Update: Dennis Rader, BTK Serial Killer Not Charged Due to Insufficient Evidence in 1976 Teen's Disappearance

In a recent announcement, an Oklahoma prosecutor revealed that there's insufficient evidence to press charges against the infamous BTK serial killer, Dennis Rader, in connection with the 1976 disappearance of a 16-year-old girl named Cynthia Dawn Kinney. 

Despite law enforcement officials considering Rader a prime suspect in this case, District Attorney Mike Fisher clarified that he's not currently in a position to file charges against Rader.

During a news conference, Fisher mentioned that he is, however, taking the public interest in this cold case seriously. As a result, he has requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to initiate a formal inquiry into Kinney's disappearance. 

If substantial evidence comes to light during this investigation, Fisher expressed his intent to file charges accordingly.

Sheriff's officials from Osage County, including Undersheriff Gary Upton, have recently identified Rader as a "prime suspect" not only in Kinney's disappearance but also in the death of Shawna Beth Garber, whose body was discovered in December 1990 in McDonald County, Missouri.

Dennis Rader, now 78 years old, notoriously carried out a series of killings from 1974 to 1991, earning himself the chilling moniker "BTK," which stands for "bind, torture, and kill." He managed to evade capture for decades, engaging in a cat-and-mouse game with investigators and the media before finally being apprehended in 2005. 

Rader ultimately confessed to 10 murders in the Wichita, Kansas, area, approximately 90 miles north of Pawhuska, and is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences.

Rader's attorney, Rob Ridenour, declined to comment on the matter.

Interestingly, at the time of Kinney's disappearance, a bank was installing new alarms near the laundromat where she was last seen. While Rader worked as a regional installer for the security system company ADT during that period, it remains unconfirmed whether he was involved in installing the bank's security systems. 

Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden revealed that his decision to investigate was triggered by Rader's use of the phrase "bad laundry day" in his writings.

District Attorney Fisher disclosed that he participated in interviews conducted by investigators from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma with Rader approximately 90 days ago. However, the sheriff's office has not shared any physical evidence with the DA's office thus far. 

Fisher emphasized that the information he has received is currently categorized as "rumors" because it lacks substantiation. He stressed that there's no reasonable suspicion at this point.

Fisher also expressed concerns about the sheriff's department's handling of a recent evidence dig at Rader's former property in Park City, Kansas, which led to a strained relationship between him and the sheriff. 

He underscored his desire to seek assistance from the OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) to ensure proper investigative techniques are employed.

Sheriff Virden defended his approach to the investigation in an interview published in the Tulsa World. He recounted a conversation with Rader in prison, where Rader denied killing anyone other than his 10 known victims in Kansas but mentioned that one of his unfulfilled fantasies was to abduct a girl from a laundromat.

Fisher also expressed concern for Kinney's aging parents, who are in their 80s, stating that the renewed speculation surrounding their daughter's disappearance has taken a toll on them. 

While the possibility of Kinney's disappearance being a homicide exists, Fisher emphasized that they can't state this with absolute certainty since there has been no contact with Cynthia Dawn since her disappearance 47 years ago.

In a heart-wrenching incident in Newton County, Georgia, a man has been found guilty of the brutal murder of his own brother. See detailed story here

[SOURCE]