Posted
by Joel Mathis
March 1, 2005 at 2:29 p.m.
Cup O'Rombeck: "I knew BTK suspect"
Hi guys, Joel here. I'm lending my blog space to Journal-World colleague Terry Rombeck today because he met [Dennis Rader, the BTK suspect][1], while working as a young reporter. I'll let Terry tell his own story.Terry Rombeck talks about Dennis RaderI knew the man the world is calling BTK.It's not as creepy as it sounds.To me, he was just Dennis the code enforcement guy.I met Dennis Rader - who is suspected of killing 10 people in and around Wichita - while writing about city government in Park City, where Rader was a code enforcement supervisor. At the time, I was working for the Ark Valley News, a suburban Wichita paper.I didn't know Rader well at all; I probably had two or three conversations with him during my time in Park City, which was from 1998 to 2000. He'd also make occasional presentations at City Council meetings as part of his job.I never had any troubles with him. I don't personally know of anybody who did. And I'm pretty sure he never made news while I was there. Dog-catchers rarely do.Did I suspect him as BTK, a serial killer who made Wichita fearful and fascinated for the better part of three decades? Of course not. Apparently nobody did.And that's the amazing thing: The man who had the power to make a generation of Wichitans - particularly single women -- jump at the slightest noise in their home, who commanded so much attention for so long, apparently was a family man, a leader at his church and a Boy Scout sponsor.I know in Park City they're trying to come to terms with how this could be. I don't know if there really is an answer.If the accusations against Rader are true, the man responsible for some of the most notorious crimes in Kansas history appeared, from the outside, to be about as average as you can get.The most remarkable thing about Rader, it turns out, is how unremarkable he was. He was just like a lot of people I've met.And that, in the end, may be the creepiest thing of all. [1]: http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/197521
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pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
its chilling. absolutely chilling. and to think that he seemed so normal, and there are hundreds out there right now like him under our radars. thank you for sharing with us.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
I found I knew very little about this BTK killer this morning, so I looked around a little more. Here is some interesting info http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_ki...
So very scary, only through the action of a daughter was this guy caught. Otherwise, it sounded like they had no clue. How long could have this gone on? How many did he really kill? There are monsters in our midst....
lazz (anonymous) says…
i didn't read the crime library post, but for what it's worth, cops are absolutely insisting the daughter didn't turn him in. Angrily insisting, and shoutin' about lawsuits and stuff. (Watch it Toreador, you might get a knock from the wichita cops...)
Apparently they had FBI agents stationed at the police station in the small town in Michigan where the daughter now lives. Once they had Joe Scumbag in custody, FBI immediately (with local cops) went to the daughter's house, Interviewed her, told her what was up, took DNA with her permission. Apparently they were actually checking the DNA to establish proof of who this guy really is -- fear might have been that he might have been living a TOTAL lie ... they more or less did the same thing with his brother, as soon as he was in custody ... sounded like they more or less rounded up as many close relatives as possible after the arrest but before the news exploded. try to get DNA and good, fresh interviews, I guess.
And the Wichita cops are absolutely not budging on what, in fact, it was that finally put them onto Joe Scumbag. but there is a report that the final package he had sent to the local TV station included a purple computer disk, and somehow that computer disc was traced to his church. Though again, the local church leaders are insisting they were never tipped off in advance.
trombeck (Terry Rombeck) says…
Lazz,
From my perspective in the news media, it's always frustrating when police don't release more information about what led to an arrest like this. But at the same time, I can appreciate why hold their cards close. As a former Wichitan, it'll be interesting to see this thing unfold piece bypiece.
Terry
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
when i first read about his arrest CNN.com said he was picked up during a routine traffic stop. dont you think, as residents of the state he was in, that we should know how they got him? dont we have that right?
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
It would seem the information surrounding his capture or what lead to his capture wouldn't compromise anything at this point, but who knows. It usually doesn't come out until much later or at all in most trials.
Hmm,... if they want to drive up to Wichita and come get lil ol me.. I'll bore them to death on the way back...
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
PK: I second Terry on this one. Cops usually hold information close to their vests, and with (mostly) good reason, in a careful bid to make sure they can nail down a case in court. Their sense of timing isn't always that of the media, or of the public.
Not that I haven't gotten pretty irritated a time or two in my crime-coverin' years.
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
i know. and im not going to argue with them on it. who am i to question them, right? it frustrates me too. it reminds me of when an emergency vehicle would roll up in from of my dorm and noone would tell us what was going on. i live there right? i pay them to. why dont i get to know whats happening in what is essentially my home? when my friend fell out of the 8th floor window of hashinger, i had to wait until i could worm it out of my ra while a heliocopter lifted him from the leid center parking lot.
my name, btw, is melissa. i tried to change my anonymity setting but it wont let me. i have nothing to hide.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
Yeah, hard to question them at this point. After not not being able to find him and basically letting him kill, just hoping he would slip up makes them really want to make sure they have him dead to rights. Would hate for someone like that to get off on a technicality.
My job laid off 14 people two weeks ago. We had a big meeting, and no one would tell us who the people were. We had to guess by who was or wasn't there. By the time the meeting was over most of the people were gone, and we never go to say goodbye. Some of them I knew only from work and could never say goodbye. It was horrible. I have no clue what they were trying to protect.
When things leak to the press and people go all crazy time after time, going into a feeding frenzy off of every news tidbit or rumour then can get their hands on, I guess it makes the police leary.
And my name is Mike, I think they try and call you to verify you, and I didn't answer that crazy number ;) oops..
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
they never called me... i think. they have my cell phone number and i havent gotten any 785 calls. i would answer it if i had. i have no bill collectors there (tee hee), only friends.
