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House where 'BTK' killing took place to be auctioned

WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A house where Kansas' so-called BTK killer committed one of his crimes is going on the auction block this month, the auctioneer said.

Dennis Rader -- who adopted the initials BTK for "bind, torture, kill" -- admitted 20 years after the fact he killed Marine Hedge, his neighbor in the Wichita suburb of Park City, in 1985.

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Jack Newcom, the auctioneer handling the sale, told The Wichita Eagle he included the house's history in an ad in the newspaper because the current owner wants to make sure a buyer does not have a problem with it.

Newcom said the woman who owns the house only learned Hedge had died there after she bought it. He said she kept living there and is only selling because she wants to move out of state to be closer to family.

The auctioneer said neither he nor the owner was trying to up the price by luring buyers who might be attracted to a notorious house.

"It's a decent little house," he said. "It will make someone a wonderful home. That's what we want to try to project, if we can."

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Newcom said there is no reserve price so the house will go to the highest bidder Aug. 27.

Rader is serving 10 consecutive life sentences. His house was torn down by the city to prevent it from becoming a magnet for curiosity seekers.

Before his arrest, Rader was known as an active church member and a compliance officer for Park City who was a stickler for rules.

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