authorities will transfer Rader from the Sedgwick County Jail to El Dorado Correctional Facility.
The sentence -- which includes one Hard 40 sentence that alone guaranteed it would be at least 40 years before he see a parole board -- was the longest possible that Waller could deliver. Kansas had no death penalty at the time Rader committed the killings.
When Rader addressed the court this afternoon, he said that his crimes were self-centered.
"Self centered. Very selfish," he said.
He admitted to dishonesty.
Dishonesty to his victims.
Dishonesty to his family.
To his employer.
To taxpayers.
He said he takes all of the burden on his shoulders.
Rader said he has a dark side.
"I think the light is beginning to shine," he said.
He said he remains a Christian, and quoted a verse from the Bible, John 8:12. He also read a poem from a Christian book and said that "hopefully some day, God will accept me."
Dennis Rader concluded his address to the court prior to his sentencing by apologizing to the families of his victims.
Over the course of about 20 minutes, he said he was taking responsibility for his "selfishness" and referred to his former wife as his "final victim."
Tearfully, he compared his own life and background to those of his victims.
He also told the judge he "always had a great respect for law enforcement" even though he wore "a black hat instead of a white hat."
He said he was honest and cooperated with the police after his arrest, then said he "blew so much smoke" in telling his story that "nobody knows fact from fiction."
He called bizarre stories about his plans for his victims in the afterlife "smoke."
He called Pastor Michael Clark, who visited him many times in jail "my main man."
"For him to stay with me and remain strong... I appreciate that," Rader said.
Rader addressed members of his defense team by name.
"They're basically my family, so I appreciate that," he said.
He noted jail has been a lonely experience, and thanked his fellow inmates and his jailers for their kindness.
He took exception with some "minor" details in the prosecution's presentation of his statements to police "just to set the record straight."
Earlier in the afternoon, Rader wiped his eyes as he listened to the children and siblings of the Oteros -- BTK's first victims -- spoke about how Rader has changed their lives.
Charlie Otero said he has done "irrepreperable damage" to his family.
Rader caused him to challenge this faith, Otero said.
"I have never allowed his actions to send me to the dark side," he said of Rader.
Kevin Bright, who was attacked along with his sister, Kathryn Bright, described the physical damage he's suffered.
Steve Relford, who was locked in a bathroom while his mother Shirley Vian Relford was killed, and Rick Vian, her common-law husband, made brief statments.
Fred Fox, Nancy Fox's older brother, said she is still in the family's heart and talked about the fear they dealt with after her death.
"There was fear in my life after she passed away," he said. "I don't want to give the monster the right to know all that fear. But I hope his sentence is the worst it can be."
Beverly Plapp, Fox's sister, said she lost a friend and confidant.
She gave Rader her own plans for the afterlife: "Nancy and all of his victims will be waiting with God and watching him burn in hell," she said.
Rod Hook, son-in-law of Marine Hedge, called Rader a monster.
Bill Wegerle, husband of Vicki Wegerle, wept and called Rader vicious and cruel.
Hopefully, he said, his family will not have to deal with him or see him ever again.
Wegerle's daughter, Stephanie Clyne, said she didn't have enough time with her mother and asked the court to treat Rader the same way he treated her mother: "show no remorse."
Jeff Davis, son of Dolores "Dee" Davis, delivered a scathing message and called Rader a "depraved predator."
He said that Rader will have to agonize in the reality that the last victims were ironically his own family.
"Your despicable actions will not defeat us," Davis said.
But today was an example of how good triumphs over evil, he said.
"You have now lost everything and you will forever remain nothing," Davis told Rader.
Laurel Keating, Davis' daughter, also spoke.
Before the break, Foulston asked the commander of the BTK Task Force this morning if there was anything special about BTK serial killer Dennis Rader or whether he stood out from other serial killers.
"Not in my opinion, no," Landwehr said.
Rader had previously said that he felt he had a special relationship with Landwehr, who had investigated the case for 20 some years.
In contrast to his demeanor on Wednesday, Rader was visibly agitated during Landwehr's testimony, often taking notes and making comments to his attorneys.
Authorities recovered 27 disks from BTK serial killer Dennis Rader's workplace in Park City, Landwehr said.
He said Rader planned to destroy physical evidence but to document his collections, including dolls he photographed in bondage.
Rader's collection included plans for torture, such as drowning someone in their own urine, Landwehr said.
Rader enjoyed participating in autoerotic asphyxiation, the practice of a person cutting off his own oxygen supply to enhance his sexual pleasures, according to testimony.
Rader once performed autoerotic asphyxiation during a Boy Scout event, Landwehr said.
Rader was in the back of his truck and could not get out of his bindings, Landwehr said. He thought he would have to ask for help, but ultimately was able to pull free.
To strengthen his grip for strangulation, Rader squeezed a stress ball that said "Life is good," Landwehr said.
On Rader's nightstand by his bed, authorities found a drop-shaped squeeze ball from a blood drive that he used for the same purposes.
Rader told authorities that strangling humans was more difficult than when he had practiced on dogs and cats.
That surprised him during his first murders, four members of the Otero family, Landwehr said.
It seems he pumped the balls to make his fingers, wrists and arms stronger so that strangling would become easier to do, Landwehr said.
Rader would carry homemade flash cards with him for sexual fantasies, Landwehr said.
On the front of index cards, Rader had affixed photos of child swimsuit models and women bra models from advertisements to use for sexual fantasies, Landwehr said.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, including some with young boys, Landwehr said.
On the back, Rader wrote more about his specific fantasy associated with each photo.
Landwehr said Rader would carry the flash cards with him during errands. Rader would stop and have sexual fantasies about what he would do to the models while he was en route.
