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BTK Killer Denies Involvement in Cold Case of Missing Girl

Dennis Rader is being investigated by police over Cynthia Kinney, but he insists he was not responsible for her 1976 disappearance.

Cynthia Dawn Kinney, missing since 1976 (Images: NamUs)

It has emerged that the serial killer Dennis Rader, better known for his self-appointed ‘BTK’ moniker, is being investigated by police for a second time over the unsolved 1976 disappearance of a young cheerleader.

Cynthia Dawn Kinney, 16, was last seen working at a laundromat owned by her aunt and uncle in Osage, Oklahoma on 23rd June 1976. Her purse, a drink and a half-finished doughnut were discovered on the premises, but there was no sign of her and she was never seen again.

Witnesses said they saw her at around 9:30 AM getting into a beige 1965 Plymouth Belvedere vehicle with two people, although statements varied as to whether they were two men or a man and a woman.

Now, 78-year-old Rader has told Fox News Digital from prison that investigators from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office have visited him twice concerning the cold case.

“Sheriff from Oklahoma … is pursuing a case against me … regarding a missing girl on June 23, 1976. Her name is Cynthia Dawn Kinney, presumed a kidnapped and missing case. I signed the Miranda on Friday. Yet to be arrested,” he reportedly said.

However, Rader denies any involvement in Cynthia’s disappearance and has laid out an alibi pointing out that the timing doesn’t match up with his confirmed murders.

For instance, he told Fox Cynthia went missing before he started leading Boy Scout camping trips in Oklahoma in the 1980s, plus the security services firm he worked for did not send him close to Osage at the time of the alleged kidnapping.

“The sheriff has what I call complete lack of solid evidence,” he added.

Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden refused to comment on an active investigation and would not reveal what has led investigators back to Rader after all this time.

“An investigation is an investigation; sometimes they go places. There may be some things that we felt like we need to look into, and we’re following up on those,” he told Fox News Digital.

Rader’s own daughter Kerri Rawson told the news provider she thinks her father is likely to be telling the truth about his lack of involvement, as he has been forthcoming about his own ten confirmed crimes since he was captured and convicted in 2005.

‘BTK’ murdered eight adults and two children during a 17-year reign of terror in Wichita, and he was active around two hours’ drive away from where Cynthia went missing. He is currently serving ten consecutive life sentences at a prison in Kansas.

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Verity Partington
Verity Partington

Written by Verity Partington

A writer and author of crime thrillers living in the UK. Partial to books, stationery, papercrafts and walking. You can find her books on Amazon here: https://a

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