Osage Co Undersheriff Gives Tony The Latest On BTK Investigation Part 2

In a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, host Tony Brueski delves deep into the investigation surrounding the 1976 disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, which may now have ties to the infamous BTK killer, Dennis Rader.

Osage County Undersheriff Gary Upton detailed new evidence, providing an inside look into the investigation. The discovery of leggings on Rader's former property in Park City, Kansas, has raised more questions. "Those leggings have been sent in for DNA testing to try and determine who they may belong to," Brueski posed, highlighting the uncertainty if they could be linked to an unsolved case or one of the ten Rader has been convicted of. Upton revealed that the DNA testing hasn't begun yet, but they're in the process of accessing other potential evidence held by the Wichita PD.

The involvement of a National Task Force was mentioned, indicating the gravity of the investigation. The task force aims to expedite the process by using their resources to analyze multiple pieces of evidence simultaneously.

Upton also touched upon the controversy surrounding the display of the leggings in public. "For us, there was particular value in gaining some traction in the media... and Dennis Rader hears and sees everything from the outside," he noted. This strategy aimed to get a reaction from Rader, who remains observant of media coverage related to him.

Rader's peculiar behavior, including giving everyone he interacts with a "project name," was discussed. While not all these projects pertained to murder, it shed light on the killer's mindset. He tends to equate mundane tasks, like grocery shopping, to heinous acts like killing.

Significant emphasis was laid on Rader's journals, which are believed to contain intricate details about his crimes and possibly more unsolved cases. One such clue leading investigators to Rader's former residence was a letter he wrote years ago, possibly to a love interest. Upton surmised, "In the case of a love interest, I think he let his guard down and said too much."

The ongoing effort to locate a specific barn, frequently depicted in Rader's drawings, was addressed. This barn could be crucial in determining locations where Rader might have committed other crimes. Upton emphasized, "We do know that he has a particular barn style that he's very fond of." Efforts are in motion to review old aerial photography and satellite imagery to identify potential sites, with nearly 100 locations still pending investigation.

The article takes a dark turn when Upton highlights the urgency of the case. "Time is not on our side because [Rader] is 78 and his health is frail... we just think it's a matter of time," he said. With many unsolved mysteries still linked to Rader, the race against time is evident, not only due to Rader's health but also to bring closure to the victims' families.

The question remains: with nobody discovered in Cynthia Dawn Kinney's case and only circumstantial evidence connecting Rader to the scene, can investigators conclusively link him to her disappearance?
While the path to truth remains thorny, one thing is certain - Dennis Rader's reign of terror may yet hold unrevealed secrets. And as investigators delve deeper, the haunting question lingers: how many more victims of the BTK killer remain undiscovered?
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