Full BTK news coverage

RON SYLVESTER, The Wichita Eagle

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A letter received by a local television station, purportedly written by a serial killer who has resurfaced in Wichita after two decades, is now in the hands of the FBI.

"They will do a thorough analysis utilizing the latest technology and forensic science in order to determine the authenticity of the letter," said Lt. Ken Landwehr, commander of the Wichita police homicide division.Landwehr continued his pleas for help from the public in tracking down the killer. So far, a tip phone line and e-mail address have generated more than 2,000 leads.

"We are specifically interested in talking to anyone who was approached at their residence between 1974 and 1986 by a man presenting himself as an employee of a school or a utility company," Landwehr said. "Obviously, we are not interested in legitimate encounters. We want to know about situations where a man attempted to get into your house under suspicious circumstances."

The KAKE letter contained three pages, including photocopied identifi cations of "Special Officer" from Southwestern Bell and the Wichita school district. Both SBC and the school district said employees don't show up at homes unannounced.

The copy of the school ID badge contained a logo not used by Wichita public schools until 1988, district spokeswoman Susan Arensman said. She said officials found it on only one document prior to 1986.

There were other inconsistencies, too.

The letter to The Eagle carried the return address of a Bill Thomas Killman: initials, BTK.

The KAKE letter held the return address of a Thomas B. King: initials, TBK.

The letter also contained a cryptic word puzzle. Another sheet appears to list chapters in a book, "The BTK Story," similar to one by author David Lohr and available on Court TV's "Crime Library" Web site.

Since March, law enforcement authorities have subpoenaed records from The Eagle's Internet message board and asked for DNA samples from people around the city as part of their investigation.

The re-emergence of BTK has generated interest worldwide, from mass media outlets to Web chat rooms and bulletin boards. An Internet search Monday for the BTK serial killer turned up more than 1,500 results.

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