Mindhunter is a Netflix original series about the formation of the Behavioral Science division of the FBI — basically what later became the type of detectives fans watch on Criminal Minds every week.
In Season 1, the show was a huge hit and Season 2 was released this weekend and already has people talking about the serial killers profiled this time around — all real-life serial killers.
While many true crime lovers know the names — Charles Manson, David Berkowitz, and the BTK Killer — this show reveals some amazing facts about them — including the victim that got away, Kevin Bright.
Who was the BTK Killer?
Dennis Rader was the BTK Killer, the letters standing for, “Bind, Torture, Kill.” As evident by that name, this guy was not someone anyone wanted to cross paths with.
Rader even sent letters to the local media with BTK as his signature, a nickname he gave himself.
From 1974 until 1991, Rader killed 10 people. However, one of the victims survived and escaped along the way.
How did Kevin Bright survive the BTK Killer?
Dennis Rader said that he saw Kathryn Bright one day when she was walking with a friend. He decided that he wanted her to be a future victim, referring to her as a “sweet kid.”
On April 4, 1974, Rader busted into her house and found Kathryn with her 19-year-old brother Kevin. Rader decided to kill them both so he said he started with Kathryn, who he tied up and then went back to Kevin.
Kevin put up a fight, so Rader shot him in the head and went back to torture Kathryn more. When she kept fighting, he returned and saw Kevin was still alive. They fought and he shot Kevin again.
When Rader returned to Kathryn, she kept fighting. Rader said that he checked back in on Kevin and the brother was gone. Kevin Bright survived two gunshots including one to the head and still to run down the street and escape.
Rader then ran as well. Kathryn Bright died at the scene, but not before she called the police. When the police arrested him 30 years later, they found the knife he used to kill Kathryn in his kitchen.
In an interview with Bob Costas, Bright said that he gave his description before he went into surgery.
“Before I went into surgery, I gave a description of him, and that’s one thing that’s kind of been upsetting to me, because I was portrayed as an unreliable witness by several people, and my testimony that they took before I went into surgery matches — I nailed him on his description,” Bright said.