Mistaken for a Serial Killer
WICHITA, Kan., Jan. 12, 2005 — -- Roger Valadez's life was sliced and diced for all to see when some media outlets identified him as the prime suspect in the investigation into a serial killer who stalked the city decades ago.
For at least 12 hours, acting on a tip, sources told ABC News affiliate KAKE-TV in Wichita that police thought they had captured the alleged serial killer known as BTK, after his own claim to "Bind, Torture, Kill" his victims -- and that Valadez, 64, was either related to the case or BTK himself.
He wasn't, but those hours have turned his life upside down, Valadez said.
Hoping to clear his name and put his life back together, Valadez described in an exclusive interview with KAKE-TV's Larry Hatteberg what happened when police entered his home on Dec. 1.
"I had thought what I heard were knocks on the door," Valadez said. "The next thing I knew, there were people in my house. Several plain-clothed policemen and some uniformed, with guns drawn. There were at least five 9-mm's pointing at me at that time."
Valadez's home was under surveillance for 12 hours before officers burst in with guns drawn. But when Valadez was arrested, it was not on murder charges. Instead, he was charged with misdemeanor trespassing and housing code violations.
Publicly, police would only say it wasn't a BTK arrest. But privately, sources told KAKE-TV, they believed they had their man.
That was also the impression that they gave Valadez, he said.
"I was guilty and then I was going to be proven innocent," Valadez said. "I mean I was guilty right off the bat. Everybody assumed we got this guy. The police department, I bet they had two dozen people out there; KBI [Kansas Bureau of Investigation], the CSI unit, they were at my house. You don't bring all those people out for a code violation."
Items from Valadez's home were taken out in bags and boxes for processing. Members of the major case squad were involved, including homicide detectives assigned to the BTK investigation.
"They left it completely trashed," Valadez said of the state of his home. "There's still things I can't find. I have areas where there's broken glass, broken lamps, broken fixtures, stuff strewn all over. Nothing's where it was. I have things that were in my bedroom that wound up in the basement."
All day long, Wichita's news media broadcast news of the arrest, with some stations -- though not KAKE-TV -- even releasing Valadez's name and address. Onlookers had begun to gather around Valadez's home, which had been cordoned off by police.
"They did a terrible thing, by naming my name, my address, showing my home, making assumptions that I'm the BTK," he said.
By the late afternoon of Dec. 2, it had become apparent police were no longer sure about Valadez. Their evidence and the case itself began to crumble.
By nightfall, Valadez was released on bond, still charged with trespassing and housing code violations, but no charges related to BTK. He was a free man, but his life had changed dramatically.
"I would like them to know that I'm not the person that the media and the police department has put me out there to make them believe that I'm this person," Valadez says. "I'm not. I'm no different than anybody else. I value my family, I care for them and I value my privacy. They made a terrible mistake and as far as I'm concerned it's just been a travesty of justice."
A civil case was filed Monday afternoon in Sedgwick County District Court against three media outlets on behalf of Valadez. Filed by attorney Craig Shultz, the suit asked KSNW-TV, KFDI Radio and The Associated Press for a public apology and an unspecified amount of monetary damages in excess of $75,000.
The suit alleges Valadez was damaged when his name, address and other personal information were broadcast.
The media outlets involved had no comment.
BTK has been linked to eight unsolved homicides in Wichita between 1974 and 1986. The killer remained silent for 25 years until last March, when authorities believe he sent The Wichita Eagle a letter that detailed an unsolved 1986 slaying and contained the victim's driver's license and photos of her body.
BTK has stayed in the spotlight since then, sending various letters to police and the media. The letters have been authenticated by the FBI.
In the letter to KAKE-TV last spring, BTK sent photocopies of ID cards of a former employee of the Wichita public school district and a Southwestern Bell employee who retired 20 years ago and a couple of word puzzles that spell out "wrong address" backward and "ruse."
Last fall, in a plea for the public's help in the case, police released some detailed information provided in recent letters sent to local media by the person they believe is BTK.
Police Lt. Ken Landwehr said the BTK killer claimed he was born in 1939. BTK said he had served in the military in the 1960s and has had a lifelong fascination with trains. Though his family moved frequently when he was a child, BTK said he always lived near railroad tracks.
Since that plea for help, police warned the public that the suspected BTK killer may change his habits because of the publicity.
Wichita police have received thousands of tips since BTK's return last spring, but they say they need more help. Authorities have asked people with information to call 1-866-765-8285, send an e-mail to coldcase@wichita.gov, or write to Cold Case, P.O. Box 9202, Wichita, KS 67277-0202. People can also call Crimestoppers at (316) 267-2111.