Dennis Rader, a.k.a., BTK, was interviewed and profiled by FBI agent and original Mindhunter, John Douglas. Douglas later wrote a book, Inside the Mind of BTK: The True Story Behind the Thirty-Year Hunt for the Notorious Wichita Serial Killer, about him and the encounter. Psychologist, Dr. Katherine Ramsland, has recently written a fascinating account of Dennis Rader’s life in her book, Confession of A Serial Killer, based on several years of communication with him following his incarceration. After reading their thoughts, and those of Rader included in their writings, watching videos of Dennis Rader, including his confession, as well as reading his daughter, Kerri Rader Rawson’s hard-won bittersweet testimony, in her book, A Serial Killer’s Daughter- I believe the initial step toward evil for Dennis Rader, who would eventually devolve into BTK, a serial killer responsible for brutally murdering ten people, including men, women, and children in Wichita, Kansas over a thirty year period, was his assumption that he and other human beings are good. By Dennis Rader’s own admission, he thinks he is a “good person who did some bad things,” [1]. According to the Holy Scriptures, upon which we build our Christian Faith, this is completely untrue. We are totally depraved (intent on evil) from conception [2].
The doctrine of total depravity is obvious to any parent who has closely observed his or her youngest children. Children nearly never need be instructed to pinch, hit, bite, lie, or steal; however the “good” behavior, that behavior respecting the needs and desires of others to be treated fairly, must be diligently taught. Christ teaches us that unrighteous anger, murderous thought (hatred of another) is like murder in regard to God’s judgement of sin. A lustful thought is equated with actual adultery. [3]. The Psalmist along with The Apostle Paul, infused with The Holy Spirit of God in Christ, teaches that apart from Christ we have no good thing- least of all a truly good character [4]. As Saint Augustine confessed, “I have seen and known even a baby envious; it could not speak, yet it turned pale and looked bitterly on its foster brother: Who does not know this?” [5].
Subsequently, building on this weak foundation, Dennis Rader began a fantasy life as a young boy of ten and ignoring his conscience, continually nurturing instead his own nature to sin; he easily incorporated trauma related to his primary experience of self-gratification, low self-esteem connected to probable learning disabilities and a poorer standard of living than many, as well as being socially awkward, and angry, into his developing sexuality [6]. Dennis began the construction of an elaborate inner world of his own in which he was all-powerful and participated in the degradation of himself and others, and along with that he regularly enjoyed the pleasure of self-gratification through masturbation [7]. He continued building this alternate reality, of which he is the star and is accountable to no one, throughout his adolescence and continuing into his adult life [8]. According to Dr. Katherine Ramsfield’s documentation, he continues adding to it as he resides in a maximum security prison in Kansas serving ten consecutive life sentences. Let us remember Saint Augustine, who wrote in his confessions, “…yet I knew not that evil was but a privation of good, until at last a thing ceases altogether to be,” [9].
I would argue that Dennis Rader must be considered to be retarded in a social, emotional, and sexual sense. While he may be of normal intellectual capacity, is of a certain chronological age, and was able to function as a grown-up in a few specific areas for many years, I believe his entertainment of evil ideas, as well as obsessive preoccupation with himself and his immature sexuality; confused his development and locked him into early adolescence socially, emotionally, and sexually. Therefore, he failed to secure a healthy sense of self and of his own masculinity, and consequently felt a constant source of frustration [10]. Jesus taught that our thought-life, our imagination, must be given over to Him and to His control- for “as a man thinks, so is he,” [11]. We learn that we are what we think. We understand that we must learn to think the way Jesus thinks, according to His Word. This is a second doctrine that one must clearly understand and subscribe to, to cooperate fully in his or her sanctification- the working out of his or her faith [12].
Thirdly, Dennis Radar did not seem to possess the sound doctrine that sex was created to be practiced within the bounds of a marriage between one man and one woman, both rightly related to God. Sex was not intended for practice outside of the confines of this right relationship between two people and their God [13]. Fornication, adultery, same-sex relationships, and self-gratification are perversions of this doctrine. The sexual gratification of self is something a person does, either using himself (or herself) alone or when using another person to indulge absolutely selfish desires with purely selfish motive, and is unlawful, sinful [14]. As Thomas a’ Kempis so aptly expressed in his, Imitation of Christ, “But he who puts aside the fear of God can not long continue in good, but shall quickly fall into the snares of the devil.” [15].
Next, Rader seems to believe that consistently and continually lying- having the character of a liar- is not unacceptable when it has been constructed as protection of his private inner world and is attempting to keep his two lives from intersecting. He appears to consider himself justified in his lies, particularly as it concerns shielding his family from knowledge of his double life, and at times he simply can’t discern his lies from the truth [16]. A basic tenant of the Christian faith is honesty- honesty to the best of one’s ability to discern, regarding who one is at the core of one’s being, integrity in the presence of self, God, and others [17]. Thomas a’ Kempis prayed, “Lord, it is true as you say; he who walks before me in truth shall be safe from evil assaults, and the truth shall deliver him from the wiles and slanders of the wicked. If the truth shall make one free, one shall be free indeed, and shall not care for the vain words of men, let it be so with me; let your truth teach me; let it keep me and preserve me safe unto the end. Let it free me from all evil and inordinate affection, and I will walk before you in great freedom of heart.” [18].
