Who is Paula Dietz?
Paula Dietz is an American bookkeeper, however, she is best known to the world as the ex-wife of the infamous BTK Killer, real name Dennis Rader. The two were married for over 30 years, before he was arrested by police for gruesome murders, killing ten people during his spree that lasted from 1974 until 1991.
Paula Dietz Bio- Age, Childhood, Career
Paula Dietz was born on the 5th May 1948, in Park City, Kansas USA; she has spent her entire childhood in her hometown, but hasn’t spoken about her parents and siblings if any.
Also, she hasn’t disclosed her education.
Paula has worked as a bookkeeper her whole life, except for a brief time when she moved out of Park City when her husband was arrested for murder. Nevertheless, she has since returned to her hometown and is living a simple life far away from the media buzz. She has only become popular because of her ex-husband’s notoriety.
Paula Dietz and Dennis Rader Relationship, Marriage, Children
Dennis moved to Park City following the end of his service in the US Air Force, in which he spent four years between 1966 and 1970, and started working at the meat department of a Leekers IGA supermarket. Paula and Dennis soon met each other and started a romantic relationship, and soon decided to marry; the wedding ceremony was held on the 22nd May 1971. The couple subsequently welcomed two children, a daughter Kerri and a son Brian.
After some time, Dennis got a job as an assembler at an outdoor supply company, then from 1974 to 1988 he worked for ADT Security Services at their Wichita office. This allowed him to inspect the neighborhood, and visit the houses of his future victims.
Paula didn’t have a clue about her husband’s murderous personality and his killing spree, and the whole family had a good name in the society. However, once all was revealed, Paula had no other option than to leave her husband, seeking an emergency divorce, and she and her children left Kansas to avoid public scrutiny.
She has never visited her ex-husband in jail, and didn’t even attended the court proceedings. However, according to Rader, his wife has occasionally sent him letters since his incarceration.
Paula Dietz Ex-Husband, Dennis Rader
Born Dennis Lynn Rader on the 9th March 1945 in Pittsburgh, Kansas USA, he is best known to the world as serial killer BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill). He is the son of William Elvin Rader and his wife Dorothea Mae (nee Cook). He has three siblings, Paul Jeff, and Bill. From an early age, Dennis started displaying his sadistic nature, as he would torture and kill small animals.
He would cross-dress and spy on women in his neighborhood, disguised in women’s clothing. His sexual fantasies were even worse, but kept (mostly) hidden, and the neighbors thought of him as friendly and polite. He enrolled at Kansas Wesleyan University, but quit after a year, due to mediocre grades. He would eventually obtain a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice in 1979 from Wichita State University.
Killing Spree, Arrest
Inspecting the neighborhood as a security alarms installer, he visited numerous houses which enabled him easy entrance into those houses.
His first murder victims were members of the Otero family; he killed Joseph, his wife Julie, and their two children, Joseph Jr., and Josephine. His killing spree lasted until 1991 and 10 victims were discovered, though he tried to kill several others, but without success. He was free until February 2005; the BTK Killer case was considered a cold case, but he started sending letters to the local media, describing his murderous acts with the tiniest details. He was eventually arrested on the 25th February 2005 while in his car near his home.
At the site, the police officer asked him if Dennis knows the reason why he is being taken to the police station, and he replied with “Oh, I have suspicions why”. He was working on his eleventh murder at the time of his arrest, following his next victim for months, before actualizing his plan, luckily folied by the police prior to making his plan a reality. Charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder, he first pleaded not guilty, but later changed his statement and described all the murders. He didn’t make a single apology to victims’ families.
Dennis was sentenced to 10 consecutive life sentences with a minimum of 175 years. He is currently serving his sentence at the El Dorado Correctional Facility in Prospect Township, Kansas.
During his psychological evaluation, the ‘popular’ BTK Killer was diagnosed with narcissistic, antisocial, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.
His daughter Kerri, published the book “A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming”, in which she has written about her childhood, and her inability to cope with the double life her father had led.
, Wikipedia