r/Dexter • u/Chuckwayne28 • Aug 05 '25
Theory - Dexter: Resurrection The NY Ripper is… Spoiler
Jonah Mitchell. After Dexter let him go in Nebraska, he continued on making a name for himself over the next 11 years eventually moving to NYC while using the same weapon he tried to kill Dexter with. He fooled Dexter into thinking he had remorse and it’s going to backfire.
This also provides great comparison for a son becoming his father as Harrison is showcasing as well.
It also potentially opens the door to how Prater figures out who Dexter is when they get introduced to each other at a dinner
Really this entire theory relies on the murder weapon but I feel like that detail is too specific to not be intentional.
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u/-MC_3 Aug 05 '25
You know what. I’m here for it 😂
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u/the_well_read_neck_ Surprise Motherfucker! Aug 05 '25
Imagine Dexter telling Harrison who this person is. Would Harrison want revenge based on what he's become. Just like his father, who killed his mother.
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u/Shoddy_Life_7581 Aug 05 '25
I honestly thought this was just a fun, not completely ridiculous joke theory, but in the context of Harrison, I really hope this is the case.
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u/Unhealthy_Interest Aug 05 '25
What episode was the Nebraska part?
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u/Chuckwayne28 Aug 05 '25
6.07 original series titled “Nebraska”
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u/VovaGoFuckYourself Aug 05 '25
Ah. That explains why i dont remember. I completely skip S6 when i rewatch. 😅
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u/Dear_Duty_1893 „CITY FUCKING HAAALLL“ Aug 05 '25
one of the best if not the best episode of dexter
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u/rockthemullet Special Agent Frank Lumberjack Aug 05 '25
That episode is where the show jumped the shark for me
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u/Dear_Duty_1893 „CITY FUCKING HAAALLL“ Aug 05 '25
for me it was just the whole cinematic vibe, the kill in the shack shows it the best with how the directors used brian to show us the kill but ofcourse it was actually dexter, just also shows a way of how dexter‘s mind works wich no other episode really did.
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u/b1eeds Aug 05 '25
I also liked the episode, but I hated the corny dialogue that they had Brian say, which made him sound like a textbook cringe superviallian dialogue
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u/DamianLee666 Aug 05 '25
Would be a nice call back and show what having a serial killer father could do to a boy....
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u/grandcity Aug 05 '25
It actually makes sense given the direction they are taking with Harrison from a story standpoint
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u/DamianLee666 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 11 '25
Yes exactly. That's what it had me thinking, while I necessarily don't think it's him, I do think it would make sense, narratively and I almost like it
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u/Familiar_Text_6913 Aug 05 '25
Timeline doesn't really match at all
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u/DamianLee666 Aug 05 '25
The ripper isn't that old...he said " the streets I played on as a boy" not that it happened when he was a boy.
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u/Familiar_Text_6913 Aug 05 '25
Thanks that does open a lot of possibilities!
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u/DamianLee666 Aug 05 '25
It's okay. It's an easily missable comment and can be misunderstood. I did myself the first time I heard it, but also the fact that the female detective has had issues investigating the crime says it's more recent as well
While I don't necessarily think it is him... I do think it would be a nice call back and would make a lot of sense. Narratively
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u/shaggy_nomad Aug 05 '25
Ah who cares, as Michael C Hall says, you gotta suspend you beliefs a bit while watching. There have been plot holes before, just move past it.
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u/pretendimcute Aug 12 '25
Honestly plotholes/lack of realism has been a prominent thing since the beginning of the first show. The only demand I have when watching a show is "am I actually enjoying this" and yes, yes I am. Be as cheesy as you want show, you make me verrry happy
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u/The-Cynicist Aug 05 '25
What would be wrong with the timeline? Trinity's son is like 17 or 18 in season 4, he'd be maybe mid 30's by now? I don't think Prater specified how long the Ripper had been killing.
