Lawyer Robert Beattie assisted the police during the thirty-year search for the BTK Strangler—and was instrumental in the long-awaited arrest of a suspect. Here he shares his inside knowledge of the case, from its terrifying beginnings to its most up-to-date developments. In 1974 a killer embarked on a murder spree in Wichita, Kansas, counting among his victims, men, women, and children. Longing to join the ranks of the Hillside Stranglers and Black Dahlia killer, the elusive sex murderer taunted authorities and the media with clues, puzzles, and obscene letters. Then in 1979, he vanished. The killings appeared to have stopped, and one of the longest and most baffling manhunts in the annals of crime came to a dead end. But in 2004, a letter—and a grisly clue—arrived at a Wichita paper. And with it, a terrifying implication: BTK was back. The biggest shock of all came when they made their arrest. Now, from his unique vantage point, Robert Beattie tells the complete story of one of the most intriguing and horrifying serial murder cases in American history.
With A Death in Wichita (originally published as The Wichita Divide) New York Times bestselling author Stephen Singular offers an in-depth account of the life and death of a controversial doctor, the debate that sparked his assassination, and the place where two Americas collide On May 31, 2009, Scott Roeder walked into a Wichita church, drew a pistol, and shot Dr. George Tiller at point blank range. Tiller, who was the most public practitioner of late-term abortions in America, had been a lightning rod for controversy, regularly referred to in the conservative media as "Tiller, the Baby Killer." Tiller's death was a pivotal, public murder in a war that has been raging for decades. It's a war of violently opposing ideologies, encompassing abortion, but also questions of privacy, sexuality, and religion. It's being fought in our nation's courtrooms, school and churches, on television sets, at our dinner tables, and in our bedrooms. And more and more, the key battlegrounds are in Kansas, once home to Brown vs. Board of Education and some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. A Death in Wichita is a gripping look at a cold-blooded terrorist action, two men representing opposite ideological extremes, and the region where those violent forces clash. "A disturbing, haunting journey into unrepentant hatred." - Kirkus Reviews
Everyone, it seems, missed the most obvious signs. A childhood filled with poverty, neglect, drugs, pornog-raphy, physical, mental, and sexual abuse, will invaria-bly lead to an adulthood full of greed, lust and vio-lence. No one, however, could have predicted the terror that Reginald and Jonathan Carr, two brothers in Kansas, would inflict on seven unsuspecting men and women over nine days in December 2000. The brother's crime spree included assault, car-jacking, kidnapping, robbery, rape, torture and murder. Their victims, all upstanding members of the Wichita community, were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terror in Wichita: A Story of One Woman's Courage and Her Will to Live, exposes the true story of Jonathan and Reginald Carr. It also reveals the insidious horrors that befell their victims, bringing to life, hour-by-hour and day-by-day, the most egregious mental and physical cruelty imaginable, even to the point of their execution-style murders. The book also tells the story of one woman's refusal to become the ultimate victim, revealing her inner strength and amazing courage. It tells of that woman's endurance and her astonishing rejection of death, at least without assurances that her torturers would be brought to justice for their heinous and cowardly acts. Terror in Wichita is a true crime story that will keep you up at night and compel you to look over your shoulder by day.
The New York Times bestselling author offers an in-depth account of the life and death of a controversial doctor, the debate that sparked his assassination, and the place where two Americas collide On May 31, 2009, Scott Roeder walked into a Wichita church, drew a pistol, and shot Dr. George Tiller at point blank range. Tiller, who was the most public practitioner of late-term abortions in America, had been a lightning rod for controversy, regularly referred to in the conservative media as “Tiller, the Baby Killer.” Tiller’s death was a pivotal, public murder in a war that has been raging for decades. It’s a war of violently opposing ideologies, encompassing abortion, but also questions of privacy, sexuality, and religion. It’s being fought in our nation’s courtrooms, school and churches, on television sets, at our dinner tables, and in our bedrooms. And more and more, the key battlegrounds are in Kansas, once home to Brown vs. Board of Education and some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. This is a gripping look at a cold-blooded terrorist action, two men representing opposite ideological extremes, and the region where those violent forces clash.
