BTK arrest
If you live in the U.S. and pay attention to news, you've probably heard about the "BTK" guy accused of 10 Kansas killings. What made this suspect stand out was the fact that he communicated with the media and law enforcement, then went silent for 25 years until resurfacing a year ago. Well, police say they've finally captured the man who gave himself the "Blind, Torture, Kill" nickname. Not only was the man involved with his church, but he was also a city employee who was recognized last year for 10 years of service.The story is all over the place, and a search on Google News for BTK already yields 1,290 results. A similar search for the suspect's name, Dennis Rader, brings up 110 results, but I expect both numbers to increase drastically as the news spreads.
What I find interesting is the message board run by the Wichita Eagle newspaper. The reactions are almost all ones of happiness and relief, since most of the posters are locals who worried that the killings might resume. Some are praising the police, some are asking why it took so long, but nearly all are united in one thing: Out of compassion, they're not naming the suspect's grown children. Nobody has told them not to post the names, and it's certainly not an issue of juvenile privacy. However, the posters (most of whom don't seem to be affiliated with the newspaper) are trying not to victimize the suspect's children. I find that both impressive and surprising.
(Note: Comments still aren't being posted, though if you make a comment, preview and then post it, I get it in my e-mail. Of course, it might be simpler to just e-mail me...)
Posted by Layla at 11:38 AM, February 26, 2005
— Comments —