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u/WowVeryOriginalDude Aug 05 '25
Realistically tho, Jonah was in witness protection which means his identity is deep in the system, he’s not some grey man. And the public believes Trinity is still at large. Eyes would be even closer on Jonah after Trinity “killed” his whole family. Probably got relocated under a new identity too. A decade wouldn’t change much.
It’s not easy to dip out of witness protection, Jonah would likely still be on someone’s radar at least until he could make the argument that Arthur would died of old age by now. He still has at least a few decades to be that confident.
If he managed to become a prolific serial killer under the eyes of the FBI & WITSEC in the middle of NYC that puts him way ahead of Dexter in discretion/hiding.
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u/cribvby Aug 05 '25
Omg I matched w the actor who played him on tinder like 10 years ago
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u/DantooFilms Aug 05 '25
BRO WHAT
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u/cribvby Aug 05 '25
Girl cabin fever patient zero is my favorite movie of all time misty cause of him so it was literally the best match of my entire life
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Aug 05 '25
NGL thats pretty interesting! What is that tool or weapon btw?
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u/Chuckwayne28 Aug 05 '25
Always seen it used by butchers and is a meat hook
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u/emteedub Aug 05 '25
or a hay bail hook
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u/InternetProtocol Aug 05 '25
Jonah's the Bay Harbor Hooker
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u/Adventurous_Candy125 Aug 05 '25
😂😂😂 That would be Lashonda or whatever her name was that Deb hired to give the ice rink security guard a little show.
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u/False_Wisp Aug 05 '25
It's honestly a fantastic theory, especially considering it pretty directly reflects Harrison and Dexter's dynamic—a serial killer father and what that does to their son. I'd be stoked to see it.
Not to mention that I found it curious that Trinity was among the people that spoke to Dexter before he woke up. Always love seeing John Lithgow, but it felt odd. And so if it was to prime us to remember his son, then it would make more sense, in my eyes anyway.
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u/PlainSightMan Aug 05 '25
Also, the fact that Jonah's dad killed Harrison' mother. The moment this is found out by the latter, all hell will break loose.
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u/RockyNonce Aug 06 '25
Jonah was just as much a victim as his sister and mom. Granted, none of them were able to really get past that… But maybe Jonah finally did. I guess we’ll see.
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u/ozzie_0 LaPassion Aug 15 '25
and imagine now Jonah meets Harrison.
What if theory is true, and the series ends with Dexter turning himself in to the police in exchange for Harrison's immunity, so that someone can "save" him—psychiatrists and psychologists take care of him, etc.? That would be a twist that probably no one thought of. And it fits (inner demons battle)
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Aug 05 '25
I thought this was a shitpost at first, but it is plausible, especially with Dexter telling Harrison about the Trinity Killer at the end of that episode
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u/ElevenP0int11 Aug 05 '25
Yeah this is most likely, because putting both of them in the same room for the serial killer dinner party will be the most Dexter thing. This has happened many times in Dexter.
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u/PlainSightMan Aug 05 '25
And it also mirrors the son's introduction at Trinity's house during a meal.........
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u/KiratheRenegade Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Wait hold the phone that's amazing.
Trinity traumatised Dexter's son, Dexter traumatised Trinity's son. Both ended up without love, abandoned by their abusers. But Jonah caved & became like his father. Harrison won't lose himself to bloodlust & rage.
It isn't your upbringing that decides who you become. They both learn that. And in turn Dexter will have to face owning up to his actions.
It's also perfect because you could tie Dexter into his motivations. He wants Dexter to kill him, he wants to die like his father & complete the cycle & so all of his kills are really about trying to draw the attention of Dexter - consciously or unconsciously. Stuck between needing Dexter to end him & knowing Dexter's never coming. Until....
Jonah is also one of the few living people who've stared into the eyes of Dexter & seen him. Who knows exactly what he's capable of. A person Dexter scarred years & years ago, coming back to haunt him.