Carlton Stowers, the two-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling master of true crime, is back. Scream at the Sky is his masterful chronicle of one man's murderous career, and another man's sworn promise to deliver justice and closure to the people of Texas. Wichita Falls, Texas, was home to a hundred thousand people in the last months of 1984. That winter was harsh, as the normally arid Texas plains gave way to ominous dark clouds that delivered freezing sleet and rain. But a much darker force was looming, and soon the quiet town was besieged by a faceless evil--and its young women were dying because of it. In the next seventeen months five women were found brutally beaten and murdered, their young lives cut short and their bodies left haphazardly where they fell. In the years that followed, grieving families fruitlessly sought answers. A haunted district attorney chased every lead only to meet one dead end after another. And the killer's identity remained unknown to the ravaged townspeople. Then, fourteen years after the killing started, an investigator who had been assigned the cold case brought to it a renewed dedication, and came upon a chance discovery. Searching through the yellowed case files, he caught a minor detail that suggested one more suspect. Faryion Wardrip was an unhappily married family man who drowned his anger in substance abuse and violent fantasies. But for five unfortunate families, the drugs sometimes took over and the fantasies became realities. Investigator John Little followed his instincts and tirelessly ruled out every possibility until he was left with but one conclusion: Faryion Wardrip was the serial killer who had eluded his office for so long. How he tracked down Wardrip and used the legal system to beat the killer at his own game of deception is a remarkable story of justice served.
Cary Mackin is a TV journalist who has covered crime for nearly twenty years. After losing her job she moves to a small town in Connecticut—only to get caught up in the web of a deranged serial killer. Cary has a dark secret that drives everything she does: a deep-seated, lifelong fear that one day she will be murdered. As the madman Cary stumbled upon continues to terrorize the beautiful countryside where she now resides, will her premonition come true? “Premonition…a psycho-thriller roller coaster ride that probes the dark corners of one woman’s seemingly overwhelming paranoia…or is it? From a crime and justice expert, Premonition nails every detail of the criminal mind, the hunter and the hunted. Premonition is full of twists and surprises…I love it! Bravo!” —Nancy Grace, Founder, CrimeOnline.com, Host of CrimeStories on Fox Nation, Sirius XM, and NYT Bestselling Author “My friend and colleague at Court TV, Wendy Whitman, has created a compelling psychological thriller filled with shocking twists that captivate the reader to the very end—and wanting more. Whitman takes daring literary risks with a complex character, Cary Mackin, and her haunting premonition that she will one day be murdered. Driven by her foreboding fear, Mackin deploys extraordinary investigative and forensic skills to track down the man she sees as the killer…before he strikes again—at her! Whitman weaves plot, personality, and prose in a high-octane suspense that will give you paper cuts as you quickly turn the pages. Premonition offers a gripping storyline…and a chilling chase to an ending that you never expected.” —Gregg Jarrett, Network Legal Analyst and Bestselling Author “Whitman’s debut novel is sure to be a great read for true crime fans. If there is anyone best suited to write a book about the reality of evil in this crazy world we live in, it’s Whitman. Her book is unique because although fiction, it so mirrors reality that each page hits home more and more. Having been in the criminal law arena for fifty-five years and having dealt with two notorious serial killer cases, Whitman’s novel captures all aspects of the utter insanity of the criminal mind. In this world of Covid, we all need some respite and a great book is just what the doctor ordered.” —Gerald P. Boyle, Attorney, Represented Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer “Chilling and original, Premonition is a brilliant debut thriller from Wendy Whitman, an insider whose deep knowledge of crime and the law has created a platform for suspenseful storytelling. Taut and fast-paced, Whitman’s tale, and her unique central character, combine to create a riveting plot that drives the story to its stunning conclusion.” —Jack Ford, Emmy and Peabody Award–Winning Journalist and Bestselling Author of Chariot on the Mountain “All of those cases on Court TV certainly permeated the mind of producer Wendy Whitman. Her book is a truly breathless thriller through every twist and turn. A stellar debut novel with a terrific female heroine!” —Rikki Klieman, Attorney and CBS News Legal Analyst “A unique psychological thriller that weaves true crime into a plot that keeps the reader captivated from the very first page. A bold, heartfelt debut novel from an author who has created one of the most complex and provocative heroines in recent memory. A perfect read sure to keep you up at night.” —Rita Cosby, Emmy-Winning TV Host and Bestselling Author of Quiet Hero “The decades of Wendy Whitman’s focus and dedication to the crime and justice genre shine through each page, as she spins the yarn in this gripping crime tale. Speaking from experience that has imbued her with personal knowledge of the inner workings of hundreds of criminal minds, she is an authoritative voice in telling crime stories…because she has lived through reporting some of the most disturbing ones in American history. Brava, Wendy!” —Ashleigh Banfield, Court TV Special Contributor and Host of Judgment with Ashleigh Banfield “Wendy Whitman’s debut novel is more than a crime story. Readers will identify with some of her protagonist’s obsessions including food choices (‘borderline vegan’) and her love for animals. Peppered throughout the book are safety tips drawn from actual cases Whitman learned from years covering criminal trials at Court TV where she rose from a producer to a programming executive. There’s something for everyone in Premonition.” —Beth Karas, Former Prosecutor and Host of Oxygen’s Snapped: Notorious “Gripping, suspenseful, and thoughtful, Premonition gives a behind the scenes look at the dangers that surround us as we go about our daily lives. If you’re looking for a crime thriller to get lost in, this is it.” —Dr. Robi Ludwig, Psychotherapist, TV Personality, and Author
A memoir of hope, healing, and survival, sure to resonate with fans of Jaycee Dugard’s A Stolen Life and Elizabeth Smart’s My Story. On August 28, 1997, just as she was starting her junior year at the University of Kentucky, Holly Dunn and her boyfriend, Chris Maier, were walking along railroad tracks on their way home from a party when they were attacked by notorious serial killer Angel Maturino Reséndiz, aka The Railroad Killer. After her boyfriend is beaten to death in front of her, Holly is stabbed, raped, and left for dead. In this memoir of survival and healing from a horrific true crime, Holly recounts how she lived through the vicious assault, helped bring her assailant to justice, and ultimately found meaning and purpose through service to victims of sexual assault and other violent crimes. She has worked as a motivational speaker and activist and founded Holly's House, a safe and nurturing space in her hometown of Evansville, Indiana.
