The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story is a 2024 Lifetime thriller directed by Greg Beeman, featuring Teri Hatcher as Ruth Finley and Tahmoh Penikett as her husband, Ed. Set in 1970s Wichita, Kansas, the film portrays the Finleys’ life disrupted when Ed suffers a heart attack. During his hospitalization, Ruth begins receiving anonymous threats, including menacing phone calls and chilling letters, intensifying her fear amid the city’s terror under the BTK killer. Her subsequent abduction and sudden reappearance perplex investigators, leading them to suspect that the perpetrator might be someone close to her.

As the investigation unfolds, it’s revealed that Ruth herself, suffering from multiple personality disorder due to suppressed childhood trauma, is behind the threats and attacks. Her dissociative state led her to create an alter ego responsible for the harassment, including self-inflicted injuries. Upon this discovery, Ruth seeks psychological help, confronting her past and beginning a journey toward healing. The film delves into themes of mental health and the impact of repressed trauma, offering a gripping narrative based on true events.