Netflix’s latest true crime documentary about the BTK Killer has viewers distracted by a notable detail.
This new documentary explores the life of Kerri Rawson, the daughter of Dennis Rader, infamously known as the ‘Bind, Torture, Kill’ killer.
Rader was responsible for the murder of 10 individuals in Kansas over 30 years, managing to evade capture while taunting authorities with letters. Despite his heinous acts, Rader maintained a seemingly ordinary life as a church council president and Boy Scout leader.
He deceived everyone around him, including his wife of 34 years, Paula Dietz, and their children, Brian and Kerri, who were unaware of his actions.
Rader was finally apprehended in 2005 when Kerri was 26, revealing the full extent of his crimes.
Throughout the documentary, Kerri recounts her experiences growing up with her father, stating she is ‘always going to love’ him.
She also discusses the impact of Rader’s convictions and her decision to end her silence with the media.
Author Stephen King’s use of Rader as inspiration for his novella-turned-film, A Good Marriage, was a catalyst for Kerri to speak out.
The plot centers on a woman who, after 27 years of marriage, discovers her husband is a serial killer.
King found this concept intriguing, telling reporters: “I did believe [that Rader’s wife, Paula, could not know] – I do believe – and I wrote this story to explore what might happen in such a case if the wife suddenly found out about her husband’s awful hobby.
“I also wrote it to explore the idea that it’s impossible to fully know anyone, even those we love the most.”
However, Kerri wasn’t pleased and felt the author was exploiting her family.
In an interview with the Wichita Eagle, she stated: “He’s exploiting my father’s 10 victims and their families.
“He’s just going to give my father a big head, and he absolutely does not need that… Any money King makes off this story should go either to abused children, battered wives, or police.”
This is discussed again in the Netflix documentary, where Kerri shares she was ‘so upset’ with King.
Her then-husband alerted her to A Good Marriage after seeing the author discuss it on morning TV.
“I had been silent for so long and there was so much stuff that needed to come out,” Kerri said. “I was just upset that [King] had decided to use our parents as inspiration.”
Viewers quickly took to social media to express their thoughts, with many highlighting the irony of Kerri’s critique of King while participating in the Netflix documentary.
Kerri has also authored two non-fiction books: A Serial Killer’s Daughter in 2019 and Breaking Free: Overcoming the Trauma of My Serial Killer Father in 2023.
One commentator remarked, “Imagine blaming a fiction writer for using your father as inspiration for a horror story book, instead of blaming your sadistic, child murdering, serial killing father for giving people inspiration to write horror stories. Good grief. #StephenKing #BTK.”
Another added, “Kerri said she doesn’t get paid for interviews & everything else. But, here she is doing a documentary about her father. On top of a doing a book. Then she goes on about
@StephenKing…”
A third noted, “She wants to be known as Kerri Rawson not BTKs daughter…and yet here we are again.”
It’s clear Kerri faces a challenging situation; whether she speaks out or remains silent, she encounters criticism.
Supporters, however, praised her strength and courage.
In a discussion with Netflix Tudum, Kerri suggested the documentary might be the ‘final step’ in publicly addressing her father’s crimes.
It has served as both an end and a significant milestone in her pursuit of closure.
Director Skye Borgman explained to Tudum: “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.
“I 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.”
My Father, the BTK Killer is now available for streaming on Netflix.