12 September 2023
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Hours after Oklahoma District Attorney Mike Fisher, who covers Osage and Pawnee counties, said there was insufficient information to pursue charges against serial killer BTK of Kansas regarding an Osage County cold case, Sheriff Eddie Virden released information that he has coordinated the formation of a National BTK Task Force.
Sheriff Virden wants assistance in the long-standing Cynthia Dawn Kinney cold case from 1976, located in Pawhuska.
The sheriff says initial findings indicate potential links between Dennis Rader, also known as BTK, with Kinney and additional missing and murdered persons.
Sheriff Virden has assembled a team of renowned experts in the field, including:
Sheriff Eddie Virden, OCSO
Undersheriff Gary Upton, OCSO
James Reed, OCSO
United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma
Kansas Department of Corrections
Sheryl “Mac” McCollum, Task Force Coordinator and CSI
Kerri Rawson, Advocacy and Suspectology
Dr. Ann Burgess, Profiling
Dr. Joni Johnston, PI
Paul Holes, Cold Case Investigator
Lisa Ribacoff, Polygraph
Nancy Grace, Former Prosecutor & Media Personality
Dr. David Mittelman, DNA Analysis
Dr. Kristen Mittelman, Probative Evidence
JoeScott Morgan, Death Investigator
Alina Burroughs, CSI Crime Scene Confidential
Mareen O’Connell, Retired FBI
Sgt. Joseph Giacalone, NYPD Homicide
Peter Hyatt, Statement Analysis
Kelley Lawson, Forensic Artist
Trace Sargent, K9
Ezekiel Avalos, Chautauqua County SO, KS.
Dr. Alice Gooding, Forensic Anthropologist
Mellzel Martin, Handwriting Expert
Francey Hakes, Former US Attorney
Shera LaPoint, Ancestral Expert
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office will provide regular updates as the investigation progresses.
The OCSO will respond to District Attorney Mike Fisher’s comments at a 2 p.m. press conference today.