It was a typical morning in February 2005 when Kerri Rawson heard a knock at the door of her home in Michigan. She opened the door to find several police officers who asked if they could come in. Kerri, curious about their visit, let them inside. After a few moments of small talk, the officers dropped a bombshell – they informed Kerri that her father, Dennis Rader, had just been arrested in Wichita, Kansas for being the infamous serial killer known as BTK.
Kerri was in complete shock. Her father – the man who had raised her and seemed like any other dad – was secretly a vicious killer who had terrified the Wichita area in the 1970s. For Kerri, that morning marked the beginning of a painful journey to reconcile the loving father she knew with the monster he truly was.
Early Life as the Daughter of a Killer
Kerri Rawson was born in 1978 and raised in Wichita, Kansas. By all accounts, she had a normal American upbringing. Her father Rader worked as a compliance officer while her mother Paula worked as a bookkeeper. The family attended Christ Lutheran Church every Sunday, where Rader was regarded as an upstanding member of the community.
As a child, Rawson never suspected her father was capable of violence. Rader doted on his daughter, taking her fishing, hiking, and helping decorate the Christmas tree each year. Behind his friendly exterior, Rader was indulging his sadistic fantasies in private. But he never raised any red flags to his family.
“If we had had an inkling that my father had harmed anyone, let alone murdered anyone, let alone 10, we would’ve gone screaming out that door to the police station,” Rawson said later. She truly believed she was living an ideal childhood, unaware of the horrors her father inflicted on others.
Rader’s Murders as BTK
Starting in 1974, Dennis Rader began carrying out a string of vicious binding, torturing, and killing (BTK) murders in the Wichita area. His killing spree lasted until 1991, claiming 10 innocent lives. His victims included men, women, and tragically, even children.
Rader derived sexual satisfaction from overpowering and inflicting pain on his victims. He taunted the media and police with graphic descriptions of the murders. After killing his neighbour in 1985, BTK went dormant for nearly a decade. But in 2004, he resurfaced to claim credit for more unsolved slayings. Thanks to DNA evidence, Rader was finally identified and arrested in February 2005.
Somehow Rader was able to completely separate his violent crimes from his family life. To Kerri and the rest of the community, he showed no signs of his sinister alter ego BTK. His ability to compartmentalize his two personas is a hallmark trait of psychopathic behaviour.
Rawson’s World Shattered by the Truth
When FBI agents appeared at her door in Michigan in 2005, Kerri Rawson’s world imploded. She was shocked to learn her own father was the notorious BTK Killer. In the aftermath, Rawson suffered immense grief, trauma, and guilt over failing to realize the truth.
She made the painful decision to sever all contact with her father, unable to forgive his horrific acts. Rawson sought counselling to process the psychological impacts, which included depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Although intensely private, she eventually came forward to share her perspective by writing a memoir in 2019.
Rebuilding Life After Shocking Betrayal
Today, Rawson continues her healing journey and advocates for other families impacted by violent crimes. She emphasizes that the offenders’ relatives are also victims of trauma. She shows grace in discussing her father’s pathology without excusing his actions.
Rawson has focused on moving forward to define her life on her own terms. She found strength in her Christian faith and built a loving family of her own with her husband Darian and their two daughters. Becoming a mother herself gave Rawson perspective on the innocent lives her father stole.
While the scars remain, Rawson refuses to be defined by her father’s legacy. She hopes that sharing her story will help others impacted by trauma. Her resilience in the face of shocking betrayal serves as an inspiring example of the human capacity to heal.
Kerri Rawson’s Life Today
Today, Kerri Rawson is living in Michigan and working as a graphic designer. She finds therapy in creating art and writing. After intense counselling, she has made peace with the fact that Dennis Rader succeeded in deceiving his own family. She could not have known the truth when she was a child.
In 2019, Kerri published a memoir titled “A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming.” The book details her childhood memories, her shock at discovering the truth, and her healing process. Kerri hopes that sharing her story will give strength to others who have endured trauma.
By speaking openly, Kerri has become an advocate for families of violent offenders. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that the offenders’ relatives are also victims in many ways. Kerri shows immense grace when discussing her father, condemning his horrific actions while acknowledging that he suffered from pathological behaviour. She continues to define her own life on her own terms, refusing to be permanently scarred by her father’s crimes.
Kerri Rawson’s story provides a unique perspective on one of America’s most notorious serial killers. While Dennis Rader will be remembered as the monster known as BTK, Kerri works to raise awareness and healing. Her resilience and compassion in the aftermath of her father’s horrific crimes is both admirable and inspiring. Despite unimaginable shock and pain, Kerri has moved forward to build a meaningful life.
The BTK Killer Today
In June 2005, Dennis Rader pleaded guilty to 10 counts of first-degree murder. He is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole in a Kansas prison.
At age 75, Rader continues to be closely monitored and has no contact with his family. Kerri Rawson has not seen or spoken to him since his arrest in 2005. While she has forgiven her father, she cannot forget the devastation he inflicted through his “dark shadow.”
By bravely telling her story, Kerri Rawson sheds light on one of America’s most notorious killers from a profoundly personal perspective. Her memoir and advocacy continue to help others find meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.
Read more from the website:
Leave a comment