Meet the Woman Who Escaped BTK's Grasp By Sheer Luck

On April 28, 1978, Dennis Rader broke into the home of his 8th victim, Anna Williams. Rader cut her phone lines and spent hours waiting for her to come back. Fortunately, the 63-year-old escaped death by making an extra stop at her daughter’s house on her way home. Rader spent hours waiting but became impatient and left.

When Williams returned home late in the evening, she found a plastic-coated wire from her basement in the bedroom. She checked her telephone and, when she discovered there was no dial tone, she fled her house never to return.

Wichita residents knew that BTK usually cut the phone line before entering a residence. It became a safety routine for the area citizens to check the phone immediately when entering their homes.

Williams immediately called the police from a neighbor’s house.

Investigators found a bundle of bindings, which consisted of rope, wire, underwear, and belts. Jewelry, coins, and scarves were missing from the premises.

On June 15, 1979, the BTK sent two letters containing a poem along with a drawing depicting what he had intended to do at the Williams’ residence. One was sent to KAKE-TV, and the other was sent to Anna Williams’ home.

The poem was titled, “Oh Louis Didn’t You Appear.” BTK had crossed out the name “Louis” and printed “Anna”:

“Oh, Anna Why Didn’t You Appear
T’ was perfect plan of deviant pleasure so bold on that Spring nite
My inner felling hot with propension of the new awakening season
Warn, wet with inner fear and rapture, my pleasure of entanglement, like new vines at night
Oh, Anna, Why Didn’t You Appear
Drop of fear fresh Spring rain would roll down from your nakedness to scent to lofty fever that burns within,
In that small world of longing, fear, rapture, and desparation,the game we play, fall on devil ears
Fantasy spring forth, mounts, to storm fury, then winter clam at the end.
Oh, Anna Why Didn’t You Appear
Alone, now in another time span I lay with sweet enrapture garments across most private thought
Bed of Spring moist grass, clean before the sun, enslaved with control, warm wind scenting the air, sun light sparkle tears in eyes so deep and clear.
Alone again I trod in pass memory of mirrors, and ponder why for number eight was not.
Oh, Anna Why Didn’t You Appear
BTK, 1979″

During his confession, Rader revealed that he became obsessed with Williams and was “absolutely livid” when she evaded him.