Dexter Morgan Biography

warning this might contain spoilers.

• Laura Moser, mother (deceased)
• Brian Moser, brother (deceased)
• Joe Driscoll, father (deceased)
• Harry Morgan, adoptive father (deceased)
• Doris Morgan, adoptive mother (deceased)
• Debra Morgan, adoptive sister
• Rita Bennett, wife, deceased
• Astor Bennett, step-daughter
• Cody Bennett, step-son
• Harrison Morgan, son

History:

When Dexter was three years old, he and his older brother Brian witnessed the violent murder of their own mother and three others by drug dealers and were left in a shipping container, surrounded by four dismembered bodies . The incident left them both psychologically scarred for life.  Much of the details of Dexter's rescue was kept secret by Harry.  Laura Moser was Harry's Confidential Informant (CI) and he had an affair with her. Harry was the one who found Dexter in trailer and he then adopted Dexter and raised him as his son along with his daughter Debra Morgan .  He did not adopt Brian believing him to have been too damaged by what had happened. During Dexter's teenage years Harry realized Dexter had dark tendencies and a near insatiable bloodlust. This was categorized by Dexter's utter lack of emotion and feeling. Harry recognized these as tendencies of a serial killer.  Harry, frustrated with the amount of killers who use and abuse the justice system and continue to escape to continue their killings, decided instead to train Dexter as a serial killer that only targeted and expertly dispatched other killers.  He taught Dexter to channel his "dark passenger" as they called it and developed"The Code of Harry." The first rule being "Don't get caught" and all the other rules are designed to make sure the first doesn't get broken.


"Harry's Code" evolved into an ethos for Dexter to follow entailing vital information. This ethos involved creating an elaborate mask for Dexter to wear feigning emotion and interest in things that really didn't. This involved the mundane smiles when happy and laughs when cohorts tell a joke. It also lead to a relationship with Rita Bennett, whom was also distanced emotionally due to a rocky relationship with a heroin addicted ex-husband. Dexter makes frequent references to an internal feeling of emptiness and says he kills to feel alive. Dexter claims to have no feelings or conscience and that all of his emotional responses are part of a well-rehearsed act to conceal who — or what — he really is. There are holes in Dexter's emotional armor, however. As he continues to feign emotions he begins to learn that he does care for some and most importantly for his family.  In the first season of the television series he had no interest in romance or sex; this changed when he became involved with Lila in season two. Initially he considered his relationship with Rita to be part of his "disguise". However, later on, Dexter has fully evolved into a family man that wishes to rid himself of his "Dark Passenger." He also grows a conscience, as he says "How is it I can show no remorse for killing a man, but feel like the scum of the Earth for having her pick me up at the police station," referring to Rita.


The major part of "Harry's Code" would define his utter being as a killer. Dexter could harm no innocent, only the guilty. Using an ample history of unsolved case files and known criminals Dexter carefully investigates each of his victims before stalking and killing them. He follows them to learn their routines and makes sure that prior to killing them to establish if they are likely to kill again. He then ritually prepares a kill site, located in a place that would fit the way in which they lived (e.g. killing a boxer in a boxing ring and a gambler in a Casino's storage shed), completely enclosed in clear plastic tarpaulin to catch all spilled blood so as to leave no signs of the murder, often adorning it with evidence or photos of his victim's crimes.  Later however while trying to balance being a husband, father and work along with his need to kill Dexter will make a mistake and kill an innocent man. 


His M.O. is to use a veterinary tranquilizer (Etorphine (Immobilon or M99) to subdue the victim, then to strip then naked and immobilize them with clear plastic wrap and duct tape if needed. Coating the entire crime scene in plastic he ensures no evidence is ever left before presenting a consciousness victim with their crimes before killing and dismembering them. Just before the murder, however, Dexter collects trophies from his victims so he can relive the experience. Dexter's trophy signature is to slice the victim's cheek with a surgical scalpel underneath the victim's right eye and to collect a small blood sample, which he preserves between two laboratory slides. Dexter keeps blood slides from all his victims neatly organized in a wooden filing box which he hides in his air conditioner. During the Bay Harbor Butcher case his case of slides was stolen by Doakes and he later had to start over once more. After dismembering his victims he disposes of their bodies  at the bottom of the Miami bay in garbage bags.

