Would you tell your daughter about her biological father?

Question

My daughter turned 18 a month ago and for years has asked about her biological father and I said I would tell her when she's older and just haven't because there's a lot of darkness with her biological dad and I'm worried she will try to meet him if she knows about him. Her biological father is in prison... For murdering 8 people.... These 8 people were involved in the church he went to as a kid. I know he was sexually abused and physically abused within the church and the people he murdered as an adult where the people who abused him as a child. Me and him dated for a short period and we were already broken up when I found out I was pregnant. I had intentions to tell him but I had a history of miscarriages so I waited until after the first trimester and then I find out he was arrested. Over the years I kept up with his trial and of course he was sentenced to life and the death sentence for premeditated first degree murder of 8 people. My mom is the only other person who knows who my daughters biological dad is and she also kept up with his court stuff over the years and last year we found out how s death sentence got overturned. So he's just doing life. The reason I never told my daughter is because 1. I didn't want her to be known as a murderer's daughter. Plus his childhood is so dark and traumatic and the whole situation is sad and I didn't want her to bare that. She keeps asking and my mom thinks I should just tell her. I just want to protect her though. Would you tell her?
Edit: He doesn't know she exists. When I planned to tell him he had already been arrested. Plus when I was following his trial and everything it was clear he wasn't all there anymore if that makes sense. So I didn't see a point in telling him. Especially since I thought he was gonna be executed. I didn't know people are usually on death row for years before either being executed or getting it overturned which they decided to overturn his execution. I'm also worried I won't have the answers and she will try to go to him for them. Because while I'm aware of what led him to wanting revenge I guess, I don't really know everything. I didn't live his childhood. I can't tell her a whole lot about him.

Answer

Yes. I would tell her. She has a right to know.

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I am not in your shoes, but I think I would tell her. Then caution her that he is in prison. Does he know she exists?

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Yes, I would tell her. She’s 18 and she deserves to know who her dad is. It might hurt her to find out the truth, but if she keeps asking she might be finding a way to get answers too. It would be better for her to hear it from you.

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You definitely should’ve told her. She should know where she came from.

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Yes. I found out my dad wasn’t my biological dad at 27. Unfortunately my biological dad had passed a few years prior. I wish my mom would’ve told me so I could’ve had the choice to reach out to him if I’d wished

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Well I think you’re wrong for not even telling him he has a child! And secondly, she has a right to know who her father is. You shouldn’t make that decision for her

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Okay my answer is going to opposite of what most people have suggested here. 
I understand where your daughter is coming from and that she would want to know about her biological father. It is her right to know that too. I agree with that point that others made. 
But to be very honest his past is wayyyyy too dark. If I were you I would’ve protected my child. I would’ve told her a fake story about some guy I spent few weeks with, whom I didn’t know well enough & who later somehow passed away. This way she won’t go out searching for him. 
Suddenly at the age of 18 if you tell her that her father is a murderer who killed 8 people that will completely shake her up to her core! 
You don’t know how will it affect her mentally, emotionally & socially!! You can’t be sure what kind of things she might get into or drawn into & you can’t even tell her anything anymore coz she’s an adult now. 
It’s best to just keep it hidden and cook up another (fool proof) story.

Answer

I get wanting to protect her but you don't get to hide someones past from them. She keeps asking and she is an adult. You shouldn't gatekeep information on her direct family even dark. People are a lot more resilient than given credit for. I found out at 22 a family member I was once very very very close to then my parnets just cut us off from committed an absolutely horrible crime. They didnt tell any of us and the secrecy madebus want to know more. Eventually my uncle let it slip. Yes it was a lot to process but still glad I know. She isn't going to stop asking so you might as well trust you raised her to be strong enough and mature enough to realize dark thibgs happen but it doesnt mean anything to her life besides knowledge about her life. And if you are worried about anything safety wise in the future I'd rather her know so if she feels something is off she knows to be extra cautious or not blow it off as she has a past and while you are not telling her doesn't mean everyone else involved hasn't told their family

Answer

As an adoptee, who searched since 18, with little to no info, she has the right to know. The good, bad and ugly. She may have other family who want to be a part of her life — it’s all of it, emotional, mental, and medical. She is entitled to that.
Wouldn’t it be better coming from you and hearing the details from you … rather than her doing a DNA test, getting matched with other family, digging for info and then finding out with out you and maybe not even telling you? 
My birth mom is in prison for murder. Her and my uncle conspired to murder her husband. I found this out through ancestry dna and I was matched with my biological families. Is it a shock? Yes. Am I the daughter of someone who committed a heinous crime? Yes. But hey, I’ve had a lot of therapy and it’s helped me balance and manage the feelings. It’s been 6 years and I haven’t actually applied to meet her. We’ve talked and we’re building a relationship. But I’m glad it’s on my terms. 
Your daughter is entitled to her own history, even if it’s hard. She’s been asking. Either she will do it without you and without your support, or you can tell her and be her support.

Answer

I think she should know so that she doesn't find out somewhere else other than from you. However, I disagree with some of the women here saying that he has a right to know about his daughter. He murdered eight people, he doesn't have rights to anything anymore. Yeah great, he murdered his abusers. He's still a dangerous person. Anyone who can murder eight people is dangerous. I (and many others) have abusers too, and I wouldn't be capable of killing them. You have every right to keep your daughter from him.

Would you tell your daughter about her biological father?

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