Mindhunter Recap: Copy Cat Inspirations

This recap of Mindhunter Season 2, Episode 2 contains significant spoilers. You can read the recap of the previous episode by clicking these words.

Now that the team is back, Episode 2 delves into investigation work surrounding the BTK (Bind, Torture, Kill) killer. Bill travels to Wichita, Kansas to meet up with Detective Drowatsky to visit a crime scene, the Otero House. As Bill walks around the house, the descriptions of what the BTK killer did to the family, and especially the children, sounded horrific. Every time Bill has to go into detail on any of these cases, you can tell the stories mentally inflict him. He’s a stubborn man, but there’s only so far he can put up a world. He does notice, however, that the BTK killer takes souvenirs.

Bill’s investigation takes him to a survivor of the BTK killer, Kevin. The survivor explains that the suspect wore clean clothes and that the killer was not prepared for his family to be present at the time, but he dealt with them all calmly. Kevin gets understandably distressed with the interview, and at the end, reveals that the killer wore a big military steel kind of watch.

Episode 2 then returns to the BSU; Holden believes BTK was exceptionally prepared and they draw up conclusions that their inspirations are born from David Richard Berkowitz (Son of Sam). Wendy is slightly defensive that they want to interview the Son of Sam, but it goes ahead anyway.

Bill and Holden hold an interview with the Son of Sam. Holden is wooden at first, but then he takes control of the conversation as he did in the previous season, asking invasive personal questions. We learn that the Son of Sam was adopted, and he claims demons from a dog controlled him. But Holden finds a window where he accuses the Son of Sam of making it all up, as he suspects he does not like a biographer taking all the fame for the demon story. Son of Sam makes an admission — that he used literature and The Exorcist as materials to discuss demons.

I always find it unnerving how Holden slightly admires these serial killers. His agnostic approach is intensely creepy at times.

Wendy agrees with Holden’s observations but wonders why the Son of Sam is adamant that the violence and sex were completely separate. They conclude it was for his fame, and he did not want to be associated as a sex offender, so changed the narrative.

Mindhunter Season 2, Episode 2 ends with a detective visiting Bill’s house and makes his wife aware that one of her places of residence is a crime scene.

The Altered Tapes

• Bill becomes paranoid about the safety of his family when he gets home after speaking to Kevin about the BTK killer.
• Wendy and Bill discuss the potential risks of Holden having more episodes.
• Wendy meets a lady behind the bar called Kay.

You can read the recap of the third episode by clicking these words.