By Roxana Hegeman

WICHITA, Kan. (AP)— The man accused of terrorizing Wichita for years, the alleged BTK serial killer, has a preliminary trial this week that may provide the public with a fuller glimpse at the state's case against him.

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Dennis Rader, a former city ordinance enforcement officer for Park City, will be brought into a courtroom under tight security beginning Tuesday for his preliminary hearing on 10 counts of first-degree murder.

The BTK strangler, whose nickname stands for "Bind, Torture, Kill," had been suspected of eight deaths beginning in 1974, but since Rader's arrest authorities have linked two more victims to the serial killer. Prosecutors can't seek the death penalty because all the crimes Rader is charged with were committed before 1994, when Kansas passed its capital punishment law.

The preliminary hearing is expected to take three to 10 days, said Georgia Cole, spokeswoman for the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office. "We have to present evidence on each crime."

The court has sealed almost every order and motion filed in the case. Still, at least some evidence likely to be presented at the hearing probably already has been revealed in the media.

BTK's penchant for taunting police and media with cryptic messages is believed to have led to Rader's arrest.

Investigators went to his church in Park City, Christ Lutheran, because a computer diskette BTK sent to a TV station apparently contained an electronic imprint from a computer at the church, according to Rader's pastor, Michael Clark.

Among the most incriminating pieces of evidence expected to be presented is DNA investigators collected from murder scenes. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has said DNA samples linked Rader to the killings.

Rader's attorney, Steve Osburn, did not return a call seeking comment Friday, but previously has said Rader will plead not guilty. Rader's attorneys could still waive the preliminary hearing, acknowledging the state has enough evidence to go to trial. In that case, Rader would be arraigned immediately and no evidence would be presented.

Rader's bail is set at $10 million.

Court officials are bracing for an onslaught of public attention.

"It is going to be something like we have never seen in Wichita before. ... Every conceivable media outlet — from the very high end to the tabloid shows — are coming," said Kirk Longhofer, the court's media coordinator.

The courtroom has only 46 seats, and many relatives of the 10 murder victims and most reporters will have to watch by video from a separate room, according to the district attorney's office.

Sheriff Gary Steed would not discuss security for Rader's court appearances.