They were among items Rader hid in his home.
Others -- stored in a hidden compartment underneath a drawer -- were books about serial killers and criminal minds, Landwehr said. Rader had highlighted passages, including a mention of BTK in one of the books.
District Attorney Nola Foulston asked how nobody in Rader's family found the items in the home.
Rader's ex-wife Paula told authorities earlier that she did not go through his items and that she assumed they were things from work or that they were things that weren't important, Landwehr said.
Much of it was in a closet where Dennis Rader stored his clothes, for example, Landwehr said.
Before taking a midmorning break, prosecutors talked about other criminal activities they believe Dennis Rader committed that are outside the statute of limitations.
Landwehr said those include: stalking, aggravating kidnapping, aggravated battery, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, burglary, theft, criminal threat, animal cruelty and community terrorism.
Rader stole money from his church, for example, Landwehr said.
Landwehr said that items Rader kept in his "stash" -- items stored in his home and his office in Park City, where he worked as a compliance officer, included: a hit kit, trophies from victims such as jewelry and clothing, photos of victims, newspaper clippings and obituaries, feminine apparel from victims and other places, and a collection of Barbie-like dolls.
Among them were notebook or binders in which Rader kept photo cutouts. One was of actress Meg Ryan.
Another notebook contains Rader's acronyms for his actions or terms related to his killings, Landwehr said.
During interrogation, Rader told authorities that he has compartmentalized personalities, including one for her his social contacts (family and people at church) and one of a serial killer, Landwehr said.
Rader recognized Landwehr after his arrest earlier this year, Landwehr said.
"Hello, Mr. Landwehr," Rader told him.
Rader had said that he felt a camaraderie with Landwehr, Foulston said.
Earlier this morning, while talking to reporters as he walked toward the courthouse, Rader's lead attorney Steve Osburn called the proceeding "unnecessary," then added: "There's nothing I can do about it."
Also this morning, the court heard more about Rader's final victim, Dolores "Dee" Davis.
He had planned to bury her in Cheney, according to testimony.
But when plans fell through, Rader -- wearing a mask he had earlier placed on Davis' body -- buried himself and used a camera remote to take pictures, Sedgwick County sheriff's Capt. Sam Houston said.
Shortly after Rader killed Davis, he dressed in her clothing and posed in bondage for photos he took in the basement of his parents' home, according to testimony.
On the day after Rader killed Davis, he visited her body in a field to take sexually explicit photos, according to testimony.
Rader found that animals had attacked Davis' body, which Rader put under a rural bridge, and that her body -- specifically her breasts -- looked strange, Sedgwick County sheriff's Capt. Sam Houston said.
"He stated that it kind of creeped him out," Houston said.
Before photographing Davis' body, Houston said, Rader placed a mask on her face.
"I did that because it kind of prettied her up," Rader told authorities.
Rader had drawn in eyebrows, eyelashes, red lips and nostrils to a mask to make it look more lifelike.
It's among masks Rader wore himself.
"I pose myself in bondage pictures with my mask," Rader told authorities.
Authorities found masks, some with red cheeks and long, dark eyelashes, at Rader's home.
They also found photos of Rader tied in bondage while dressed as a woman in a wig and wearing a mask.
"I painted it flesh color, yes, nice lips and a little bit of a smile, like a pretty girl... and I would wear that when I would do my sexual fantasy things, my self bondage things I would wear that," Rader said, according to testimony. "And I would try to take pictures so I looked like maybe I was a female or a person in distress."
Foulston paused her questioning during this morning's BTK sentencing to demonstrate a portion of the time it took BTK serial killer Dennis Rader to kill his final victim, Dolores "Dee" Davis.
The courtroom fell silent.
Time dragged on slowly.
Houston read from a journal in which Rader had written that it took him two to three minutes to kill Davis.
Rader was in a hurry because Davis had told her a man would be coming home, Houston said.
Rader also needed to hurry back to a Boy Scout event at Harvey County Park West, Houston said.
Rader was a Scout volunteer.
Houston testified that Rader stashed Davis' jewelry box and other items from her home in a shed at Christ Lutheran Church in Park City, where he was an active member.
Rader wrote that Davis begged him to spare her life and that after he killed her, blood trickled out of her nose, ear and mouth, Houston said.
Foulston showed the court a sketch Rader drew of Davis portraying a moment before her death.
In the sketch, she is tied on her bed, eyes open, hands behind her back.
Authorities found it in Rader's "mother lode" -- his collection of mementos and notes from his murders.
In 1991, Rader handcuffed Davis and told her he needed food and her car as a ruse to put her at ease, Houston said.
Rader wore pantyhose over his face and used Davis' pantyhose to tie her arms behind her back.
"She stated, 'Don't kill me. Don't kill me,' " Houston said.
Davis was 63-years-old when Rader killed her.
Today is the second day of Rader's sentencing in Sedgwick County District Court. He pleaded guilty in June to 10 counts of first-degree murder.
Also expected to speak today:
• Wichita police Lt. Ken Landwehr, commander of the BTK Task Force.
• Victims' family members.
• Rader, if he wishes.
If time allows, the judge will announce Rader's sentence today; if not, the hearing will continue Friday.
Rader faces life sentences in 9 cases. In the 10th case, he faces the "Hard 40" -- life sentence with no possibility for parole for 40 years.
Rader will be 100 years old in 40 years.
Shortly after his sentencing, Rader will be transferred from the Sedgwick County Jail to the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
See Kansas.com for updates and Friday's Eagle for more on this story.
© 2005 Wichita Eagle and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.kansas.com