Home / Crime and Justice / Survivor of Notorious BTK Killings Seeks Redemption After Decades-Long Struggle
Survivor of Notorious BTK Killings Seeks Redemption After Decades-Long Struggle
22 Oct
Summary
- Charlie Otero's family murdered by BTK killer in 1974
- Otero spent years struggling with trauma, becoming a "bad boy"
- Now finds purpose in sharing his story of "hope and redemption"
In January 1974, 15-year-old Charlie Otero's life was shattered when he discovered his family murdered by the serial killer later known as BTK. Over the past 51 years, Otero has spent much of his life trying to put the pieces back together.
Immediately after the tragedy, Otero and his surviving siblings went to live with a family friend in New Mexico. The once straight-A student who had aspired to be an astronaut soon became a drifter, no longer caring about anything. Otero raced motorcycles, had numerous crashes, and was "a bad boy for a long, long time."
It wasn't until 2005, when BTK resurfaced and was eventually arrested, that Otero began to find a sense of purpose. He made media appearances, hoping to bait the killer and get a reaction. After his son's near-death experience, Otero found religion and made a promise to the Lord to "spread the word."
Now 67 years old, Otero is preparing to launch a podcast about his family's murders and has spent years traveling to prisons across Kansas, sharing his story of "hope and redemption." While the pain of his family's loss is still terribly real, Otero is determined to use his experience to keep others from following a similar path.
