Dennis L. Rader: Effective Killer

Rader’s MO changed over time, as he perfected his tradecraft, and became a more effective killer. In addition to his grandiose sense of self-worth, Rader’s psychopathic and narcissistic personality was pervaded by aggressive behavior, lack of remorse, and any respect for the value of human life (Giannetakis, 2014).

Dennis L. Rader was born on March 9, 1945, in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was the first of four sons born to William and Dorothea Rader. His father was a member of the US Marine Corps. The family moved to Wichita, Kansas, when Dennis was a young boy. The Rader’s settled into a modest but pleasant home at 4815 N. Seneca, Wichita, Kansas (Blanco, 2014).

Those who knew him, regarded Raider’s childhood as unremarkable. He attended Riverview

To Raider’s surprise, she was accompanied by her brother Kevin. Rader surprised both of them when he came out of the bedroom with a gun. Using the same ruse he had used on the Otero’s, Rader was able to get them to cooperate with him and easily control them. He bound Kathryn in her bedroom, and then took her brother Kevin to another bedroom and bound him with items found in the room. Rader, using a stocking, began to strangle Kevin. Keven got loose and began to struggle with Rader. During the fight, Kevin was shot twice in the head. Feeling panicked after the struggle with Kevin, Rader, changed his method of operation, and stabbed Kathryn several times in the abdomen before fleeing the residence. During this time, Keven was able to escape and go for help. Panicked, Rader fled from the residence on foot. Kevin found two men on the street to help him; however, by the time they returned to residence, Rader was gone. Kathryn Bright was transported to hospital but died several hours later; however, Kevin survived this ordeal, but sustained permanent damage (Crawford, 2011). During the post arrest interview, Wichita Police Department Detective Clint Snyder advised Rader that he was working Kathryn Bright case. Rader responded by saying, “Sweet kid. So what do you want to know?” Rader advised that Kathryn Bright was “Project Lights Out.” Rader advised that he spotted her one day going in the house with a friend, and he thought she fit the profile, and that’s how she was picked for the project. Rader further advised that he had no idea she had a brother. Rader told Detective Snyder and Detective Dana Gouge “after the Otero thing, I wanted to try to stay away from the males as much as possible because, you know, that would make it easier for me.” Rader tried to convince the detectives that when he was not killing