Serial killer letters return

A SERIAL killer who terrified a US city in the 1970s appears to have resurfaced and laid claim to an eighth victim.

The killer known as the BTK Strangler, initials standing for 'bind, torture, kill' murdered seven people in Wichita, Kansas, from 1974 to 1977.

Last week, the Wichita Eagle newspaper received a letter with photos and a copy of the driver's licence of Vicki Wegerle, whose 1986 murder was never solved. The return name on the letter was to Bill Thomas Killman initials BTK. The address underneath appeared to refer to a now-vacant building in Wichita.

The letter contained a photocopy of Ms Wegerle's driver's licence and three pictures apparently taken of her body. The 28-year-old was strangled at her home, and her relatives said the only thing that went missing was her driver's licence.

"The photographs appear to be authentic," said Lieutenant Ken Landwehr, who worked on the BTK case for 20 years. "I'm 100% sure it's BTK".

More than two decades ago, the BTK strangler claimed responsibility for the murders in letters initialled BTK to the Eagle newspaper and TV station KAKE. He claimed responsibility for the deaths of seven people six of whom were strangled, and one stabbed to death.

Four were members of one family; two children and their parents.

Forensics experts are said to be re-examining evidence from the 1986 crime scene.