House of BTK Serial Killer Sells at Auction for $90,000
The suburban house where Dennis L. Rader quietly raised his family while terrorizing Wichita as the BTK serial killer was sold at auction Monday for $90,000, far above its assessed value.
The buyers, who declined to identify themselves other than to say they were real estate investors, said they hoped that all the proceeds would go to Rader’s wife and two grown children.
The bidding, which started at $40,000, was over in about 15 minutes.
Byron Jones, an Andover resident who offered $60,000 before dropping out of the bidding, said he would have sold the house “inch by inch” on the Internet.
“This guy is famous for what he has done,” Jones said. “I guarantee his house will bring many thousands of dollars -- selling it piece by piece.”
The auction was held in Rader’s backyard Monday night. Rader, 60, pleaded guilty last month to killing 10 people in the Wichita area from 1974 to 1991. He called himself BTK, for “Bind, Torture, Kill,” and sent taunting messages to police about the crimes -- the same messages that eventually led to his arrest in February.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
