"DATELINE" TO BROADCAST EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLERS -- "BTK" -- FRIDAY, AUG. 12 AT 8PM

NEW YORK -- August 9, 2005 -- This past winter one of America's most notorious serial killers -- a man until then who was only known as "BTK" because of his propensity to bind, torture, and kill his victims -- was finally put in custody after 31 years. His identity was revealed to be Dennis Rader: father, husband, Cub Scout leader, and church president. On Friday, Aug. 12 at 8 PM/ET, "Dateline's" Edie Magnus reports on the first exclusive look inside the mind of the man behind the initials, a man who hunted and killed his victims in secret, then made sure the police and world at large knew he was out there. This exclusive interview, obtained by "Dateline," was conducted by Harvard neuropsychologist, Robert Mendoza, who was hired by Rader's defense team to assess his sanity. With the hearing to determine his sentence scheduled to begin next Wednesday, Aug. 17, the man who taunted the media, the police, his community and the nation for over 30 years finally answers some of the questions as to why.

During the two-hour "Dateline," Magnus chronicles Rader's killings, his subsequent obsession with the media, his arrest -- which he refers to as "Black Friday" because he claims he didn't see it coming -- and ultimately, his willing confession. Also included in the broadcast are never heard before details about how and why he chose his victims.

In the exclusive jailhouse interview, Rader talks openly to Mendoza about what he says made him bind, torture and kill ten innocent people and yet continue to live unassumingly in his community. Rader is seen becoming emotional when talking about himself and his family, but never when he discusses his victims. He claims he feels regret over being caught, but no remorse. When asked if he embraced the initials, "BTK," Rader admits, "I embraced it... It was like the Green River Killer and Son of Sam..."

David Corvo is the executive producer of "Dateline NBC."