Serial Killer Dennis Rader (BTK Killer) with his daughter in 1993 (Picture taken 2 years after he had killed his last victim, 10 in total)
Kerri Rawson, the daughter of the infamous BTK serial killer, Dennis Rader, recounts her life-altering experience when she discovered her father’s true identity. On February 25, 2005, her life took a dramatic turn when an FBI agent informed her that her father, a man she knew as a loving family man, church president, Boy Scout troop leader, and Air Force veteran, was the notorious BTK serial killer. The shock was immense, as she had to reconcile the image of her father with the horrific crimes he had committed.
For over three decades, the BTK killer, whose name stands for “Bind, Torture, Kill,” terrorized the community around Wichita, Kansas, claiming ten lives, including two children. Rawson’s struggle to accept this reality is chronicled in her book, “A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming.“
Rader, now 73, pleaded guilty to ten counts of first-degree murder in 2005 and is serving ten consecutive life sentences without parole. Rawson emphasizes that neither she nor her mother or brother had any inkling of their father’s dark secret. She has since tried to cope with the aftermath, suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Despite the pain, Rawson has chosen to forgive her father and continues to correspond with him. She hopes her story can inspire others to overcome their personal struggles.
