Plot Synopsis

BTK: CONFESSION OF A SERIAL KILLER is a two-night documentary event that examines the horrific crimes and psyche of notorious serial killer Dennis Rader, who is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences in El Dorado Correctional Facility. Dr. Katherine Ramsland, whose correspondence with Rader has spanned a decade and is still on-going, shares the intimate details of Rader's past and his gruesome murders while providing insight to arm criminologists and law enforcement on how to better identify and potentially deter extreme violent offenders in the future. The two-night event sheds new light on Rader's double life as both an upstanding citizen and a heartless killer. The renowned professor of forensic psychology and author leads the examination of his transformation from an American boy to an American monster who wreaked havoc in Wichita, Kansas and went uncaptured for thirty years. With exclusive phone conversations with Rader himself, eye-opening new archival, comprehensive interviews, and access to Rader's drawings and coded diaries all paired with Dr. Ramsland's expertise, viewers get to know the man behind the moniker, the truth behind the headlines and a glimpse at the secrets Rader is still holding onto. The four episodes airing over two nights are:

"Outliers" (Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 9pm): On the surface Dennis Rader seemed like a "regular guy," but what lied beneath was a sinister fantasy life he enacted under the guise of his alter ego, BTK, while terrorizing Wichita, Kansas. Professor of forensic psychology, Dr. Katherine Ramsland, has been communicating with the serial killer for over 10 years and reveals the motivations behind his gruesome crime spree.

"Unmasking Factor X" (Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 10pm): The murderous crime spree of BTK continued as there were seemingly no signs from his upbringing that would indicate he would become a serial killer...or were there? Dr. Katherine Ramsland dives headfirst into exploring the childhood memories of the man behind the BTK moniker: Dennis Rader.

"Keeping Secrets" (Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 9pm): After 1978, while BTK seemed to disappear from Wichita, he was actually quietly stalking victims and killing with more sadistic violence than ever before.

"Walking Cesspool" (Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 10pm): Dr. Katherine Ramsland gets first-hand insight into the mind of the BTK Killer, Dennis Rader, and the fatal mistake that led to his capture.