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CNN Live Today

Eyewitness to Tragedy; Back on Ice; BTK Suspect Scheduled for Court Appearance

Aired March 01, 2005 - 11:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And here we go. Michael Jackson arriving at the courthouse just a short time ago. It looks like it's just a one-umbrella day, As the first prosecution witness takes the stand today in the pop star's child molestation trial. Journalist Martin Bashir is expected to testify about a documentary on Jackson. First, Jackson's attorney finishes his opening statement. The trial resumes just minutes from now. We bring you coverage.
Also, XM Satellite Radio is raising prices by 30 percent. Basic service will go from $9.99 a month to $12.95. The increase puts XM on par with competitor Sirius. XM leads its rival with 3 million subscribers, and is shooting for 20 million by the year 2010.

President Bush is promoting his faith-based initiatives today. Religious and civic leaders around the country are in Washington to discuss ways to get church groups more involved in social work. The president calls them armies of compassion.

And in the Senate today, Judiciary Committee is taking up nominees who are getting a second crack at the federal bench. President Bush resubmitted their names after Democrats blocked the vote on the nominees earlier.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Dennis Rader is accused of being the BTK killer. He is expected to make a court appearance in Kansas in about 30 minutes. Last night on CNN, one man talked about watching the BTK killer murder his own mother. We must warn you, it's an interview with graphic details that could be disturbing. The man's name, Steve Relford. He was 5-years-old back in 1977 when his mother, Shirley Vian, was killed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: I know this is a painful thing for you to do, but take us back to March 17, 1977 and describe to us what happened to you that day.

STEVE RELFORD, SON OF BTK VICTIM: My mother was sick. She didn't feel well, so she sent me to the store for some soup. On my way back from the store, this man stopped me, shows me a picture, asked me did I know who it was. I told him, no, sir. He said, are you sure? Look at it again. I told him, no, sir, I didn't know who it was. So he let me go. I went on to my house and he went to my neighbors. About 10 minutes go by, he comes knocking on my door. Me and my brother raced to the door. I beat my brother. I let the my mom -- I let BTK in my house. He asked where my mother was and where my parents were. My mom's sick in bed. So, immediately, he starts pulling down the blinds, turns off the TV, reaches in his shoulder holster and pulls out a pistol. About that time, my mother steps to the bedroom door.

About that time, the phone rang. I asked, mom, do you want me to answer it? No. Leave it alone, he said. Then I asked mom. She said, no, leave it alone. Do as he says. So I did.

My brother and sister, they start tripping out. He told my mom to put some toys and blankets in the bathroom for us kids. So we did. After that, he took a rope, tied one of the doors shut at the door knob to under the sink, pushed the bed up against the other door, stripped my mother, taped her hands behind her back, plastic bag over her head and rope tied around her neck.

My brother breaks a window. My sister and brother was tripping out. So was I. I told him that I was going to untie the rope from underneath the sink. He told me, if I did, he'd blow my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) head off.

ZAHN: Did he have any idea you were watching him?

RELFORD: No.

ZAHN: And how were you able to see at that point with both bathroom doors tethered to ropes?

RELFORD: There was the bathtub. I stood on it. There was a crack above the door. I peeked over it.

ZAHN: And, at this point, he's already threatened you. Weren't you afraid of making any noises that would draw attention to the fact that you had moved?

RELFORD: My brother and sister was already tripping out, so it didn't matter if I brought noise or not.

ZAHN: So they were screaming? They were yelling?

RELFORD: Yes.

ZAHN: When this man showed you the picture of a child with a woman, to this day, do you know who was in that picture?

RELFORD: I have that picture. It's me and my mother.

ZAHN: So when he showed you the picture of a woman and a child, you knew that was your mom?

RELFORD: No. At that time, no, I did not. My grandparents had a picture just like it, I found out about six or eight years later when I seen that picture. I told my grandparents, that's the picture that that man showed me.

ZAHN: When you saw pictures of Dennis Rader today, was there any doubt in your mind that he is the man you ran into in the neighborhood and then later the man came knocking on your door?

RELFORD: There is no doubt in my mind. Dennis Rader is BTK, as far as I am concerned.

ZAHN: You've lived with the fear that perhaps this crime would never be solved. Is there any sense of relief for you today?

RELFORD: There is, but there's not. And the reason I say that is because he is not convicted.

ZAHN: So, Steve, I know, if you had the chance to talk with the man police think killed your mother, you'd want him to answer a couple of questions. You'd want him to answer, where did you get that picture? What else would you like to know?

