Victims’ Advocate and BTK Killer’s Daughter Kerri Rawson Faces Domestic Violence Restraining Order

Kerri Rawson, whose father is the notorious “BTK” serial killer Dennis Rader and who has built a career as a victims’ advocate and bestselling author, has been subjected to a domestic violence injunction in Florida. Court records reveal that her ex-husband, Darian Rawson, petitioned a judge after alleging repeated incidents that raised concerns for his safety and their two teenage children’s wellbeing. The legal action marks a significant development involving a prominent public figure who has dedicated years to discussing her father’s crimes and supporting violent crime victims.

The Florida court granted Darian Rawson temporary full custody of their children while restricting Kerri Rawson’s contact to electronic communications only. The order also prohibits her from approaching their home, school, or having any contact with the family’s pets. These restrictions were put in place following a petition detailing several incidents that alarmed her ex-husband.

On January 5, 2025, Kerri Rawson allegedly summoned her ex-husband to an Altamonte Springs police station, where she claimed to possess psychic abilities confirming their children faced immediate danger of being murdered. She subsequently informed police that attackers were approaching before calling 911 to report active shooters and gunfire at a nearby apartment complex with three fatalities. Officers responding to the scene found the family unharmed.

Police later located Rawson at Orlando International Airport and transported her to a hospital where she voluntarily admitted herself for evaluation. She was subsequently placed in custody under Florida’s Baker Act, a statute permitting temporary psychiatric detention for mental health assessment. An incident report obtained by the New York Post described her as someone who makes “inaccurate and fabricated statements about incidents that did not actually occur” due to mental health concerns.

The injunction petition also alleged that Darian Rawson claimed she violated the order by initiating multiple contacts with him despite the no-contact provision. Rawson published her memoir “A Serial Killer’s Daughter” in 2019 and has appeared in various documentaries and television programs discussing her father’s crimes. A representative for Rawson did not respond to requests for comment.

Dennis Rader confessed to murdering 10 people across the Wichita, Kansas area between 1974 and 1991 while maintaining an outwardly normal suburban existence. His BTK moniker derived from his modus operandi: bind, torture, and kill. He pleaded guilty in 2005 and currently serves 10 consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole.