ChiefsPlanet - Do U know BTK?

It appears police may have made a major break in the BTK serial killer case. Wichita police raided a house Wednesday night and arrested a 64-year-old man.

The house is in the 1400 block of East Mount Vernon in Wichita.

Officers arrested 64-year-old Roger Valadez and booked him on outstanding warrants for trespass and a domestic violence case from 1995.

We do know KBI agents were at the scene and witnesses saw them taking out bags of what may have been evidence.

Wichita Police will not comment on the arrest except to say this is just another lead in the BTK serial killer case.

One of the unusual aspects of the case is that Valadez is reportedly being held on a $40,000 bond. Many consider that a high amount for the misdemeanor charges against him.

The Associated Press is reporting that Valadez' DNA is being checked by officials.

He will reportedly be arraigned Thursday afternoon.

Who is BTK?

In January 1974, police found four members of the Otero family slain in the 800 block of North Edgemoor.

In April 1974, Kathryn Bright was murdered in her home in the 3200 block of East 13th Street. BTK later claimed responsibility.

Three years later, in March 1977, officials found the body of Shirley Viann at her home at 1311 South Hydraulic.

Then in December of 1977, Nancy Fox was murdered at 843 South Pershing.

Authorities also pinned the September 1986 murder of Vicki Wegerle on BTK after he sent a letter to the Wichita Eagle in March of 2004. Wegerle was murdered in her home in the 2400 block of West 13th Street.

What's the connection?

Shirley Vian was murdered by BTK in 1977. Valadez purchased his home about half a mile away from Vian's home in 1976.

In a profile released Tuesday by Wichita Police, it was noted that BTK had been in the military. Two vehicles at Valadez' home have veteran plates.

The profile also stated BTK had an interest in trains and lived close to railroad tracks.Valadez' home is just across the street from a set of railroad tracks.

Police were staking out the house Wednesday during the day. They approached the home around 7:30 p.m. and made their arrest.

Who is Roger Valadez?

Valadez was born in 1940. He has lived in the home on Mt. Vernon for 28 years.

Court records indicate Valadez was arrested in 2000 on 24 counts of fraud and obtaining unemployment benefits.Because he had no prior record, he was given a diversion.

Valadez comes from a large family with four brothers and three sisters.One of his brothers died this past January.

Neighbors say Valadez is divorced and has three grown children of his own.In fact, one daughter and a grandchild share the home with Valadez.

Neighbors react

When neighbors awoke to the news that one of their neighbors had been arrested they were shocked.

Wes and Dorothy Barrow sold Valadez his home in 1976.

"I was totally shocked.We drive by here almost every day. We have said he has let the house run down," said Dorothy. "He has his toys for little kids out here in the yard but during the summer you would not see one child around those toys."

While most neighbors were shocked by news that their neighbor may be BTK, others were not so surprised.

"It's like, when we walk by, he won't look at us and turn away.He just stares at us as we walk," said one teenage girl in the neighborhood.

Other neighbors say Valadez was quiet, kept to himself and was rarely seen by those who live near him.

BTK author reacts

Author Robert Beattie is in the process of writing a book about BTK.He urges the public to be cautious about assuming Valadez is responsible for the BTK killings.

He points out that many years ago another man was arrested for the Otero murders then let him go.

But Beattie also said he would not be surprised if there is a connection.

Earlier this week, police released personal information about BTK that was provided by the killer himself.Beattie said police will probably find more than one man who fits that profile.

Beattie also said he doesn't understand why BTK would provide police with so many clues.

"This guy's behavior is not what most people would consider, I don't think anybody would consider, rational -- either his behavior as far as committing the crimes or in communicating with the police and the press," said Beattie.

Beattie said one of the victim's families called him Thursday morning and was very tearful and uncertain about these latest developments.

Where did the tip come from?

There are many amateur investigators around Wichita who have tried to solve the BTK case. Now it appears one of them may have provided evidence that led police to the house on Mt. Vernon.

Two women in the right place at the right time may have witnessed the tip that ended the hunt for BTK.

Tia Ortiz and Tina Foults are sisters. They were at the south police substation Wednesday to file a complaint involving a personal matter when, they say, that's when a man walked in and told police he knew the exact identity of BTK and provided plenty of evidence to back up his claim.

"He had direct pictures of the front of the house, side of the house, vehicles. He pointed out to the Police Department that they were veterans and that BTK was military and the railroad tracks also," said Ortiz.

The sisters say the tipster has tried for years to convince Wichita Police the man who lives in the house is BTK.

"When he left there, he slammed his hand on the door holding the pictures. He pushed the door open and he was out of there," said Foults.

"Because the officers were laughing him off," said Ortiz.

But before he left, the man was given the number of a detective working the BTK case. If he made the call and provided valuable evidence, this mystery man may have helped break the BTK case.

Tia and Tina say they were shocked by what they saw on the news this morning.

"I'd been up all night long. I woke my sister up at 6:00 this morning and said 'Tina, the house the guy showed the police officers is on TV. They arrested somebody,' said Ortiz.

"I was like, 'no way,'" said Foults.

They may have witnessed history, but it is important to remember that police have not confirmed that information provided at the South Substation Wednesday had anything to do with the arrest on Mt. Vernon Wednesday evening.

It is also important to note that police have not made a connection between Valadez and the BTK murders.