Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage) is among the most fascinating and mysterious characters in Dexter: Resurrection. A rich businessman with connections everywhere in the metropolis, he additionally has a secret: he’s obsessive about serial killers. Watching their show-and-tells fuels his sick fascination, as does his private museum full of a group of serial killer artifacts and trophies.
Not a lot was identified about Leon’s private life past this till Episode 7, “Course Correction,” when he opened as much as Dexter (Michael C. Corridor) about his previous. The main points are harrowing, however in addition they counsel there’s extra to Leon than meets the attention. He may not simply be obsessive about serial killers; he may doubtlessly be one.
Leon’s Fascination With Killers Would possibly Have Began Earlier Than Anticipated
It was beforehand revealed that Leon grew to become an orphan when each his dad and mom had been killed in a tragic automotive accident attributable to a drunk driver. Like Dexter, his darkness was born in blood. He tells Dexter that he grappled with the truth of the state of affairs all through his childhood, finally deciding that he wanted to see the person who killed his dad and mom if he was going to get any closure.
Because the story goes, the person named Cooper, who was serving time in jail for the crime, revealed to Leon that he had induced the crash on objective. He had simply fought along with his girlfriend on the time and opted to drive proper into the automotive in his match of rage. Confused by this revelation, Leon additionally oddly discovered himself drawn to it. So, he continued to go to.
Finally, Cooper admitted to Leon that he felt no regret for his actions. Relatively than angering Leon, he discovered himself intrigued by this actuality. Cooper lastly instructed Leon that he had killed earlier than, and Leon felt extra related to him than ever at that second. He felt answerable for his life. The dialog made him vow by no means to be the scared little boy within the backseat once more.
Cooper was stated to have died earlier than he noticed his fiftieth birthday. Feeling misplaced and alone after that, Leon began to gather trophies from different killers in hopes that this may proceed to gas his darkness. And so, his obsession and fascination started, culminating in these dinner events and show-and-tell periods. Or so Leon claims.
May Leon Be the New York Ripper?
Given Leon’s robust ties to New York and his obsession with serial killers, is it potential that he’s greater than only a voyeur but additionally the infamous New York Ripper? This serial killer has reportedly been terrorizing the streets of New York because the ‘70s and ‘80s, the very streets Leon mentions enjoying on as a baby. Claudette (Kadia Saraf) grew to become obsessive about taking him down and nearly misplaced her job within the technique of trying to find the Ripper. However why? Likelihood is, she got here near discovering out who he was, and Leon used his energy and affect to drive her off his scent.
There are many different theories about who the New York Ripper might be, together with the Gemini Killer (David Dastmalchian). Nevertheless, he’d seemingly be too younger, and even Blessing (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), which might be a surprising however plausible twist given the reveal of his darkish facet. However there’s one thing about Leon that matches, even when the age doesn’t.
Taking that under consideration, it’s extra seemingly that the Ripper was his father, and Leon both determined to proceed his dad’s work after his dying or felt drawn to killers due to this. Redditor Syndromegetsdown theorizes that Leon is the New York Ripper’s son and his relationship along with his dad mirrors that of Dexter and Harrison (Jack Alcott). Digital-Drive7348 provides in one other dialogue that it will be a loopy twist if “Prater, as a child, kills his father [and] thus begins his fascination with serial killers.” Far-Rip5821 provides that it is smart as a result of “why else would Prater be so fascinated about killers except he was associated to 1.”
One clue pertains to the weapon used within the Ripper instances. It’s a really lengthy software with a hook on the top. This is a perfect possibility for somebody of Leon’s diminutive stature, since it will present the additional top he would wish to assault his taller victims. “Little particular person bullied as a baby,” notes Murky-Cheetah-4317, “will get even through the use of an extended software to help him along with his pure lack of attain, additionally ‘will get even’ by turning into a fantastic success…” Apparently, that weapon is among the many objects in Leon’s museum. How did Leon handle to come up with it? The Ripper by no means left a homicide weapon at crime scenes.
It will additionally make sense that the Ripper is Leon (or his father) because the Ripper hasn’t been lively for a while. Leon could also be utilizing these serial-killer buddies not simply to gas his darkish passenger however to satiate his starvation to kill so he doesn’t act on his impulses and threat his standing and wealth. It’s like dwelling vicariously by means of these killers is Leon’s personal twisted model of a code. Or, extra seemingly, it’s his manner of honoring his father by gathering probably the most infamous killers of their respective fields.
May He Be Linked to Brian Moser?
One other idea is that Leon may doubtlessly have ties to Brian Moser (Christian Camargo), Dexter’s organic older brother, who turned out to be the Ice Truck Killer. If Brian had been nonetheless alive, he could be in his 50s and thus across the similar age as Leon. Seeing as each grew up in orphanages and with foster households, it’s potential they crossed paths sooner or later, both as youngsters and even later as adults, earlier than Brian grew to become the Ice Truck Killer and began stalking Dexter (once more). There’s a 15-year hole, in any case, within the timeline between when Brian first seems in Dexter: Unique Sin and when he exhibits up in Miami in Season 1 of Dexter.
Apparently, Camargo is about to look in Dexter: Resurrection. Whereas it was initially believed to be in ghost type, very similar to Harry (James Remar), maybe it’s in a flashback earlier than his dying to disclose that the 2 knew each other. We all know, in any case, that Leon adopted the killings in Miami, since he had relics from the Ice Truck Killer, the Bay Harbor Butcher, and the Trinity Killer in his museum, and knew very detailed details about the instances. If he had identified Brian earlier than, he may need collaborated with him on kills.
Leon Stays an Enigma, However In all probability Not for Lengthy
There’s actually much more than meets the attention to Leon. He has secrets and techniques that can seemingly be revealed earlier than the top of the season. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of chance for a kind of secrets and techniques to be that Leon is among the most infamous serial killers to by no means be caught, or at the least related to the killer in some significant manner. Perhaps he’s simply your common garden-variety killer, or he’s the son of a killer who has develop into drawn to different serial killers after shedding his murderous father, hoping they may fill that gap.
It is solely potential that Leon actually has by no means dedicated a homicide himself and simply mastered the artwork of pulling puppet strings to quell his darkish passenger. No matter extra there may be to study Leon, one factor’s for certain: Dexter will discover out. Stream Dexter: Resurrection on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Dexter: Resurrection
- Launch Date
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July 13, 2025
- Community
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Paramount+ with Showtime
- Administrators
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Marcos Siega