BTK Survivor Returns To Wichita
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Updated: 1:41 PM Jul 10, 2004
BTK Survivor Returns To Wichita
The only survivor of an attack by BTK comes home to Wichita for the first time since BTK resurfaced.
Posted: 11:02 AM Jul 9, 2004
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July 8 - Last month KAKE-News brought you the first interview with Kevin Bright. In fact, it's still the only time he's agreed to be interviewed on television. Now, in a KAKE exclusive, Kevin Bright is telling his story again to Wichita Police and returning the scene of the crime.

KAKE-News called Wichita Police to tell them Kevin was in town. Detectives there wanted to see him immediately. We took him there to be questioned. We were asked not to disclose what went on in that meeting or what questions the police department had for him.

Kevin's visit also marks the first time in 30 years that he has returned to the scene of where his sister was killed and he was shot twice.

"Its just, I don't know, surreal. Just thinking back what happened that day, what all happened its hard," says Bright.

It's hard for him to remember, but it's also impossible for him to forget. 30 years ago last April Kevin Bright and his sister Katherine came home to a man police say was BTK, confronting them with a gun. The house has since been torn down, the memories still stand.

"There he was, coming out of the room and said, hold it right there."

The killer tied him and his sister up, tried to strangle Kevin as he stared up at him.

"I didn't see him being nervous. He was calm, methodical, not caring about noises. He was not worried."

..Kevin grabbed the killer's gun...

"I just grabbed a hold of his hand and stuck it into his stomach. I got a hold of the trigger clicked it twice and it didn't go off. I don't know why."

And he doesn't know why the gun did go off two seconds later, when he was shot. He knew the only chance at saving his sister was to run for help when the killer left the room

"So when I came out of the house, there was two men. I think they were talking on the phone. I came out and ran across the street. Then one took me to the hospital and the other one stayed and called police."

Katherine died later at the hospital. To this day, Kevin still wonders what would have happened if the gun had gone off earlier or if they would have noticed a back door window was broken when they came home. Those what if's bring tears to his eyes.

On a late spring day, much like the one when his sister was killed, Kevin looks thru the fence where the house stood and looks back.

"I just pray that she didn't suffer very much that last hour and just pray for all the families that they can have healing."

He feels that final healing for them all will come when BTK is finally caught. He has a message for his sisters killer.

"God knows every movement you make and you are going to answer for them one day. He offers everyone of us salvation and forgiveness."

And to other victims families whom Kevin mentions constantly...

"Keep those people in your heart and memory and share the memories with others and God will give you peace."

Memories of Katherine give Kevin, his father and his sister that peace. Memories they share often.

"She always had a smile on her face, just a friendly nice person."

The Katherine Bright murder is the only one that BTK hasn't officially claimed responsibility for. It was police who 30 years ago said Katherine Bright was BTK's fourth victim, yet there are people who have studied this case who aren't convinced the Bright murder was the work of BTK. If the killer continues to communicate with the media, perhaps that is a question we may one day have a definitive answer for.

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