Dennis Rader — the BTK Killer — lived a double life as a husband, father, and church leader while secretly committing ten brutal murders over two decades. In this episode of Here’s Our Alibi, Stephanie and Ben unpack the documentary BTK: Confessions of a Serial Killer, which follows forensic psychologist Dr. Katherine Ramsland’s years-long interviews with Rader behind bars.
They explore the psychology behind his crimes, how control and ego drove his every move, and the moral tightrope Ramsland walked in order to get him talking.
Along the way, they debate whether serial killers should ever be given a platform, how Rader’s manipulations mirror other notorious killers like Bundy and Kemper, and why his “moral code” was as delusional as it was disturbing.
Topics include:
The forensic psychologist’s ethical dilemma
BTK’s need for attention and validation
The illusion of control in his family and community life
Nature vs. nurture: was he born evil or made?
What Mindhunter got wrong about Rader
Why feeding a killer’s ego can continue the damage
🎙️ Here’s Our Alibi is a couple’s true crime podcast where Stephanie and Ben crack open documentaries, cases, and psychological themes with curiosity, candor, and a dash of dark humor.