Fifth, and certainly not least, though Dennis Rader professes to love his wife, daughter, son, and immediate family, he fails to comprehend the Biblical doctrine of Christian love [19]. This doctrine teaches us that love is not self-centered, but first of all God-centered in Christ. It teaches that each and every human being is our neighbor and is therefore worthy of our unselfish love, and we are commanded to give this love- and we can not accomplish our task without loving ourselves appropriately, as God Himself loves us. [19]. Dennis Rader was initially and continually abusive of his very self [20].
In conclusion, Dennis Rader, who devolved into BTK, a serial killer responsible for brutally killing ten people, including men, women, and children in Wichita, Kansas over a period of thirty years, despite being an active church member in a local Lutheran church, though vice-president of that church when carrying out at least one of the slayings, was not committed to sound doctrine [21]. Was it a failure to believe or an outright blatant rejection of what he knew to be true? Or was he never trained in the Truth? How did he acquire membership status with all its privileges, becoming vice-president of an organized church body professing Christianity, without convincing someone in leadership that he comprehended and applied sound doctrine in his personal life? Did he lie to leadership? Did he unwittingly profess to believe things that he did not really internalize or understand? Was this local church body and its leadership committed to sound doctrine?
I learned that Dennis Rader’s pastor of many years visited him in prison, though no one may speak with BTK personally, but only by means of closed circuit video. His pastor suggested to BTK that he may have been and even be demon-possessed [22]. While this is possible, it is certainly not probable as such instances are extremely rare, and require due to thorough understanding of Scriptural demon-possession, that the event contain specific elements. Also, we must remember that, according to The Holy Scripture, all who are lost (not yet saved), separate from The Holy Spirit of God and Its resurrecting power; are not possessed by God as Children of His salvation, and are therefore subject to all forms of evil, including but not limited to, literal demonic possession [23].
Finally, whatever the biological and genetic make-up of Dennis Rader, whatever the environmental stimulus of his experience, his walk down the road to perdition and his ultimate demise, was possible due to a lack of sound doctrine. Either he was taught Truth, rejected it and did not become a Believer, or he was never taught, never challenged- and did not become a Believer, and in either case it is a shame as his involvement in the local church was extensive and consistent. Someone in the body of Christ should have been aware of his lost condition, for the sake of those closest to him, including his family members and his other victims, as well as for his sake- though he did a remarkable job of behaving as a wolf while dressed in sheep’s clothing. [24].
Alas, I pray and hope many will pray with me, Lord, deliver us first from the bent toward evil within us, keep us then from the outer forces of darkness, from Satan and his minions as well as all that they stand for, and from all that is anti-Christ, in the strong name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, I pray, Amen.
1. Confessions of A Serial Killer, Katherine Ramsland, PhD, p. 158
2. The Holy Bible, Psalm 51:5, Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-23, 10:18, Galations 4:8-9, Ephesians 2:3, 2 Peter 2:19, Romans 5:12-19, 7:18,
I John 1:8-10
3. Ibid., Matthew 5:21-22, 5:27-28
4. Ibid., Psalm 16:2, Romans 3:11
5. The Confessions of Saint Augustine, The First Book, My Sinfulness From Infancy
6. Confessions of A Serial Killer, Katherine Ramsland, PhD, Chapter 2, First Inklings of Trouble, and Chapter 3, Dark Explorations
7. Ibid., chapters 2&3
8. Ibid., chapters 2&3
9. Confessions of Saint Augustine, The Third Book, The Source of Evil
10. Confessions of A Serial Killer, Katherine Ramsland, PhD, Chapter 2, First Inklings of Trouble, and Chapter 3, Dark Explorations
11. The Holy Bible, Proverbs 23:7, Matthew 15:16-19, Mark 7:14-15
12. Ibid., Philippians 2:12
13. Ibid., Genesis, chapter 2
14. Ibid., Romans, chapter 1
15. Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis
16. Confessions of A Serial Killer, Katherine Ramsfield, Phd, p. 139
17. The Holy Bible, Proverbs 12:22, John 3:19-21, John 4:24, Colossians 3:9, Revelation 21:8
18. The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis, Book 3, chapter 4
19. The Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37-40
20. Confessions of A Serial Killer, Katherine Ramsfield, Phd, p. 56, p. 164
21. Ibid., pp. 144-149, p.193
22. Ibid., p.219
23. The Holy Bible,
24. Confessions of A Serial Killer, Katherine Ramsfield, Phd, p. 93
Copyright 2019. L.L. Shelton.