Sample Excerpts from INSIDE THE MIND OF BTK

 By John Douglas and Johnny Dodd

“In an effort to understand the motives and motivation of the killers we were trying to catch, I—along with my colleagues—met face-to-face with dozens of serial murders and assassins, including Charles Manson, Sirhan Sirhan, Arthur Bremmer, Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, David Berkowitz (Son of Sam)  and James Early Ray.”

 From Chapter 1, in Act One:  My Lifelong Hunt for BTK 

“BTK’s habit of cutting the outside phone lines of his victims was also mentioned in the press conference.  That evening, thousands of residents throughout the city began a ritual that would last for years:  the first thing they did upon entering their home was check to see if the phone line worked.  Others made it a habit – before entering their house – to dial their home number from a pay phone, to see if their phone rang.” 

From Chapter 6, in Act One:  My Lifelong Hunt for BTK 

“But most important, on February 25, 2005, the phantom-like killer who had eluded capture for more than three decades was finally unmasked.

“He turned out to be the fifty-nine-year-old father of two grown children.  For the past thirty-three years, he’d been married to the same woman and lived in the same small house in the sleepy bedroom community of Park City, located six miles north of downtown Wichita.”  

From Chapter 8, in Act Two:  The Capture and Arrest of BTK 

“According to his friends, Rader loved being scared.  Back then, there were nights when he and his buddies would see who could stand being scared the most.  Rader always seemed to win.” 

From Chapter 10, in Act Two:  The Capture and Arrest of BTK 

“’Sorry to hear about your mother,’ Rader said, squinting as he peered into the camera.   His words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut.  I figured Casarona might have told him about my mother’s death three months earlier, but I never imagined he’d bring it up.  Something about a serial killer handing out condolences over the death of a loved one just seemed ironic.  Not only that, he didn’t mean it—because he couldn’t mean it.” 

From Chapter 23, in Act Three:  Meeting BTK:  An Exclusive Interview 

Sample Interview Questions for John Douglas, author of

INSIDE THE MIND OF BTK 

What first drew you to this case?

 You write in INSIDE THE MIND OF BTK that when Rader was apprehended in February of 2005, he had in his possession some of your books.  What was your reaction when you heard that? 

In your work in the FBI, you did a lot of criminal profiling.  How were you able to profile BTK so accurately?  

Why was Dennis Rader able to compartmentalize his life so his murderous, evil side did not infiltrate his family life? 

Do you think Rader’s wife had any idea her husband was capable of being BTK? 

Why did BTK stop his killing spree and drop out of the public eye for so many years?  How rare is that? 

How was Rader able to elude capture for so many years? 

Why was it important for you to meet and interview Dennis Rader?  What did you hope the interview would accomplish? 

What was the most chilling part of your exclusive jail-house interview with Rader? 

Did you learn anything about the psyche and makeup of Rader following your interview with him?