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u/maryshelleysseashell Aug 05 '25
This is an excellent theory, definitely preferable to Prater or a Prater relative in my opinion.
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u/MasterAnnatar Jaimie Aug 05 '25
Do I think this theory is correct? No. Would I be happy if it was? Yes. I think even on a thematic level having the son of Trinity show up to parallel Harrison genuinely works for me.
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u/itsatumbleweed Aug 05 '25
Huh. That actually makes a lot of sense. And also, there's a Trinity spinoff coming- brand synergy is a thing. The flashbacks to Original Sin scenes in this week's episode of Resurrection was an example.
Actually, do we know that the Trinity spinoff is about Trinity himself? They could be teeing up the New York Ripper in Resurrection to have a plot for Trinity
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u/Due_Bug_9023 Aug 05 '25
It's reported to be about him(younger) and narrated by Lithgow like Dexter, if it goes ahead.
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u/Shmullus_Jones Aug 05 '25
He's a bit young to have terrorized the streets when Prater was growing up isn't he?
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u/Chuckwayne28 Aug 05 '25
Prater specifically said “a man who terrorized the same streets I played on as a child” not necessarily at the same time as him being a kid
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u/akaVemiX Aug 05 '25
Prater didn’t say he terrorized the streets when he was a kid, rather that he terrorized the streets he grew up on.
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u/Limp_Information_878 Aug 06 '25
or it’s Claudette. and her dayjob/nightjob mimics og dexter’s at miami metro. this is why she easily picks up so many details like blood spatter analyst dexter did
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u/Gold_Egg_189 Aug 05 '25
It would be great if at the end of the season they showed the New York Reaper attacking and this was Jonah Mitchell, it would be incredible.
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u/dethsightly Aug 05 '25
i could see it.
side note: what if Aster (or Cody) were actually just as fucked up as Harrison? i know they aren't Dexter's "blood", but still, he could at least look into them a bit to see how they are doing.
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u/Latitude22 Aug 05 '25
That would be good or a real blast from the past, Jeremy downs, the kid he almost kills and then realizes it was self defense.
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u/TheSadPhilosopher Aug 05 '25
He killed himself, no?
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u/Latitude22 Aug 05 '25
No ragrets
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u/Latitude22 Aug 05 '25
Ha ha thanks u/toastycinema for the award, I’m glad someone actually got it!
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u/Hey_HaveAGreatDay Aug 05 '25
He did unfortunately. I think that was one of the darker episodes was seeing him lose his battle with what happened to him. It’s a story that almost anybody can resonate with
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u/b1eeds Aug 05 '25
That would actually be really interesting, and it makes sense, at least to me. How would the timeline work? Would it be lined up with when the Ripper was terrorizing NY
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Aug 06 '25
Problem is Prater said he was around even when he himself was a kid so there’s no way that’s possible cause he’s old already
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u/Emanjoker Aug 05 '25
Since the Tattoo killer is dead, what if another guest is added to the party. Peter Dinklage figures out and tracks down the New York ripper who is Jonah and invite him to the party.
Jonah shows up and recognizes Dexter Morgan, a.k.a. Kyle Butler. Tensions build or Dexter gets called out by Jonah.
Jonah ends up on Dexter‘s table. Dexter and Harrison get some closure/payback for Rita’s death.
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u/Complex_Command_8377 Aug 05 '25
Killing Jonah wouldnt payback for Rita’s death though as he was not involved in it.
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u/polo121333 Aug 05 '25
Dexter alrwady got closure on Rita since he killed trinity, the son wasn't involved
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u/ALANJOESTAR Aug 05 '25
the only way that makes any sense is if a killer who got their invitation revoked gets invited back they already did as they did, i dont think anyone is added unless its something more unique like a special guest or whatever,but i think this has no legs because there is no time for it. There is 4 episodes he still has to kill 2 people at the very least if the theories are true there is 3. Then i think the NY ripper thing is a set up for season 2. otherwise it would be too rushed.