RELFORD: What possessed him to kill my mother and these other innocent folks out here? He had no right.

ZAHN: Steve, I know today, as many days have been for you, has been just horrible. And you went back to the home where your mother was murdered for the very first time. Why was that important for you to go back to that home?

RELFORD: I think just to reassure in my mind and repicture Dennis Rader's face.

ZAHN: Were you able to do that?

RELFORD: And I did.

ZAHN: You were able to do that?

RELFORD: Yes.

ZAHN: How hard was it for you to go back?

RELFORD: It was very difficult, very hard to deal with. But I had to do it for me.

ZAHN: Why?

RELFORD: And my mother.

ZAHN: Tell me why.

RELFORD: Satisfy my own curiosity, if I remembered what I thought I remembered. And I did.

ZAHN: How did the brutal murder of your mother, a murder which you witnessed, change you?

RELFORD: Made me rebel against everything I ever believed in, turned me into an alcoholic, a drug addict, tattooed up. I would never have been like this if my mother was still living.

ZAHN: I know one of the tougher things for you has been the fact that you were just a little boy at the time this happened, and there really was nothing you could have done to stop this man from coming into your home, but is that something that you play over and over again in your head?

RELFORD: Yes, I do.

ZAHN: What do you see when you remember that horrible afternoon?

RELFORD: The last appearance of my mother laying face down with a plastic bag over her head, rope tied around her neck, all the fingers in her hands broken, her hands taped behind her back. That's what I remember.

ZAHN: Is there any way you'll ever really have peace in your life?

RELFORD: No.

ZAHN: Steve, I know how difficult this has been for you to relive these very, very dark hours. And we very much appreciate your joining us tonight and wish you a lot of luck as you try to -- with this next chapter of your life.

RELFORD: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Our coverage of the capture of the alleged BTK killer continues throughout the day.

SANCHEZ: Yes, at the top of the hour, we're going to take you live to Dennis Rader's first court hearing in Wichita, Kansas.

Stay with us. We've got a whole lot more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Hard to believe, but it's been three years since she skated into our living rooms and into our hearts, and into history. Sarah Hughes, gold medal winner in figure skating in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Now after some time away going to Yale, Hughes is back on ice with a new skating tour and she's with us this morning.

Good morning, Sarah.

SARAH HUGHES, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST FIGURE SKATER: Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: It is great to have you here.

Now, last I remember of your story, you were saying, well, thank you for that gold medal, skating world, bye-bye, I'm going off to have a real life. HUGHES: Yes, well, I spent a year at Yale. First, actually, I went back to high school, and I was a junior when I won, so I went to the senior year. I was in the school play. I graduated, and...

KAGAN: Did you go to prom?

HUGHES: I did, I went to prom.

KAGAN: OK, OK.

HUGHES: I had a great time. It was my best friend from high school. And I spent a year at Yale. I had a phenomenal time. And you know, I was missing skating a little bit. So I went on tour. Now I'm on a 60-city tour with Smucker's Stars on Ice. We just finished show 33, and so we have 27 left, and I'm having a phenomenal time, and with the other Olympic Champions from salt lake, and we just have a lot of fun.

KAGAN: Speaking of the Olympics, are you done with the Olympics? Any continued skating in 2006?

HUGHES: 2006, I know, it's next year. I mean, I'm not really sure. I don't see me going back for 2006. I mean, I was toying with the idea a little bit after the first Olympics, but, I mean, you know, my life has changed so much and I'm still adjusting to that. And I'm still, you know, growing up and making decisions for the future. So, I mean, it may happen. But I doubt it. Maybe for 2010.

KAGAN: OK. That's still out there. And when you win so young, I guess you have those options out there. Getting back on the ice, what has been the biggest challenge?

HUGHES: Well, this tour's very challenging because it's about two and a half hour show. And, I mean, there's so much traveling involved. It's like five cities a week. And I mean, you know, I'm on the ice nine times about. I think I do seven costume changes. And, you know, it's a lot of skating. But you know what, this is the best tour there is. And I've never been with a mor talented group of people.

KAGAN: So this fits your life now. Because when you look at really what skating takes, it's really kind of a young girl's game. And not to call you an old lady, Sarah, I would not be doing that, but do you kind of look back in awe of the commitment you made at such a young age to achieve what you did?

