May 10, 2007 -- Attorney General Paul Morrison announced today that a settlement agreement was reached in a case against Dr. Robert Mendoza stemming from the prosecution of the BTK killer.
Mendoza is a Massachusetts psychologist who was hired by Dennis Rader’s court-appointed attorneys to interview Rader. The alleged purpose of the interview was to produce a videotape to use for mitigation in sentencing. Instead, the tape ended up on the television show Dateline NBC.
The Attorney General’s Office filed suit against Mendoza in 2005 on behalf of the Board of Indigents’ Defense Services for conversion and breach of contract. After extensive discovery and motion practice, the parties agreed to resolve the matter with a substantial payment to the State.
In addition, Mendoza agreed to return all materials related to the Rader case to the State of Kansas and never to use them again. He and his company are prohibited from ever using their involvement with the Rader case to benefit personally or professionally.
“We are pleased with the outcome in this case. It closes another door on the more than 30 year BTK horror story that has tormented Kansans,” Morrison said.
During the wrap-up session, Morrison asked state lawmakers to pass a proviso in the budget allowing the State to give the settlement money to the victims’ families. Once the money is transferred, the proceeds will be divided up and distributed to BTK victims’ families.
“In this case, I believed that the families deserved whatever money came to the State through a settlement agreement,” Morrison said. “It will not ease their pain, but will provide them with some financial assistance.”
Dennis Rader was sentenced in 2005 after he pled guilty to ten counts of First Degree Murder. The case was handled by Sedgwick County District Attorney Nola Foulston.
Assistant Attorneys General Derenda Mitchell and Brian Sheern negotiated this case for the Attorney General’s Office.