What can we learn from BTK Dennis Rader?
Nov 8, 2017 19:00:05 GMT
Any of N, ElfinEars, and 3 more like this
Post by intuitiva on Nov 8, 2017 19:00:05 GMT
I think there are several things that we can learn from BTK (and I'm going to add Gary Ridgway to this as well, as some of the concepts apply to him):
1) It doesn't take a genius or a military special ops guy to execute a serial murder series - especially during the 70's and early 80's. Both Gary Ridgway and Dennis Rader are not the brightest of the bunch nor are they military tactical geniuses. I think that this alone should put people's theories of EAR being a CIA ops or other military specialists at ease. I'm not saying EAR wasn't in the military or of high intelligence, but comparing the EAR case to others, it probably was more likely that he wasn't.
2) BTK took significant time off in his later attacks. His first year, he killed 5 people in one year. Then took three years off and killed 2 people that year. Then took 8 years off and killed another person...and so on. During his "cooling off" period, he wasn't imprisoned, he wasn't deployed in the military. Rather, he was living his "regular" parallel life - kids, job, church, etc. I think you would find that EAR's "cooling off period between the 81 Goleta murders and the 86 Irvine murder to be one of those "cooling off" periods that EAR was probably living his "normal" life - wife, kids, family, career, etc.
3) BTK had a plan and procedure for his victim selection. He actually named it certain phases - trolling phase (stalking), then identifying potential victims and recording those names/places. The stalking of victims can take weeks, months, and maybe even years. He then had procedures for when he arrived at the house - parking blocks away from the crime scene (sometimes at bowling alleys), and either taking a taxi to a nearby area or walking to the crime scene. Point is, that it doesn't take a "genius" to plan out things like this - and it also doesn't take some military mastermind to plan and execute things like this. BTK was in the Air Force, but I highly doubt he was some sort of Air Force, but I doubt that experience was much help in recon, etc. - sounds more like an Army or Marine type of activity. His planning developed more on the need to follow through on his sexual fantasies - he was very motivated to find a way to execute a plan that worked. And to be honest, he wasn't very good at it. I think EAR's planning and execution also arose in a similar way - through his unrelenting need to commit these crimes for his own selfish and sex benefit.
Take a look at his confession to understand his process better: youtu.be/BvWOje46Xp8
4) BTK's development in becoming a serial killer began in childhood, where violent fantasies began. Additionally, he (like so many other serial killers) enjoyed torturing animals. That's why I think that Morf's Dawes/Dolcetto finding was so important. I think that any animal abuse/killings pre-76 should be noted, especially around the area of his initial attack - Rancho Cordova or maybe even Goleta.
5) BTK's occupations were interesting. Some with power and authority (i.e. Dog Catcher/Compliance Officer) and others with access to homes (ADT Security Installer). I'm not sure if EAR had those types of occupations, but it brings up a good point to me that a serial killer probably has some sort of "regular" middle class job. A lot of theories are passed around about EAR having a "fancy" job, like owning his own construction firm, lawyer, etc. I think it's far more likely that EAR had a more "blue-collar" job that allowed him the flexibility to do some level of stalking during and after his operating hours - construction, painter, meter reader, security installer, etc. Which is probably why he initially was wearing a mask - because people could potentially recognize him - especially around the initial attack areas (Cordova).
6) Both EAR and BTK were very interested in the media and attention. They were huge egomaniacs, which is probably mostly due to their psychopathy.
1) It doesn't take a genius or a military special ops guy to execute a serial murder series - especially during the 70's and early 80's. Both Gary Ridgway and Dennis Rader are not the brightest of the bunch nor are they military tactical geniuses. I think that this alone should put people's theories of EAR being a CIA ops or other military specialists at ease. I'm not saying EAR wasn't in the military or of high intelligence, but comparing the EAR case to others, it probably was more likely that he wasn't.
2) BTK took significant time off in his later attacks. His first year, he killed 5 people in one year. Then took three years off and killed 2 people that year. Then took 8 years off and killed another person...and so on. During his "cooling off" period, he wasn't imprisoned, he wasn't deployed in the military. Rather, he was living his "regular" parallel life - kids, job, church, etc. I think you would find that EAR's "cooling off period between the 81 Goleta murders and the 86 Irvine murder to be one of those "cooling off" periods that EAR was probably living his "normal" life - wife, kids, family, career, etc.
3) BTK had a plan and procedure for his victim selection. He actually named it certain phases - trolling phase (stalking), then identifying potential victims and recording those names/places. The stalking of victims can take weeks, months, and maybe even years. He then had procedures for when he arrived at the house - parking blocks away from the crime scene (sometimes at bowling alleys), and either taking a taxi to a nearby area or walking to the crime scene. Point is, that it doesn't take a "genius" to plan out things like this - and it also doesn't take some military mastermind to plan and execute things like this. BTK was in the Air Force, but I highly doubt he was some sort of Air Force, but I doubt that experience was much help in recon, etc. - sounds more like an Army or Marine type of activity. His planning developed more on the need to follow through on his sexual fantasies - he was very motivated to find a way to execute a plan that worked. And to be honest, he wasn't very good at it. I think EAR's planning and execution also arose in a similar way - through his unrelenting need to commit these crimes for his own selfish and sex benefit.
Take a look at his confession to understand his process better: youtu.be/BvWOje46Xp8
4) BTK's development in becoming a serial killer began in childhood, where violent fantasies began. Additionally, he (like so many other serial killers) enjoyed torturing animals. That's why I think that Morf's Dawes/Dolcetto finding was so important. I think that any animal abuse/killings pre-76 should be noted, especially around the area of his initial attack - Rancho Cordova or maybe even Goleta.
5) BTK's occupations were interesting. Some with power and authority (i.e. Dog Catcher/Compliance Officer) and others with access to homes (ADT Security Installer). I'm not sure if EAR had those types of occupations, but it brings up a good point to me that a serial killer probably has some sort of "regular" middle class job. A lot of theories are passed around about EAR having a "fancy" job, like owning his own construction firm, lawyer, etc. I think it's far more likely that EAR had a more "blue-collar" job that allowed him the flexibility to do some level of stalking during and after his operating hours - construction, painter, meter reader, security installer, etc. Which is probably why he initially was wearing a mask - because people could potentially recognize him - especially around the initial attack areas (Cordova).
6) Both EAR and BTK were very interested in the media and attention. They were huge egomaniacs, which is probably mostly due to their psychopathy.