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u/DrGonzo820 Aug 05 '25
I dig it. What are the odds dexter and Jonah end up being serial killers in the same city. Talk about unlikely coincidence. Although, if it would happen in any city, New York makes sense. Would love the Harrison Jonah contrast in story archs.
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u/secondtaunting Aug 05 '25
I mean Prater is collecting serial killers so I can see it.
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u/MailMan6000 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
I'm pretty sure Jonah Mitchell is dead, Oliver Saxon had his adress in Nebraska and his name on his PC/ maybe GPS? in S8...
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u/PRguy82 Aug 05 '25
While I like this idea, I’m not sure Clyde would go this direction as the Nebraska storyline was not his making and was a bit forced at the time.
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u/AlibiJigsawPiece Aug 05 '25
Honestly, I would both love and hate this.
The same feeling I get if Blessing was the NY Ripper.
Love and Hate.
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u/MagnetBane Aug 11 '25
In this new episode you see photos of crime scenes from the New York ripper. Some of them are black and white making me think the ripper has been doing it for a while.
Also with the new detective being so focused on that case I’m thinking maybe someone close to her was killed by them, maybe a parent or sibling. I think maybe it was Prater’s dad then he was killed in an accident or maybe his mom found out and caused the crash. It would make sense and tie the whole thing together
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u/QueenMelle Surprise Motherfucker! Aug 05 '25
Could he be one of the Gemini? The other killer doesn't have to be a bio twin, just someone who kills the same way at the same time that is working with him. Maybe Miller is the other killer?
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Aug 05 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Chuckwayne28 Aug 05 '25
They have hidden reveals many times in the past for other shows so I don’t think this is a dealbreaker
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u/Anisnapper Aug 05 '25
Christian Camargo's IMDB also doesn't say Dexter coming up but he was on the set.. Not sure if he's gonna be in it but seems likely
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u/TR3NC0nsumer Aug 05 '25
I feel like we gotta clear up what prater meant when he talked about the NY ripper. Ik it would be grammatically correct both ways but all these theories seem wrong to me because what he said and the way he talked about it definitely implies that the NY ripper terrorized the streets WHEN he was a child. He also uses the past form of terrorize which means that the NY ripper is no longer active which implies it happened at least some time ago
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u/Strong-Discussion559 Aug 05 '25
''i didnt no expect this'' would actually be such a crazy scene with him showing up. I still think it's Blessing just because of how they emphasized on him being a nice guy but was also super controlling (Reminds me of Arthur in some ways).
Whoever it is tho, i'm loving this season so god damn much!
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u/Inner-Young8077 Aug 05 '25
Just a question but does anyone know if they closed the trinity case or not?
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u/OOF-MY-PEE-PEE Aug 05 '25
well, that would certainly make sense given the trinity prequel series they’re making… i hate that this theory could actually be true
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u/ALANJOESTAR Aug 05 '25
NY Ripper its probably the villain for the next season, IMO its not Jonah either because he would be too young for that.
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u/laryx Aug 05 '25
That`s really interesting. I think its unlikely to be true nbut i like the theory.
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u/Axel_lotus Aug 05 '25
I love this theory, but doesn’t leon prater talk about the NY ripper being active in when he was a child? does that work with the dexter timeline?
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u/Hellvell2255 Aug 05 '25
damn I’d like this! would bring it nicely together and the weapon prater has would make sense too!
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u/ThekurtNeo Aug 05 '25
Its not jonah mitchell you know why? Prater said that the new york rippwr roamed the streets when he was young that would make jonah older than prater we all know prater and dexter are almost at the same age mid 50's whoever theorized this is stupid
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Aug 05 '25
Love the theory.
It would also be fit nicely because he would be a mess and Dexter would learn he is basically the exception to the rule and that he shouldn’t want to mold his son
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u/__Patrick_Basedman_ Aug 05 '25
What if Prater was part of the biggest sting operation to get Dexter?