HUGHES: I mean, I've spent my whole life skating, so that is why I took those two years to finish high school and go to college and see what I wanted to do. And you know what, I missed skating. And to have the opportunity to skate on this tour, and to go around the country was -- I just couldn't pass it up. It was something I really wanted to do. But you know, I'm 19 years old. The next Olympics I'll only be 24. Well, 2006 I'll be 20, 2010 I'll be 24. So, I mean, it's not young for skating, but that's probably about a normal age, I'd say. KAGAN: You're doing just great, making good choices and enjoying your life. Thanks for stopping by. And good luck with the skating tour, as it takes you around the country.

HUGHES: Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Gold medal winner Sarah Hughes. Thank you, Sarah.

SANCHEZ: Boy, she seems pleasant.

KAGAN: Yes, always was. Always looked like a nice young lady.

SANCHEZ: New do, too.

KAGAN: We girls do that from time to time, as your wife will tell you, as well.

SANCHEZ: I'm very much aware of that.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Well, the alleged BTK killer is due in court just about -- well, probably in about ten minutes.

KAGAN: Yes, well actually, via video camera he'll be in court. We're going to bring you live coverage as soon as that happens. Will putting the alleged BTK killer behind bars give peace and closure to victims and the community? When we come back, we take a look at the life of Dennis Rader.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: CNN will go live to Wichita, Kansas, in just a few moments. The accused BTK serial killer, Dennis Rader, will have his first court appearance, a video hook-up from the Wichita jail. We expect to see the court appoint an attorney for Rader. He's being held on a $10 million bond, accused in ten killings.

SANCHEZ: Let's examine this part of this story. If Dennis Rader is indeed the BTK killer, as police are now charging, he appeared to be a model citizen. A by-the-book city worker, as he's described. A guy next to you in the church pew every Sunday. A father, a Boy Scout troop leader. CNN's Jonathan Freed has been looking into Rader's background.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If the allegations are true, then Dennis Rader has led a double life for 30 years, managing to hide in plain sight. Since police accused him of being Wichita's infamous serial killer, the BTK Strangler, people who know him are struggling to figure out who he really is.

DEE STUART, EX-CITY COUNSELOR: This is the man that we knew as our compliance officer, the man I would speak to at City Hall. I don't know that man. FREED: Dee Stuart is a former city counselor in Rader's home of Park City, just north of Wichita. She used to see Rader around City Hall, where they'd give each other a friendly wave. Rader worked as the compliance officer, telling people to put their trash cans away and working as the dog catcher. Stuart is running for mayor and a few days before he was arrested, Rader stopped by her house to inform her some campaign signs were illegally placed.

(on camera): When he rang your doorbell last week, would you have let him in?

STUART: Yes, absolutely. He wasn't BTK, he was Dennis Rader. He was somebody I knew.

FREED (voice-over): Rader is known for being a real stickler with rules, which was, after all, his job. But some say he overdid it. One neighbor felt harassed by Rader and his rule book.

ERIC LOWRY, NEIGHBOR: We've been doing it for 13 years. It's just like a normal thing, you know. I'm glad it's over. You know, I don't care if he's BTK or what, he's gone. He's not going to bother me anymore, so that's good for me.

FREED (on camera): We're trying to answer the question who is this guy? What's your impression of him?

DANNY SAVILLE, LAWYER: He didn't like to lose.

FREED (voice-over): Danny Saville is a lawyer who challenged Dennis Rader in court a few years ago.

SAVILLE: He was very, very focused on winning.

FREED: So focused, Saville says, that Rader had prepared an inch thick document, complete with photos, for a couple of $25 dog fines.

SAVILLE: I could see him killing a dog in a heartbeat. I mean, he was the dog catcher, you know, and he seemed very cold, very meticulous.

FREED: Rader was recently elected president of his church, a Lutheran congregation now stunned, unable to comprehend that the scout master, husband and father of two might be the murderer they've been praying for years would be caught.

PASTOR MICHAEL CLARK, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH: He was kind of a soft-spoken person, a person who people respected, and he was there. He responded to people. I saw him interact with people every Sunday morning in church in a very positive, healthy way.

FREED: Many here feel, regardless of whether or not he's found guilty, that the accusations have already taken away the man they knew.

STUART: This is black magic. It's there. He's there and then he's gone. FREED: Jonathan Freed, CNN, Wichita, Kansas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Our coverage continues on BTK. As we said, he's expected to make his first court appearance in a matter of minutes. But that's going to do it for us.

