Serial Killer Set to Strike Again?

June 25, 2004 -- Is Wichita's notorious "BTK" serial killer about to strike again — or about to be arrested?

Residents and police in Wichita, Kan., are on edge as FBI investigators announced they had authenticated letters sent to ABC News affiliate KAKE-TV and directly to police as being written by the same serial killer who terrorized the region in the 1970s. Earlier this month, police received a letter that described the 1974 strangulation of four family members — the first of eight slayings linked to the BTK ("blind, torture, kill") strangler.

Last month, ABC News affiliate KAKE-TV received a letter containing potential clues that have intrigued investigators, including: photocopies of I.D. cards of a former employee of the Wichita public school district and a Southwestern Bell employee who retired 20 years ago as well as a couple of word puzzles that spell out "wrong address" backwards and "ruse." KAKE-TV also says the letter includes a page titled "The BTK Story" which lists what appears to be chapter titles. The final chapter title, according to KAKE-TV, reads "Will there be more?"

Breaking His Silence

The BTK strangler sparked fear in Wichita in the 1970s when he bragged about seven slayings in letters to newspapers and television stations.

However, he had remained silent for more than 20 years until last March, when The Wichita Eagle received a letter. The letter, which was authenticated by authorities, detailed an unsolved 1986 slaying and contained the victim's driver's license and photos of her body.

Wichita police suspect BTK could have used the I.D. cards to gain access to his victims and believe BTK is trying to communicate with them. They have asked anyone with information to contact them. They are specifically interested in hearing from anyone who remembers being approached at their home between 1974 and 1986 by a man who claimed to work for a school or utility company.

"We truly feel he is trying to communicate with us," Wichita Police Lt. Ken Landwehr said in statement. "Obviously, we are not interested in legitimate encounters. We want to know about situations where a man attempted to get into your house under suspicious circumstances."

Taunts — and Correcting History?

In BTK's first suspected slaying, four members of the Otero family — two young siblings and their parents — were found slain in their home. Police had believed that perhaps the mother walked in on BTK as he was torturing and killing her son and daughter and then became his victim. The father, investigators had theorized, came home while his family was bound and being tortured and was then also killed.

One former investigator in the case believes BTK is toying with police and the media today — or at least trying to set the record straight.

"There was a lot of speculation in terms of the investigation as to who was the primary victim in that case," former Wichita Police Chief Richard Lamunyon told KAKE-TV. "We thought all along that the young girl was probably the primary target. Perhaps we were wrong on that. But maybe he's just trying to clear up some mystery to set us straight."

One psychologist says that the BTK strangler could have revealed some of his crimes to a therapist after all this time — and that this would not help the search for the serial killer.

"It is possible that this person has seen a licensed mental health professional and has revealed that he did these offenses," psychologist Howard Brodsky told KAKE-TV. "Because of confidentiality rules, the therapist would not be able to say anything."

Since BTK resurfaced, police say they have received more than 2,200 tips and leads. Officials have asked that anyone with information call Crimestoppers at (316) 267-2111.