Ep 5. Dr. Phil Returns to the Oprah Show: My Father Is a Serial Killer

The Oprah Winfrey Show season 24 episode 5, titled "Dr. Phil Returns to the Oprah Show: My Father Is a Serial Killer," features renowned psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw as he helps a family come to terms with a devastating truth. In this episode, viewers witness the emotional journey of a young woman, Kerri Rawson, as she learns that her father is a notorious serial killer, Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Killer.

Throughout the episode, Oprah and Dr. Phil engage in a poignant conversation with Kerri as she details her experiences growing up with Rader as her father. Kerri describes how she had always struggled to connect with her reserved and introverted father, and how she became estranged from him in her late twenties. She also shares how difficult it was for her to reconcile the loving, caring father she thought she had with the cold-blooded killer he had been hiding from his family and the public for over 30 years.

Dr. Phil, who has previously worked with Kerri, helps her to understand that the trauma she has experienced is not her fault, and that there may be a genetic disposition towards psychopathy that could have been passed down to her. He also shares insights on how to cope with the trauma of having a serial killer in the family and how to move forward with healing.

In addition to Kerri's story, the episode also features an interview with Rader's wife, Paula, who reveals her own shock and devastation upon discovering her husband's heinous crimes. She shares how she has struggled to deal with the knowledge that the man she loved and thought she knew was capable of such atrocities.

As the episode comes to a close, Oprah and Dr. Phil offer words of support and encouragement to Kerri and her family as they continue to move forward with their lives. The episode serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of trauma and the importance of seeking support and healing in the aftermath of tragedy.