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says…
Hey people! Melissa darlin, despite the eagerness with which we all await developements on such a lurid and excrutiating case (i lived in and went to college in wichita in the 70's so i can totally relate to the wish to know more) the reason why the cops and DA will not (and cannot) release much information at this point is that to do so can/could (a) jeopardize the case (in call kinds of way, including tainting the jury pool to the point the judge would have to order a change of venue to another locale, even state) and (b) violate the code of conduct by which prosecutors must behave (which forbids trying a case in the press etc.) ANYONE who wants to see Joe Scumbag convicted will just have to hold onto their horses,and follow the trial as it unfolds. The cops and DA's are NOT just being spoil sports. It has taken 31 years to get this guy (and thanks to the DNA evidence it's finally possible) and they don't want anything to go awry in prosecuting him... This is not the time or place to insist on tabloid exposes every day! Go buy a National Inquirer etc. if you have to get your fix of rumors sold as truth!
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says…
PS - There is not constituional right to know in Kansas. We have an open records and meeting law (which applies to certain things) but even that allows closure of criminal investigations (AND medical conditions of our neighbors!). So despite natural human curiousity about what is going on around us (and to other people), we really do NOT have a right to know all that is happening, especially just because we want to know!! It's a balancing test. Harm to the individual and/or justice (from disclosure) versus public good in knowing (usually knowing what your government is up to!).... Balancing act..
greater_good (anonymous) says…
Plus ... And I know this may be a terribly unpopular thing to say, but the less-scary points have already been made ... The accused has a right to privacy, as well. If he didn't, neither would we, should we find ourselves accused of a crime.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
Geesh Ladylaw, you take all the fun out of it. iwanna iwanna iwaanna iwaana.... most of America at any given time. Intersting note though.
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says…
Toreador....It's just the facts. Most people don't take the time to learn the facts before forming opinions. If they FEEL something strongly...then of course it must be so/right!
As confusing and difficult as it often is, most situations aren't nearly as black and white as people would like. I believe the success of some of the more popular "news" shows or print media stories is based upon the MTV presentation of something flashy and easy to grasp. Small words, short sentences. Dazzle em with shocking lurid details. And don't bother to fill in the gaps...their attention span is too short. It's no wonder that many people fall for scam artists so easily! They like being told what they wanted to hear! As evidence of that, how long do you read/listen to a program or blog piece where the message is not one you agree with or like?
As tedious and long-winded as it is to hear both sides, or learn all of the facts, it's often the only way to have an informed opinion or make informed choices.
But not to worry. Most people have no desire to achieve that level of understanding. It's too much work and not nearly as much fun as jumping to fast conclusions! The need for instant gratification is alive and well...and thriving in this country!
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
It is sad, but political campaigns are that, it isn't as much about facts, but catch phrases. Amazing what people will believe. It was on the TV it must be true!
ladylaw (Terry Bush) says…
not just political campaigns, but advertising, "news" stories, rumors, religious beliefs, scientific "facts"...all kinds of things that people believe - with much fervor and surity,and without any basis or information to back it up. It is easier to believe what we want to believe then it is to question, listen, watch....and with luck and time...learn. Crticial thinking skills are endangered to the point of extinction...
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
and why do we believe the orange is orange? Because we are told so......
I agree with you there. Just listening to people outside of you own circle or average joe polls and such really open your eyes to the fact humans are closely related to Lemmings... ;)
kidmystic (anonymous) says…
so let's not be lemmings and freak everyone out. how many people in kansas? and only one BTK killer. yes, these acts are scary and terrible, but let's not let fear rule the day.
quinn (Patrick Quinn) says…
I must defend the noble _L. lemmus_.
Lemmings are considerably more sensible than humans and _do not_ periodically run off cliffs in paroxysms of mindless mass suicide. It's a myth, like George Washington's cherry tree or the hunt for bin Laden.
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
Can't even use old metaphors here ;)
But Walt Disney could never do that, could they? They make films about cute cuddly animals. They could never do something so horrible as that! It is amazing the things a man can do. I feel bad yelling at the cats sometimes....
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
i dont remember freaking out. i dont remember suggesting that fear rule the day. i just said it was chilling and that i would like to know asap the details if i were closer geographically. i understand there are reasons behind what the authorities do, although im unsure of what all of them are. but i did not write what i did to incite panic. i was merely commenting on how the guest writer had such close contact (closer than any of us) with this person who seemed so, for lack of a better word, normal (read: NOT a serial killer).
about the authorities, i have to trust that they will keep us safe to the best of their abilities and if that involves NOT telling us certain facts then so be it. i wasnt jumping the gun assuming they didnt have a good reason for not saying. i was simply saying that while we are encouraged to become involved in our communities there is a startling amount of information that they do NOT was us to know. like i said, so be it. i pay them to keep me safe, right?
toreador (Michael Austin) says…
I don't think you were freaking out much PK, but I think you got us going on what seems to be in the news and papers at the moment. People freaking out! We kind of took it from there. I know I wasn't really pointing any fingers at that time ;)
Freaks me out that people like this exist in communities all around us!
pissykitty (Melissa Lynch) says…
i took a seminar about serial killers in high school. they say that high concentrations of heavy metals can accumulate in the brain, and serial killers tend to have this condition. highly industrial areas breed them the best, which is why BTK confuses me. i dont think of wichita being terribly industrial. and that man in kansas city who stuffed womens bodies into oil drums... if you get out a map and mark the different historical american serial killers you see them near larger cities. chicago, detroit... etc.
awwwww
freak out!
le freak
c'est chic!