20: BTK: The Identity Dennis Rader Built

About this episode

This episode explores the identity that Dennis Rader constructed as BTK through direct contact and correspondence with him.

“BTK” is one of the most recognizable names in true crime. But it’s also a name that Dennis Rader created. In this episode, I’m not just looking back at the investigation—I’m speaking to people who have been in direct contact with Rader, hearing from those who have corresponded with him, studied him, and, in some cases, continue to engage with him to this day. And what becomes clear very quickly… is that “BTK” isn’t just a label. It’s a carefully constructed identity—one that Rader has spent decades shaping, protecting, and reinforcing. From the way he named himself…to the letters, phone calls, and communications that followed…to how he still presents himself now. In this episode, we break down how Dennis Rader built the identity of BTK—and why, years later, we may still be playing along. Check out my friends Olivia and Sydney at True Crime Society Podcast. They cover everything true crime—from missing people and cold cases to the latest breaking news. If you want to follow the cases as I’m working on them, you can find me on Instagram — @jamesbuddyday If you want to go deeper into the Charles Manson case, my book Charles Manson: The Last Words documents years researching the…

People in this episode

Host: James Buddy Day

Topics covered

• BTK
• Dennis Rader
• true crime
• identity
• investigation
• correspondence

Keywords

• BTK
• Dennis Rader
• true crime
• identity
• investigation
• letters
• phone calls

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: True Crime Society Podcast

Books & works: Charles Manson: The Last Words

More episodes of UNMARKED: A True Crime Podcast

• 26: Clifford Olson: The Killer Who Sold Bodies · June 10, 2026 · 50 min
• 25: Wayne Williams: Psychopath or Scapegoat? · June 3, 2026 · 56 min
• 24: Erin Caffey: Who Was Really Responsible? · May 27, 2026 · 55 min
• 23: John Wayne Gacy: What His Death Row Attorney Discovered · May 20, 2026 · 58 min
• 22: The Happy Face Killer: Psychopathy, Control, and Confession · May 13, 2026 · 48 min
• 21: Joel Rifkin: What the Psychologist Discovered · May 6, 2026 · 54 min