SANCHEZ: Yes, he's going to be appearing on closed circuit, we should add. And Wolf Blitzer's going to be covering that part of the story. He's joining us now. I'm Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Wolf, you take it from here.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired March 1, 2005 - 11:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And here we go. Michael Jackson arriving at the courthouse just a short time ago. It looks like it's just a one-umbrella day, As the first prosecution witness takes the stand today in the pop star's child molestation trial. Journalist Martin Bashir is expected to testify about a documentary on Jackson. First, Jackson's attorney finishes his opening statement. The trial resumes just minutes from now. We bring you coverage.
Also, XM Satellite Radio is raising prices by 30 percent. Basic service will go from $9.99 a month to $12.95. The increase puts XM on par with competitor Sirius. XM leads its rival with 3 million subscribers, and is shooting for 20 million by the year 2010.

President Bush is promoting his faith-based initiatives today. Religious and civic leaders around the country are in Washington to discuss ways to get church groups more involved in social work. The president calls them armies of compassion.

And in the Senate today, Judiciary Committee is taking up nominees who are getting a second crack at the federal bench. President Bush resubmitted their names after Democrats blocked the vote on the nominees earlier.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Dennis Rader is accused of being the BTK killer. He is expected to make a court appearance in Kansas in about 30 minutes. Last night on CNN, one man talked about watching the BTK killer murder his own mother. We must warn you, it's an interview with graphic details that could be disturbing. The man's name, Steve Relford. He was 5-years-old back in 1977 when his mother, Shirley Vian, was killed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: I know this is a painful thing for you to do, but take us back to March 17, 1977 and describe to us what happened to you that day.

STEVE RELFORD, SON OF BTK VICTIM: My mother was sick. She didn't feel well, so she sent me to the store for some soup. On my way back from the store, this man stopped me, shows me a picture, asked me did I know who it was. I told him, no, sir. He said, are you sure? Look at it again. I told him, no, sir, I didn't know who it was. So he let me go. I went on to my house and he went to my neighbors. About 10 minutes go by, he comes knocking on my door. Me and my brother raced to the door. I beat my brother. I let the my mom -- I let BTK in my house. He asked where my mother was and where my parents were. My mom's sick in bed. So, immediately, he starts pulling down the blinds, turns off the TV, reaches in his shoulder holster and pulls out a pistol. About that time, my mother steps to the bedroom door.

About that time, the phone rang. I asked, mom, do you want me to answer it? No. Leave it alone, he said. Then I asked mom. She said, no, leave it alone. Do as he says. So I did.

My brother and sister, they start tripping out. He told my mom to put some toys and blankets in the bathroom for us kids. So we did. After that, he took a rope, tied one of the doors shut at the door knob to under the sink, pushed the bed up against the other door, stripped my mother, taped her hands behind her back, plastic bag over her head and rope tied around her neck.

My brother breaks a window. My sister and brother was tripping out. So was I. I told him that I was going to untie the rope from underneath the sink. He told me, if I did, he'd blow my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) head off.

ZAHN: Did he have any idea you were watching him?

RELFORD: No.

ZAHN: And how were you able to see at that point with both bathroom doors tethered to ropes?

RELFORD: There was the bathtub. I stood on it. There was a crack above the door. I peeked over it.

ZAHN: And, at this point, he's already threatened you. Weren't you afraid of making any noises that would draw attention to the fact that you had moved?

RELFORD: My brother and sister was already tripping out, so it didn't matter if I brought noise or not.

ZAHN: So they were screaming? They were yelling?

RELFORD: Yes.

ZAHN: When this man showed you the picture of a child with a woman, to this day, do you know who was in that picture?

RELFORD: I have that picture. It's me and my mother.

ZAHN: So when he showed you the picture of a woman and a child, you knew that was your mom?

RELFORD: No. At that time, no, I did not. My grandparents had a picture just like it, I found out about six or eight years later when I seen that picture. I told my grandparents, that's the picture that that man showed me.

ZAHN: When you saw pictures of Dennis Rader today, was there any doubt in your mind that he is the man you ran into in the neighborhood and then later the man came knocking on your door?

RELFORD: There is no doubt in my mind. Dennis Rader is BTK, as far as I am concerned.

ZAHN: You've lived with the fear that perhaps this crime would never be solved. Is there any sense of relief for you today?

RELFORD: There is, but there's not. And the reason I say that is because he is not convicted.

ZAHN: So, Steve, I know, if you had the chance to talk with the man police think killed your mother, you'd want him to answer a couple of questions. You'd want him to answer, where did you get that picture? What else would you like to know?

RELFORD: What possessed him to kill my mother and these other innocent folks out here? He had no right.

