Another BTK Victim?: New Evidence Points to BTK Killer's Involvement in 1976 Disappearance of Oklahoma Teen
20 years after he was convicted on 10 counts of murder, serial killer Dennis Rader, known as "BTK" is now a suspect in the 1976 disappearance of 16-year-old Cynthia Kinney in Pawhuska, Oklahoma
“Bind, Torture, Kill.” Those three words spread fear throughout the city of Wichita, Kansas, during the 1970s, when serial killer Dennis Rader terrorized the community with a grisly trail of victims over a 20-year period.
Since his arrest and conviction in 2005, the BTK Killer has been incarcerated in a maximum security facility in Butler County, Kansas. However, the spotlight now shines on his crimes once again, as new information suggests he might be the key to solving a 50-year-old cold case in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
Backstory
Previously, Tales From the Underworld covered the twisted saga of notorious serial killer Dennis Rader, known as the “BTK Killer.” Rader became known for both his sadistic crimes and the taunting messages that he sent to the police and media.
Despite his religious upbringing and stable family unit with no history of abuse, Rader’s teenage years awakened within him an insatiable lust and violent obsession with subjugating and killing women.
His sadistic sexual fantasies of kidnapping and torturing women, as well as finding pleasure in acting out bondage techniques and wearing women’s clothing, followed him throughout his adolescence. When he didn’t harm humans, he engaged in the torture of animals, particularly cats in his neighborhood.
As an adult, Rader wore a daily costume: that of a dutiful husband and father of two, making an honest living as an ADT installer. Acquaintances described him as a rigid follower of the rules, and he was personable enough to be known in the community as an average suburban family man with a few quirks here and there, but not enough to warrant suspicion.
However, in 1974, Rader made the decision to act on his violent impulses, leading to tragic consequences.
Reign of Terror
Rader’s first victims were the Otero family. After stalking the family for two months, he suffocated husband and father Joseph Otero, followed by his son Joseph and wife Julia. 11-year-old Josephine, who had just witnessed the murders of her family, was taken into the basement where Rader hung her from a pipe.
Three hours later, the gruesome scene was discovered by the three remaining Otero children, who were in school at the time.
His modus operandi of “bind, torture, and kill” earned him the nickname of BTK. Rader continued his murder spree in the following months and years. Kathryn Bright, Shirley Ruth Relford, Nancy Jo Fox, Vicki Wergerle, Dolores Davis, Marine Hedge, and others were all stalked for a brief time before Rader entered their homes, bound and strangled them with either a rope or pantyhose.
In addition to his bloodlust, Rader also had an insatiable need for notoriety. In Dennis’s self-aggrandizement and overwhelming desire for attention, he risked getting caught to showcase his supposed brilliance.
He teased media outlets and police stations throughout the state with grim word puzzles, dolls with ropes around their necks, mementoes from his victims, and written descriptions of his crimes. One letter to the police summed up all his feelings: “How many do I have to kill before I get a name in the paper or some national recognition?”
Capture and Conviction
Soon enough, his wish came true. After asking the police if he could send them a floppy disk without being traced, they placed an ad in the newspaper in confirmation. Without a second thought, he sent them the disk, unaware that the police could trace his personal information.
As a result, they discovered the name of the sender: Dennis Rader. In February 2005, Rader was arrested at his home while on his lunch break. In June 2005, Rader pleaded guilty to 10 murders, and in August, he was sentenced to 10 consecutive life sentences with a minimum of 175 years.
That should have been the end of his story. Yet, it wasn’t.
Disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney
Two hours away from Wichita at 9:30 a.m. on June 23, 1976, 16-year-old Cynthia Dawn Kinney of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, got into the backseat of a beige 1965 Plymouth Belvedere, leaving her aunt and uncle’s laundromat with two unknown individuals. The soon-to-be cheerleader and model student was never seen or heard from again.
Last seen wearing a peach-colored shirt and jeans, police found no other clues to go on apart from her purse, a drink, some loose change, and a half-eaten doughnut left behind in the laundromat where she worked part-time.
As for the individuals with her in the car, the police ran into consistent dead ends throughout their investigation. Law enforcement had little choice but to leave the case be until new evidence emerged. That was, until 2023.
This cold case that rocked the small community of Pawhuska reemerged with a new development–and a possible suspect. A local sheriff named Eddie Virden believes that Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer, might have been responsible.
But how are these two connected?
BTK Responsible?
Several decades after Cynthia Kinney vanished, the police received anonymous calls and tips claiming that her body was buried in a barn somewhere on the border between Kansas and Oklahoma.
The information, being too vague, was not enough for them to act on. However, Rader’s daughter, who has been proactive and resourceful in assisting police in dealing with the aftermath of her father’s crimes, informed them of his affinity for barns, as further detailed in his drawings depicting women tied and gagged in the setting.
Sheriff Virden took a closer look at one of Rader’s word puzzles and found the words “Cindy”, “Kinney”, “laundromat”, and “Pawhuska” among others. When interviewed about the case, Rader denied having been involved despite his admission to fantasizing about kidnapping a girl from a laundromat, since they were considered perfect places for stalking and snatching.
His journals and manuscripts speak of his victims as “projects.” One such project called “Bad Wash Day” in 1976 required him to leave town until “things cool off.” He also spoke of his intended victim, who was a woman with brown hair.
While Rader is a master manipulator and a liar, the one thing he does not lie about is his horrible deeds. Rather, he is proud of them and recounted them in a matter-of-fact, detailed, and bragging way during his 2005 legal proceedings.
Seeing as Cynthia’s disappearance is not exactly Rader’s MO, some have dismissed his involvement. However, it is possible that Rader may wish to be in the spotlight once again…
As of now, Cynthia Kinney remains missing. Anyone with information or leads can call the Osage County Sheriff's Office at (918) 287-3131.
Sources:
Phillips, Sharon. “Oklahoma Cold Case Files: Cynthia Dawn Kinney.” 2 News Oklahoma, 22 September 2023, https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/oklahoma-cold-case-files-cynthia-dawn-kinney
Olivias, Kaylee. “‘Can’t be overlooked’: BTK word puzzle spells missing Pawhuska teen’s name, laundromat she was last seen at.” Oklahoma’s News 4, 14 May 2024, https://kfor.com/news/cant-be-overlooked-btk-word-puzzle-spells-missing-pawhuska-teens-name-laundromat-she-was-last-seen-at/
Cynthia Dawn Kinney, The Charlie Project, https://charleyproject.org/case/cynthia-dawn-kinney
Hawkinson, Katie. “BTK serial killer tied to cold case murder after cryptic puzzle decoded 20 years on.” The Independent, 15 May 2024, https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/btk-killer-cynthia-dawn-kinney-disappearance-b2545860.html
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Fascinating. This was well written, and informative. I have little doubt that Radar had more victims, much like Gary Ridgway who was recently transferred to Kings County prison before being returned to where he was originally incarcerated. Police didn't say anything but I suspect they could link him to more murders, too. It intrigues me, wondering how many secrets these men still have.
Interesting read. I wonder who the two unknown individuals she was last seen with were.