Serial killer confesses
The week's news at a glance.
Wichita
Matter-of-factly referring to his victims as “projects,” a churchgoing former Boy Scout leader pleaded guilty this week to the “BTK” serial killings, which terrorized Wichita from 1974 to ’91. Dennis Rader, 60, said he “trolled” neighborhoods to find his 10 victims, whom he picked randomly. He described giving toys to one woman’s three children before strangling her. He got another victim a glass of water, then killed her. When pressed by the judge to explain his motivation for the slayings, Rader replied they were “part of what you might call my fantasy—sexual fantasy.” Rader, who named himself BTK for “bind, torture, kill,” had taunted police with cryptic messages before disappearing for a decade. He was arrested in February after new evidence surfaced.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'The future of abortion access in many states may come down to who has the final say'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US makes first Gaza aid delivery from floating pier
Speed Read Israeli restrictions on border crossings have prevented food and supplies from reaching Gaza citizens
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published