ZAHN: Steve, I know today, as many days have been for you, has been just horrible. And you went back to the home where your mother was murdered for the very first time. Why was that important for you to go back to that home?

RELFORD: I think just to reassure in my mind and repicture Dennis Rader's face.

ZAHN: Were you able to do that?

RELFORD: And I did.

ZAHN: You were able to do that?

RELFORD: Yes.

ZAHN: How hard was it for you to go back?

RELFORD: It was very difficult, very hard to deal with. But I had to do it for me.

ZAHN: Why?

RELFORD: And my mother.

ZAHN: Tell me why.

RELFORD: Satisfy my own curiosity, if I remembered what I thought I remembered. And I did.

ZAHN: How did the brutal murder of your mother, a murder which you witnessed, change you?

RELFORD: Made me rebel against everything I ever believed in, turned me into an alcoholic, a drug addict, tattooed up. I would never have been like this if my mother was still living.

ZAHN: I know one of the tougher things for you has been the fact that you were just a little boy at the time this happened, and there really was nothing you could have done to stop this man from coming into your home, but is that something that you play over and over again in your head?

RELFORD: Yes, I do.

ZAHN: What do you see when you remember that horrible afternoon?

RELFORD: The last appearance of my mother laying face down with a plastic bag over her head, rope tied around her neck, all the fingers in her hands broken, her hands taped behind her back. That's what I remember.

ZAHN: Is there any way you'll ever really have peace in your life?

RELFORD: No.

ZAHN: Steve, I know how difficult this has been for you to relive these very, very dark hours. And we very much appreciate your joining us tonight and wish you a lot of luck as you try to -- with this next chapter of your life.

RELFORD: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Our coverage of the capture of the alleged BTK killer continues throughout the day.

SANCHEZ: Yes, at the top of the hour, we're going to take you live to Dennis Rader's first court hearing in Wichita, Kansas.

Stay with us. We've got a whole lot more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Hard to believe, but it's been three years since she skated into our living rooms and into our hearts, and into history. Sarah Hughes, gold medal winner in figure skating in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Now after some time away going to Yale, Hughes is back on ice with a new skating tour and she's with us this morning.

Good morning, Sarah.

SARAH HUGHES, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST FIGURE SKATER: Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: It is great to have you here.

Now, last I remember of your story, you were saying, well, thank you for that gold medal, skating world, bye-bye, I'm going off to have a real life. HUGHES: Yes, well, I spent a year at Yale. First, actually, I went back to high school, and I was a junior when I won, so I went to the senior year. I was in the school play. I graduated, and...

KAGAN: Did you go to prom?

HUGHES: I did, I went to prom.

KAGAN: OK, OK.

HUGHES: I had a great time. It was my best friend from high school. And I spent a year at Yale. I had a phenomenal time. And you know, I was missing skating a little bit. So I went on tour. Now I'm on a 60-city tour with Smucker's Stars on Ice. We just finished show 33, and so we have 27 left, and I'm having a phenomenal time, and with the other Olympic Champions from salt lake, and we just have a lot of fun.

KAGAN: Speaking of the Olympics, are you done with the Olympics? Any continued skating in 2006?

HUGHES: 2006, I know, it's next year. I mean, I'm not really sure. I don't see me going back for 2006. I mean, I was toying with the idea a little bit after the first Olympics, but, I mean, you know, my life has changed so much and I'm still adjusting to that. And I'm still, you know, growing up and making decisions for the future. So, I mean, it may happen. But I doubt it. Maybe for 2010.

KAGAN: OK. That's still out there. And when you win so young, I guess you have those options out there. Getting back on the ice, what has been the biggest challenge?

HUGHES: Well, this tour's very challenging because it's about two and a half hour show. And, I mean, there's so much traveling involved. It's like five cities a week. And I mean, you know, I'm on the ice nine times about. I think I do seven costume changes. And, you know, it's a lot of skating. But you know what, this is the best tour there is. And I've never been with a mor talented group of people.

KAGAN: So this fits your life now. Because when you look at really what skating takes, it's really kind of a young girl's game. And not to call you an old lady, Sarah, I would not be doing that, but do you kind of look back in awe of the commitment you made at such a young age to achieve what you did?