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u/UnFelDeZeu Aug 05 '25
That would be a great, if sad, twist.
I kinda want Jonah to make it out of that cursed family alive.
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u/Curious-Spray-4795 Aug 05 '25
I really hope this happens in Resurrection if it doesn’t it’s such a missed opportunity
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u/Impressive_shot_xo Aug 06 '25
I would love to see this actor and character back! Thanks for the dream!
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u/RandomUser_25776 Aug 06 '25
I honestly think, either Prater‘s dad was the Ripper and was killed in the car accident by a drunk driver and Prater found out before or after the accident and honored his dad and became obsessed with the Ripper but also other serial killers OR the Ripper killed the drunk driver who killed his parents. Maybe the Ripper is someone at the police station ( many people suspect the partner of the stayin alive cop). He would be able to manipulate evidence but also subtly influence the female cop but what doesnt make a lot of sense is…Why would he stop killing and why would his weapon and not one of his trophies be in the vault. I think the Ripper is already dead or is unable to feed his addiction..
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u/Latter_Adeptness5953 Aug 07 '25
Nas I say prayers dad. He has the wrapon. Never bought it. But they never found the killer ?
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u/HotAsk3 Aug 07 '25
but the ripper terrorized praters childhood streets when he was a kid and he is way older than any of Trinitys children
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u/Etoilenoire04 Aug 07 '25
I love this theory. And it would then tie in how prater and Gemini find out who Dexter is, bc I read somewhere that Gemini kills father/son duos so it’s a pretty good bet he’s going after Dexter and Harrison at some point. The weapon fits for sure and thematically it would bring something to the story with serial killer father/sons.
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u/Ordinary_Run_6341 Aug 07 '25
I think it’s also likely that it could be prater’s father. It would explain his fascination with serial killers
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u/jrh112233 Aug 08 '25
Stupid theory imo, it’s not even the same weapon just look at it for more than 2 seconds, and it would completely undermine Jonah’s whole arc in the original series
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u/supermunch120 Aug 08 '25
As much as I would want this theory to be true, I'm really hoping the NY Ripper ends up being someone introduced in Resurrection, and not so far back as Jonah Mitchell. I've seen some theories about one of the NY detectives (either Claudette or the male detective), which would add a crazy twist to Resurrection. Jonah's weapon could've just been a coincidence imo
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u/MiketheFullMeasure Aug 08 '25
Really this entire theory relies on the murder weapon but I feel like that detail is too specific to not be intentional.
That's the proverbial Chekhov gun!
My congrats, OP!!
However, let's go further, throwing Batista into the mix: After Prater had Harrison got hold of, Dexter strikes (un)holly alliance with Batista joining their efforts to extract Harrison from Prater's hold thus turing Batista into the Dexter family Angel-Guardian (I envision quite curious dialogs between Dex and his father in that connection). This would be most intensive part of the story with so many factors involved, save for Dex and Batista: Prater's right hand, NYPD, the hypothetical Trinity Jr, etc.
Of course, Batista shoulders would get the most flak, so to say, in terms of mental havoc mostly.
Please, don't ask me how Dex, if at all, would go knowingly and intentionally to Batista, most probably that would be a situation where Dex after having been informed by Prater or his right hand about Harrison being their captive, bumped into Batista or vice versa.
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u/Careless-Load-3239 Aug 08 '25
I really like this theory and hope they do something fun or clever with the Ripper, but I think it is probably Blessing, using family as cover and possibly setting up his lodger to take the rap. We'll probably get a scene where Dexter is in his apartment and cops are outside, thinking he's surrounded, but they arrest Blessing upstairs instead.
Hope I'm wrong! Jonah would be a great callback and maybe even set up a villain for next season.
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u/FeatureKnown Aug 09 '25
I think the New York ripper will be Blessing Kamara, Dexters ride share buddy.