Dexter was originally introduced to Rita by Debra, who responded to the domestic violence call and saved her life. Dexter originally stayed with her to maintain his cover while being a serial killer (in his own words, Dexter stated he "chose Rita because she's as damaged as I am", and so briefly feared that if she got better, he'd lose her). Nevertheless, Rita tentatively started a real relationship with Dexter, while remaining unaware of how he spends all of his free time. Her past abuse made her temporarily uninterested in sex, which worked well for Dexter, as every time he has previously had sex, the woman left him. Eventually their relationship was consummated.

Their relationship became troubled after Rita discovers that Dexter set up her ex-husband so that he was sent back to jail. She suspects that Dexter owned the drugs Paul was injected with. Dexter allows her to think he is an addict, as it is better than saying he is a serial killer. He agrees to go Narcotics Anonymous after she threatens to leave him when he expresses reluctance. Although he begins to work through the program, Rita suspects he is having an affair with his sponsor, Lila, and breaks up with him. In anguish, Dexter then turns to Lila, and consummates what had before been a platonic relationship. When Rita finds out that two have become lovers she makes the break official, although her children still try to maintain a relationship with Dexter. After Dexter lies to Lila about working late, Lila breaks into Rita's house, afraid that they had rekindled their relationship. Angered, Dexter breaks up with her. The next day, Dexter apologized to Rita for his infidelity, saying that Lila is one of his biggest mistakes. Later, she calls him and states she wants him back, due to her "feelings for him." His breakup with Lila, his love for Rita and her children, and his sincere regret over what he had done convinces Rita to start dating him again.

The relationship goes well and then suddenly Dexter finds out that Rita is pregnant. he must now choose whether to be a part of his child's life. After much deliberation, Dexter decided that he'll be there for the child and Rita eventually accepts his marriage proposal. In the mean time Dexter is making friends with Miguel Prado and teaching him Harry's Code, which he would later regret. As far as Dexter is concerned Miguel has no code of honor and cannot be allowed to continue to kill especially once he targets LaGuerta.

Rita and Dexter move in together to a house in the suburbs. Rita begins to notice a pattern of lies by Dexter, including the fact that he kept his old apartment. Rita and Dexter then go to a marriage counselor, who sorts out their problems and puts peace between them. However, their neighbor, Elliot, begins to fall for Rita, kissing her and pointing out that Dexter is never home. Though she initially kisses him back, she quickly ends it before something begins. She eventually admits this to Dexter, and is disappointed by that he does not seem to care. However, she later sees him punching Elliot over it. Dexter feigns concern when Rita tells him she saw, but then tells him that she is glad that he cared that much.

Dexter, aggravated at the obstacles he kept encountering in his quest to kill Trinity, is arrested for assaulting a policeman. Rita picks him up after receiving a call from the jail. Dexter expresses disappointment in himself, and apologizes to Rita for being the second husband she has had to pick up from jail. Rita tells him that she was more upset that Dexter is so much an integral part of her family's existence that if he were removed their world would be shattered. Dexter tells her that he has demons inside of him, and is afraid of what they will do; but she assures him that she loves him. Dexter begs Rita to leave early for their honeymoon, to which she finally agrees. Later, after finally murdering Trinity, Dexter returns home to find a voicemail from Rita, who tells him she left her ID at home, and would take a later flight after going back to pick it up. Dexter calls Rita and is shocked to find that her phone and purse are at the house. He then hears Harrison crying, and proceeds to the bathroom where he finds Harrison in a pool of blood and Rita's lifeless body in the blood-filled bathtub, an apparent last act by the Trinity Killer. He appears to be genuinely devastated by her death, rushing to her side, before he picks Harrison up and carries him away.

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