The BTK Stranger: Analysis of Dennis Rader's Criminal Behavior

This report is a case study analysis of Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Stranger, an American serial killer responsible for the murders of 10 people in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. The report details Rader's method of operation, including sending taunting letters to the police and media, describing his crimes, and demanding attention. It explores the investigation, the DNA evidence used to identify him, and his subsequent confession and guilty plea. The report also touches upon the psychological evaluation conducted to assess Rader's mental state and the court proceedings, including his sentencing to multiple life sentences. The analysis references several sources, including books and academic journals, to provide a comprehensive overview of the BTK Stranger case.

Running head: THE "BTK" STRANGER
The "BTK" Stranger
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1THE "BTK" STRANGER
Dennis Lynn Rader, The “BTK” Stranger
Discussion
Dennis Rader who is known as Dennis Lynn Rarer is one of the famous American serial killer
who has been found guilty for murdering 10 people in Kansas in the year from 1974 and 1991.
This killer also recognized as the BTK Killer or the BTK Strangler where B for blind T for
torture and c for kill.
When he murdered someone he used to send letters to the police about describing the
details of the murders and the local news offices before he arrested by the police. After several
times in 2004 while he sending letters, this followed him and lead the police to arrest him in
2005 and where he found subsequent guilty plea (Ramsland, 2016). Therefore he was served
with 10 consecutive life sentences at El Dorado correctional facility in Kansas (Hickey, 2013).
He has murdered 10 people in Kansas and it has been found that after he killed someone
he collected something from the murder place. However one person was successfully escaped
from the death among the victims. Along with this issue it has been also found that the murderer
has always send taunting letters to the police and the newspaper about how he murdered
somebody. In each letters he always demanded for media attention and he used to write a parody
of the lyrics of different song after he murdered the victims. According to the process of the
court when it has found about the DNA testing has applied hundreds of men where test has
almost 1300 DNA samples were taken and later expert of the court’s order it was destroyed
(Ramsland, 2016). Raider was charged with 10 counts of first degree murder by the court and it
was also found that in every murder he except the crime and along with it he also confessed to
murder another person who will be connected in this case process (Hickey, 2013).

2THE "BTK" STRANGER
In the court process the murderer has claimed for the ball which was set at $US 10
million and a public defender who was appointed for representation behalf of him. Then the
judge has applied the non guilty pleas on behalf of the accused and in the scheduled till date.
Rader has changed his mind and apply for his plea to guilty where he described about all the
murders he have committed (Hickey, 2013). Therefore it can be stated that the court was not
bound to provide any apology to the accused. For the better judgment in this case the state police
and the FBI has also made the cooperation for this case. Massachusetts psychologist Mr. Robert
Mendoza who was hired by Rader who was appointment for public defenders where he was
conduct a psychological evolution for Raider and determined if he can make any difference
according to the mental illness (Wiest, 2016).
However the BTK Killer or the BTK Strangler was found guilty for murdering 10 people
and he was also ordered of life sentences for killing innocent people and harassment to the court
and the state police.

3THE "BTK" STRANGER
Reference
Helfgott, J. B. (2015). Criminal behavior and the copycat effect: Literature review and
theoretical framework for empirical investigation. Aggression and violent behavior, 22,
46-64.
Hickey, E. W. (2013). Serial murderers and their victims. Cengage Learning.
Ramsland, K. (2016). Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK
Killer. University Press of New England.
Wiest, J. B. (2016). Creating cultural monsters: Serial murder in America. CRC Press.