WICHITA, Kansas -- Accused BTK killer Dennis Rader is talking directly to KSN News. Rader discusses the case against him, his family, problems with his defense team and perceived harassment.
In a phone interview, Rader is sometimes rambling, sometimes focused and at times downright arrogant. It’s a fascinating look into the current life of Dennis Rader.
In the first recorded interview since his arrest,
The alleged serial killer talks in his first recorded interview since his arrest. Rader began the call concerned about how he’ll be portrayed.
"When you guys go on the news, I don’t want anything blown out and super negative on this, Okay?"
The man accused of being the BTK killer is married. He and Paula have been together for 33 years, but now she is contemplating divorce. However, Paula Rader continues to send letters to her husband. The couple’s two grown children are writing as well.
"Yeah, Paula has opened up a little bit more. She’s writing a little bit more. Kids are hit and miss you know, they’re busy, but yeah I’m getting some letters and phone calls," said Rader.
During his interview with KSN News, Rader complained about some of the treatment he is getting inside the Sedgwick Count Jail.
"I’ve had a mail problem ever since I’ve been arrested. They have never given me a paperwork to indicate why they hold certain mail and that can go on the news as far as I’m concerned."
Despite being a prisoner, Rader seems concerned about his personal appearance.
"We haven’t had a haircut in, for almost, two months. We haven’t had a pair of clippers in two months."
Most of the conversation with the accused serial killer focused on his case and the 10 counts of first-degree murder against him. On Friday, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office filed two documents with the court. One adds a woman named Kristin Casarona to the witness list in the trial of Dennis Rader. The other orders the defendant to have no indirect or direct contact with state witnesses.
Kristin Casarona has been to Wichita for jailhouse visits with the accused BTK strangler.
"They found out about that so now that party is going to be subpoenaed in or has been subpoenaed in. I cannot talk to that party. They can’t come here for visits. I can’t call them."
Kristen Casarona lives in Topeka. It appears Dennis Rader wanted to talk to her before his trial begins next Monday but now he is prohibited from making contact.
"They came in and they told me I could not make that phone call to Topeka. That I didn’t have visitor rights to that person anymore and I asked about the mail. They were not sure about the mail."
Rader expresses concern that all contact to this witness has been cut off.
"I don’t know if that’s a prosecutor move, a legal move, or what it is but it’s not a good time to be doing it."
Rader then complained about not seeing the most recent court filings. He faults his defense team while referring to himself in the third person.
"I don’t want any negativism toward the people who are trying to help me. On the other hand, Rader needs to know what’s going on," said Rader. "The paperwork needs to be coming down to him somehow."
Rader continued to complain about not getting court papers he wants to see, and again, referred to himself by name.
"The bottom line is, Mr. Rader does not, they’re not giving me any paperwork on all this stuff and they have to on certain things. Now they’re working on it but the bottom line is, are they going to produce it or is this just verbal? I don’t know and I’m really confused and upset."
During the interview, it became apparent that Rader is working hard to mount some type of defense. His trial is scheduled to begin next week.
"You know, defense and I have been working on strategy and I don’t need something like this falling back in. We’re getting very close to hearing things."
And Rader seems to have a firm grasp on his legal options.
"Three things can happen on the hearing. There’s a continuance, there’s a plea or we go for trial. That’s the only three things that can happen that day."
The question now is what will Dennis Rader do on June 27th, the day his trial is scheduled to begin.
"That’s, that’s, attorney and attorney and client privilege. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen."
While he wouldn’t tip his hand about what we’ll see in court, the man accused of being BTK is very clear when expressing frustration about perceived harassment leading up to the trial.
"Yeah, and they’re putting a lot of pressure on me. I don’t know whether -- I think it’s coming from the prosecution or from the jail but I don’t know where it’s coming from -- but anyway, it’s about to rip me open. Anyway, what’s happened is, after I left defense Tuesday, they came and searched my cell and went through all my paperwork."
Nevertheless, Rader said he is focused on his next court appearance.
"I’m trying to get everything set up and trying to get everything resolved. I’m sure that some of the things that are going on will, might, reflect on what happens that day I guess you might say."
At the end of the call, Dennis Rader was worried that this interview may be his last.
"If they find out today that I’ve called the media, they may shut my phone privileges down again, I don’t know."
Before hanging up, he tried to put his own spin on the call.
"Remember, not too much negative. I don’t like to see too much negative. I mean, you know, on my family or you know."
The entire call lasted about 20 minutes. After hearing his voice on a phone line, you have to ask yourself -- is Dennis Rader BTK?
Dennis Rader is accused of being BTK and he had the chance during the interview to profess his innocence. Rader could have said police and prosecutors have the wrong man, that he didn’t kill men, women and children.
He did not.
Tomorrow night we’ll take a closer look at what Rader had to say, including expert analysis of the words of an alleged killer.
