Netflix has released a chilling new true crime documentary for those seeking a gripping watch, following the success of Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which centred on the notorious serial killer and grave robber played by Charlie Hunnam, reports the Manchester Evening News.

My Father, the BTK Killer premiered on the streaming service today (October 10), featuring Kerri Rawson, the daughter of one of America’s most feared and brutal serial killers: Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Killer.

In this factual film, Rawson embarks on a quest for answers about her father, who was once seen as an unassuming church congregation president and former Cub Scout leader.

Furthermore, Rawson hopes to find healing after the devastating revelation, providing a deeply personal perspective on the case that continues to torment her and the community.

Here’s everything you need to know about the BTK Killer, from his crimes and capture to his current whereabouts.

What does BTK Killer stand for?

BTK stands for bind, torture, kill. This was a nickname that Rader himself adopted, reflecting the gruesome nature of his crimes.

Rader’s reign of terror spanned from 1974 to 1991, during which he committed at least 10 horrific murders in Wichita and Park City, Kansas.

Among his victims were members of the Otero family: Joseph Otero, Julia Maria Otero and their children Joseph Otero Jr. , aged nine, and Josephine Otero, aged 11.

Their bodies were discovered by the Oteros’ three older children, who were at school at the time of the murders.

He also brutally murdered Kathryn Doreen Bright, Shirley Ruth Vian Relford, Nancy Jo Fox, Marine Wallace Hedge, Vicki Lynn Wegerle, and Dolores Earlon Johnson Davis.

His intended victims, Kevin Bight and Anna Williams, narrowly escaped a similar fate, with the former managing to escape and the latter not being home while Rader was lying in wait for her.

Rader primarily targeted women, breaking into their homes and launching his attacks there. His modus operandi involved binding his victims with household items and then either suffocating or strangling them.

Before his capture, Rader taunted the police and media with a series of letters detailing the gruesome specifics of his crimes and referred to himself as BTK, hence the name.

Rader’s initial spree lasted from 1974 to 1979, before he went silent and BTK became one of the most notorious cold cases in American history. He would later commit three more murders between 1985 and 1991.

As suggested by the Netflix documentary, Rawson was approached to see if she could provide further insight into any other unknown killings or crimes committed by her father.

How was the BTK Killer caught?

In 2004, The Wichita Eagle published a story about the 30th anniversary of the Otero murders, which prompted Rader to start sending letters again, this time detailing a murder from 1986.

He then sent a letter to a local radio station and continued to leave messages and packages around the area with details of his crimes.

Rader, later on, queried the police about whether information sent via a floppy disk could be traced. The authorities assured him it couldn’t be traced, a misstep that would ultimately lead to his downfall.

The police discovered deleted files on the floppy disk that were directly linked to Rader, but at this point, the evidence was still circumstantial.

Through familial DNA testing, they found a strong match to DNA taken from one of BTK’s victims.

In 2005, Rader was apprehended and confessed to his heinous crimes, confirming that the notorious BTK killer had finally been captured.

Is the BTK Killer still alive?

Indeed, the BTK Killer is still alive and serving 10 consecutive life sentences in the El Dorado Correctional Facility.

The BTK Killer has inspired numerous films, TV shows and books, including the character of Paul Spector (portrayed by Jamie Dornan) in BBC’s The Fall, Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes) in Thomas Harris’ novel and film Red Dragon from the Hannibal Lecter series, and Stephen King’s novella A Good Marriage.

Most recently, the BTK Killer (played by Sonny Valicenti) featured in the now-cancelled Netflix series Mindhunter, which had an overarching storyline featuring his crimes as the FBI Behavioural Sciences Unit was beginning to develop criminal profiling.

My Father, the BTK Killer is streaming on Netflix now