The FBI profiler & co-author of the #1 New York Times–bestseller Mindhunter recounts his role in catching one of America’s most notorious serial killers. Inside the Mind of BTK tells the incredible true story of how FBI profiler John Douglas tracked and participated in the hunt for one of the most notorious serial killers in US history. For thirty-one years a man who called himself BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) terrorized the city of Wichita, Kansas, sexually assaulting and strangling a series of victims, taunting the police with cryptic communications, and bragging about his vicious crimes to local newspapers and television stations. After disappearing for nine years, he suddenly reappeared, complaining that no one was paying enough attention to him and claiming that he had committed other crimes for which he had not been given credit. When he was finally captured, BTK was revealed to be Dennis Rader, a sixty-one-year-old churchgoing, married man with two children. As a leading serial killer profiler for the FBI, John Douglas was first called to consult about the case in 1980 and remained involved with the story and all of its principal players up to the arrest and prosecution. After Rader was arrested, Douglas was granted both an exclusive interview with the killer after his sentencing, as well as access to friends, family, and police. In this page-turning book, Douglas reveals both new information and insight into why Rader did what he did, why he stopped for a mysterious nine-year period, and his current psychological state in custody. Praise for Inside the Mind of BTK “Legendary profiler and bestselling author Douglas (Mindhunter), who pioneered the FBI’s systematic study of serial killers, offers his insights into one of this country’s most chilling killers—Dennis Rader, a seemingly innocuous family man and municipal employee, whose brutal murders terrorized Wichita, Kans., for three decades. . . . While the stomach-turning story of BTK's crimes has been told by others, Douglas's unique professional experience and his exclusive personal access to Rader offers a different perspective, even as the answer to the question of how such a monster comes to be remains elusive.” —Publishers Weekly “Riveting! Douglas and Dodd have focused a laser sight on one of the most fascinating and disturbing serial killers of our time. Their in-depth analysis of BTK’s early childhood, his seemingly “normal” everyday life, and his shockingly well-hidden “other” life deftly explores the nature of evil and how we can better protect ourselves from such cunning predators.” ―Lisa Gardner, New York Times–bestselling suspense author of Hide
What is it like to learn that your ordinary, loving father is a serial killer? Discover the true story behind the BTK killer, as told by those closest to him. In 2005, Kerri Rawson opened the door of her apartment to greet an FBI agent who shared the shocking news that her father had been arrested for murdering ten people, including two children. That's also when she first learned that her father was the notorious serial killer known as BTK, a name he'd given himself that described the horrific way he committed his crimes: bind, torture, kill. As news of his capture spread, the city of Wichita celebrated the end of a thirty-one-year nightmare. For Kerri Rawson, another was just beginning. In the weeks and years that followed, Kerri was plunged into a black hole of horror and disbelief. The same man who had been a loving father, a devoted husband, church president, Boy Scout leader, and a public servant had been using their family as a cover for his heinous crimes since before she was born. Everything she had believed about her life had been a lie. Written with candor and extraordinary courage, A Serial Killer's Daughter is an unflinching exploration of life with one of America's most infamous killers and an astonishing tale of personal and spiritual transformation. A Serial Killer's Daughter will give you the encouragement you need to learn how to: Pick up the pieces of your life when everything falls apart Begin to heal from the long-lasting effects of violence Trust that light will overcome the darkness Kerri Rawson's story offers the hope of reclaiming sanity in the midst of madness, rebuilding a life in the shadow of death, and learning to forgive the unforgivable.
