My Father, the BTK Killer
The documentary series follows Kerri Rawson, daughter of Dennis Rader, who between 1974 and 1991 murdered 10 people in Wichita, Kansas under the pseudonym BTK — Bind, Torture, Kill.
Rader led a double life as a respected family man, church member and compliance officer while committing brutal murders. He sent taunting letters to police and the media, but suddenly vanished from public view in 1991. In 2004 he resumed contact, which ultimately led to his arrest in 2005 through DNA evidence traced via a floppy disk.
The series offers an intimate look at how Kerri Rawson experienced the collapse of her reality when she learned in 2005 that her father was a serial killer. Through interviews, archival footage and personal reflections, the documentary explores the psychological toll of being related to one of America's most notorious murderers.
The BTK case is especially notable for Rader's methodical approach, his need for public recognition, and the long gap between his crimes and his arrest. The series sheds light on both the victims' stories and the extraordinary experience of being closely related to the perpetrator.
