Imagine discovering your father is one of America’s most notorious serial killers. For Kerri Rawson, that unthinkable nightmare became a reality in 2005, when her dad, Dennis Rader, was arrested on his lunch break. An unassuming church congregation president and former Cub Scout leader, Rader had been unmasked by authorities as the notorious BTK Killer — who committed 10 gruesome murders between 1974 and 1991. 

From director Skye Borgman (Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, American Murder: Laci Peterson), the documentary My Father, the BTK Killer centers Rawson’s quest for answers and healing. As it revisits the murders that terrorized Wichita, Kansas, for decades, the film offers Rawson’s deeply personal perspective on the violent crimes that forever upended her sense of self, and continue to haunt her community. 

Building trust was essential for bringing Kerri’s story to the screen. Borgman approached this sensitive narrative with a commitment to empathy. “[Kerri] has lived much of her life under the weight of her father’s crimes and is understandably cautious about who is allowed into that space,” Borgman says. “I needed to earn Kerri’s trust, and that meant showing up with transparency, listening to her needs, and respecting the boundaries she spent years building.”

As the documentary delves into deeply personal and painful aspects of Kerri’s life, it was crucial that she felt a sense of real ownership in the story. "My role was to create a framework of care and integrity around a narrative that has too often been defined by others," Borgman adds.

Read on for everything to know about My Father, The BTK Killer, plus further insights from Borgman on the latest on Rawson’s healing journey.

What is My Father, the BTK Killer about?

The documentary tells the true story of Dennis Rader, who adopted the moniker BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill), through the eyes of his daughter, Kerri Rawson. It explores the impact of Rader’s crimes on his family and community, following Kerri as she confronts the possibility of additional victims and reckons with childhood memories that may hold hidden traumas. The film weaves together interviews with the investigators who helped uncover BTK’s identity and features chilling archival photos and sketches, and interrogation footage of Rader himself. Throughout, Kerri’s personal reflections on her relationship with her father both before and since his arrest and conviction shed light on the enduring impact of his crimes and her own healing journey.

For Borgman, the heart of Kerri’s story lies in her resilience and determination to find answers despite the personal cost. "It’s a very real and complex tension. On one hand, Kerri feels a moral pull to help, to use her access and her voice to advocate for the possibility of closure for other families. On the other hand, every step back into that world reopens wounds she has spent years trying to heal," Borgman says, emphasizing how Kerri's journey is not just about confronting the past, but also about reclaiming her own narrative and identity. She adds that the film invites audiences to witness Kerri’s courage and strength as she navigates the complexities of her father's legacy: “What’s remarkable about Kerri is that she’s aware of that push and pull; she’s constantly negotiating how much she can give without losing herself. As a filmmaker, it became essential to hold that complexity rather than simplify it.”

Who is Kerri Rawson? 

Kerri Rawson is the daughter of Dennis Rader, infamously known as the BTK Killer. In 2005, her life was upended when her father was arrested. At the time, Kerri was recently married and expecting her first child, living what she thought was a quiet suburban life. The revelation that her father was responsible for a series of brutal murders forced Kerri to navigate the trauma caused by her father's actions and reevaluate her own childhood memories. This introspection led her to question the validity of her past experiences, further complicating her healing process.

Since that shocking revelation, Kerri has embarked on a journey of healing and understanding, grappling with the complex legacy of her father's crimes. As seen in the documentary, part of that journey involves assisting investigators in their attempts to link cold cases to her father. The noble pursuit comes at a significant personal cost, as it dredges up traumatic memories and challenges her sense of identity.

"I came [into the project] understanding Kerri as the daughter of a serial killer. Over time, I came to understand her as a woman trying to build a life out of fractured pieces — someone strong, but also profoundly human," Borgman says of how Kerri navigates these competing aims with resilience and resolve, highlighting the emotional toll and strength required to face such a daunting path.

Where does Kerri stand with her father now?

In the documentary, Kerri describes a visit to her father in prison where they had a particularly intense confrontation about his potential involvement in other crimes, which escalated into a heated exchange. By the film’s conclusion, Kerri reflects on how her connection with her father remains fraught and evolving. 

Borgman provides insight into their current relationship dynamics, sharing any updates since filming wrapped. "Since that visit, she’s kept the relationship at a distance. She has chosen not to maintain contact, and there haven’t been any revelations or confessions. That in itself has reinforced the boundaries that Kerri has set […] She has also consciously stepped back from being a conduit for information [for investigators], recognizing that her healing cannot hinge on what her father does or does not reveal." Borgman says of how Kerri manages the difficult dynamics of her familial ties and the emotional weight they carry.

Kerri has also indicated that this documentary likely represents the final step she wants to take in addressing her father’s crimes publicly. For her, participating in the film is both a closing chapter and a significant milestone in her quest for peace. Borgman considers how the process of making the documentary may have contributed to Kerri’s sense of closure and what it means for her future. “This isn’t a film about a crime — it’s a story about a woman who has spent her life trying to reconcile love, betrayal, and family. don’t think closure is ever a neat, final thing for someone in her position. But I do think that telling her story on her own terms has been a kind of reclaiming. It’s less about closing a door and more about finally being able to walk through it on her own.”

What is the documentary’s release date?

The film premiered on Netflix on Oct. 10. Stream it now.

Who is the BTK Killer?

Dennis Rader, infamously known as the BTK Killer — short for “Bind, Torture, Kill” —terrorized the Wichita, Kansas, area, committing a series of 10 brutal murders between 1974 and 1991. For years, these were cold cases, and many were treated as separate killings. Driven by a desire for notoriety, Rader sent cryptic messages with details about the crimes to local outlets. The disturbing cat-and-mouse game between BTK and the authorities played out sporadically across the decades, and kept the community in a perpetual state of fear that BTK would strike again. 

Was the BTK Killer caught?

In the early ’90s, the messages stopped, leaving investigators and the public in the dark. However, Rader’s need for recognition ultimately led to his downfall. In 2004, he resumed his correspondence with the media, and a floppy disk that was traced back to his church revealed his identity. Investigators then connected Rader to the crime scenes using DNA evidence, which was matched to a medical sample of Kerri’s obtained from her college health center without her knowledge, ultimately leading to his arrest.

What’s this doc like? 

A dark, personal retelling of blood ties and twisted secrets, My Father, the BTK Killer revisits the decades-long investigation into a notorious serial killer, while examining his haunting legacy through his daughter’s eyes.

• Watch out for sensitive topics including trauma, emotional distress, and graphic descriptions of violence — including disturbing images from crime scenes and the killer’s own archive.
• Could be described as the raw intensity of This Is the Zodiac Speaking meets the psychological depth of Mindhunter.