20/20 Season 41 Episode 22
20/20
Season 41

Ep 22. My Father BTK

  • TVPG
  • February 1, 2019
  • 6.5  (32)

My Father BTK is the twenty-second episode of the forty-first season of 20/20, a documentary anthology series on ABC that premiered on February 6th, 2021. The show focuses on reporting in-depth investigative stories and features stories ranging from the intrigues of Wall Street to unsolved mysteries.

In the episode My Father BTK, Kerri Rawson tells her story – how she discovered that her father, Dennis Rader, was the notorious serial killer BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) who claimed the lives of numerous people between 1974 and 1991. Kerri talks about growing up in Wichita, Kansas, with her brother and parents and the seemingly normal life they had. She describes her father as reserved and strict, but also loving and devoted to his family. Kerri recalls fond memories of fishing trips and camping with her father, but as she grew up, she noticed that something was off about him.

In 2004, after a 13-year hiatus, BTK resurfaced with a series of letters to the media and the police department, taking credit for new murders and taunting authorities. The renewed interest in the case prompted Kerri and her husband to start researching the BTK killings and reading everything they could find about the case. Kerri was a big fan of true crime novels, but she never imagined that her father could be the infamous BTK.

One day, Kerri received a call from the FBI, requesting her and her husband's presence at their headquarters in Kansas. Kerri initially assumed that it was a misunderstanding, as her father was not even on their radar. However, during her visit to the FBI, they revealed to her that they suspected her father was, in fact, BTK. The agents described elements of the BTK killings that had not been released to the public, and Kerri realized that they had to be true, as her father had access to that information.

Kerri felt nauseous and stunned by this revelation. Her father was arrested and charged with 10 counts of murder, and her world was turned upside down. She talks about dealing with the subsequent media frenzy, how her life was put under a microscope and how she tried to shield her children from the chaos. She also discusses the effects that this knowledge had on her mental and emotional well-being.

The episode features interviews with Kerri, who shares details about her life with her father and how she came to terms with the fact that he was a serial killer. It also features interviews with FBI agents who worked on the BTK case and criminologists who describe what drives someone to commit such horrific crimes.

My Father BTK is a poignant and chilling episode that delves into a family's trauma and the aftermath of discovering that their father is a serial killer. It is a story about how we never truly know what happens behind closed doors and how the unthinkable can happen.

Overall, it gives a deep insight into the story, starting from the history of the BTK killings, to the ultimate revelation that it was Kerri's father who had committed the crimes. The episode explores the impact of these harrowing events on those directly involved and provides a thought-provoking examination into the motivations and behaviour of serial killers.

Description
Watch 20/20 - My Father BTK (s41 e22) Online - Watch online anytime: Stream, Download
20/20, Season 41 Episode 22, is available to watch free on ABC and stream on ABC. You can also stream, download 20/20 on demand at online.
  • First Aired
    February 1, 2019
  • Content Rating
    TVPG
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    6.5  (32)