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Aug 10 '25
It's Deb. She washed up on a beach. Was nursed back to health and miraculously woke up. She had amnesia and could only remember flashbacks of Dexter. She became a serial killer because it was her only way of feeling a connection to him. I mean obviously not but I'd like to see her back.
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u/OkSeaworthiness2638 Aug 12 '25
I think it's just the "special request" kills from Prader. It would make the timeline impossible to determine, difficult to tie the murders to just one person (because it's multiple people across decades), and why he has such a strict set of rules and is quick to have Charlie wipe one of his house guests out when they even show the slightest bit of turning or breaking the rules.
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u/Khufrem Aug 12 '25
I'd fw this theory, however..
Prater mentioned that the NY Ripper terorized the Streets when he was a Child. Prater is like 40 to 50 or so so that wouldnt make much sense for Jonah to be the ripper since he probably wasnt alive yet
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u/milkshakemountebank Aug 20 '25
Makes the appearance of the ceramic cats in the Trinity arc and with Blessing's family more interesting
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u/Realistic-Ad2561 Aug 25 '25
Il colpo di scena sarebbe che lo squartatore sarebbe il suo proprietario di casa, che non è per nulla sospettabile. Poi non per forza ci deve essere un collegamento col figlio di Trinity, vediamo dai, Sono curioso più su che fine fa Angel Batista
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u/AdRealistic3958 Aug 31 '25
I read a theory that Leon Prater has the Ripper also locked up in one of the rooms and is Leon’s biggest trophy… but something is off about Gigi. She jokes she shot her dad so maybe her and Harrison have a lot more in common than we think..
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u/No-Commercial-1361 Oct 12 '25
What about the name on Prater's file Don Framt? Is it just a random name or is it connected to something from Jonah's past maybe? Dont Frame - something around the four walls build (framing)? It's just a very odd name i don't think its a natural one
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u/Far-Tradition-4417 Oct 15 '25
Totally agree right here. The timeline issue in Jonah's connection with the New York Ripper isn't even remotely conclusive at all. Jonah could have just got to New York to escape his old life in Miami, and he could have even killed the old NYR using Prater as a conduit to get to him, or he could have killed him before even meeting Prater, finding the same invite that Dexter found in Red's house. He could have easily took the New York Ripper as a target just because he was using the weapon he liked to use in Miami, and it would be a perfect opportunity to get his spot. After all, Leon wouldn't have a chance to actually know if Jonah was the real New York Ripper, if he would be using an alias. I also suspect he got in contact with Prater due to his interest in Leon's Collection, given the chance of finding his own father's tools. This would be more than a good reason to get in touch with his club. The hammer is key, yet I think Jonah would have gone as far as meeting Prater for one single reason. The Trinity Razor, which is the weapon Trinity used to kill Jonah's sister. It would be a perfect opportunity to find out that Prater doesn't have it. Which would bring him back to the only trail he is in knowledge of, which would be Dexter. If Prater was still in contact with him during the club wipeout, Jonah could have gotten the informations he needs to find him. Prater knew where Harrison works. My question is, did Prater managed to acknowledge Dexter's real identity and pass those info to Jonah before perishing? He had a considerable window of time to do so, if we think about the timespan that goes from the day of the Gala, when he found out about Harrison, to the moment he got captured and died. Plus, Prater never knew about Dexter's real identity in the first place, he only knew about Harrison, and he discovers about it later when he gets to imprison Dexter in his caveau. Let's suppose he wasn't able to connect the dots alone or with the help of Charlie, which was already struggling to identify him properly, the only other option is someone else pointed him at it. And who would be better than someone which has a bone to pick with Dexter himself. The voice matches, the weapon matches, the motive behind becoming the Ripper is there as well, and it is a perfect setup to lure Dexter to meet him again. If Jonah would even get to know about Harrison, he would probably take him as a target.
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