HUGHES: I mean, I've spent my whole life skating, so that is why I took those two years to finish high school and go to college and see what I wanted to do. And you know what, I missed skating. And to have the opportunity to skate on this tour, and to go around the country was -- I just couldn't pass it up. It was something I really wanted to do. But you know, I'm 19 years old. The next Olympics I'll only be 24. Well, 2006 I'll be 20, 2010 I'll be 24. So, I mean, it's not young for skating, but that's probably about a normal age, I'd say. KAGAN: You're doing just great, making good choices and enjoying your life. Thanks for stopping by. And good luck with the skating tour, as it takes you around the country.

HUGHES: Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Gold medal winner Sarah Hughes. Thank you, Sarah.

SANCHEZ: Boy, she seems pleasant.

KAGAN: Yes, always was. Always looked like a nice young lady.

SANCHEZ: New do, too.

KAGAN: We girls do that from time to time, as your wife will tell you, as well.

SANCHEZ: I'm very much aware of that.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SANCHEZ: Well, the alleged BTK killer is due in court just about -- well, probably in about ten minutes.

KAGAN: Yes, well actually, via video camera he'll be in court. We're going to bring you live coverage as soon as that happens. Will putting the alleged BTK killer behind bars give peace and closure to victims and the community? When we come back, we take a look at the life of Dennis Rader.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: CNN will go live to Wichita, Kansas, in just a few moments. The accused BTK serial killer, Dennis Rader, will have his first court appearance, a video hook-up from the Wichita jail. We expect to see the court appoint an attorney for Rader. He's being held on a $10 million bond, accused in ten killings.

SANCHEZ: Let's examine this part of this story. If Dennis Rader is indeed the BTK killer, as police are now charging, he appeared to be a model citizen. A by-the-book city worker, as he's described. A guy next to you in the church pew every Sunday. A father, a Boy Scout troop leader. CNN's Jonathan Freed has been looking into Rader's background.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If the allegations are true, then Dennis Rader has led a double life for 30 years, managing to hide in plain sight. Since police accused him of being Wichita's infamous serial killer, the BTK Strangler, people who know him are struggling to figure out who he really is.

DEE STUART, EX-CITY COUNSELOR: This is the man that we knew as our compliance officer, the man I would speak to at City Hall. I don't know that man. FREED: Dee Stuart is a former city counselor in Rader's home of Park City, just north of Wichita. She used to see Rader around City Hall, where they'd give each other a friendly wave. Rader worked as the compliance officer, telling people to put their trash cans away and working as the dog catcher. Stuart is running for mayor and a few days before he was arrested, Rader stopped by her house to inform her some campaign signs were illegally placed.

(on camera): When he rang your doorbell last week, would you have let him in?

STUART: Yes, absolutely. He wasn't BTK, he was Dennis Rader. He was somebody I knew.

FREED (voice-over): Rader is known for being a real stickler with rules, which was, after all, his job. But some say he overdid it. One neighbor felt harassed by Rader and his rule book.

ERIC LOWRY, NEIGHBOR: We've been doing it for 13 years. It's just like a normal thing, you know. I'm glad it's over. You know, I don't care if he's BTK or what, he's gone. He's not going to bother me anymore, so that's good for me.

FREED (on camera): We're trying to answer the question who is this guy? What's your impression of him?

DANNY SAVILLE, LAWYER: He didn't like to lose.

FREED (voice-over): Danny Saville is a lawyer who challenged Dennis Rader in court a few years ago.

SAVILLE: He was very, very focused on winning.

FREED: So focused, Saville says, that Rader had prepared an inch thick document, complete with photos, for a couple of $25 dog fines.

SAVILLE: I could see him killing a dog in a heartbeat. I mean, he was the dog catcher, you know, and he seemed very cold, very meticulous.

FREED: Rader was recently elected president of his church, a Lutheran congregation now stunned, unable to comprehend that the scout master, husband and father of two might be the murderer they've been praying for years would be caught.

PASTOR MICHAEL CLARK, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH: He was kind of a soft-spoken person, a person who people respected, and he was there. He responded to people. I saw him interact with people every Sunday morning in church in a very positive, healthy way.

FREED: Many here feel, regardless of whether or not he's found guilty, that the accusations have already taken away the man they knew.

STUART: This is black magic. It's there. He's there and then he's gone. FREED: Jonathan Freed, CNN, Wichita, Kansas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Our coverage continues on BTK. As we said, he's expected to make his first court appearance in a matter of minutes. But that's going to do it for us.

SANCHEZ: Yes, he's going to be appearing on closed circuit, we should add. And Wolf Blitzer's going to be covering that part of the story. He's joining us now. I'm Rick Sanchez.

KAGAN: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Wolf, you take it from here.

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