Domestic Violence Injunction Involving Kelly Lawson

Kelly Lawson, daughter of infamous BTK serial killer Dennis Rader, is currently under a domestic violence injunction after claiming her ex-husband warned her about threats to her and her children’s lives. This was initially reported by the New York Post.

Since her father’s arrest in 2005, Kelly has found her voice as a best-selling author and a strong advocate for victims of violent crimes, sharing her complex experiences growing up as the child of a notorious figure.

A Florida judge granted the injunction after her ex-husband, Darian Lawson, filed a petition outlining various incidents that led him to believe both he and their teenage children were at risk. The ruling temporarily awarded him full custody, limiting Kelly’s contact to electronic means. Furthermore, she has been restricted from visiting their home, school, and even coming near their pets.

According to Darian’s petition, Kelly allegedly brought him to the Altamonte Springs Police Department in January 2025 and claimed she possessed supernatural abilities, stating her children were in imminent danger of being killed that day. It’s quite a claim, right?

Additionally, she reportedly told police that threats were looming over her family. Shortly after that, she called 911 to report a shooting at an apartment complex, claiming there were active shooters involved and multiple fatalities. Fortunately, the officers found her family safe, as per the police report referenced by the newspaper.

The situation escalated, and police later found Kelly at Orlando International Airport, where she was taken to a hospital. There, she voluntarily admitted herself, according to the report. Subsequently, she was detained under Florida’s Baker Act, which permits temporary confinement for mental health evaluations under certain conditions.

Interestingly, an incident report mentioned that Kelly has a history of, let’s say, mental health struggles and has been known to make false statements about events that never happened.

Darian later claimed Kelly breached the restraining order by reaching out to him multiple times, despite the no-contact provisions.

To provide some context, Dennis Rader, the BTK killer, took the lives of 10 individuals between 1974 and 1991, all while living a seemingly ordinary life in the Wichita, Kansas area. His nickname, BTK, stands for “bind, torture, kill.” He was arrested in 2005 and is currently serving 10 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

In 2019, Kelly published a memoir titled “A Serial Killer’s Daughter,” in which she delves into her father’s horrific acts. Moreover, she has participated in documentaries and TV shows, focusing on victim advocacy.

As of now, there hasn’t been a response from Kelly’s representatives regarding the recent events.