Well, it’s time to finally put that major fan theory about the notorious New York Ripper to rest.
The first season of Dexter: Resurrection is racing toward its finale on Paramount+ Premium, and fans have been dissecting every detail of the show. While the main storylines have kept viewers on the edge of their seats, one intriguing subplot has quietly lingered in the background: the New York Ripper case.
This chilling side mystery involves a long-time serial killer who terrorized New York City for decades, claiming 22 victims. Though not central to Dexter’s personal arc, the case has been referenced multiple times throughout the season, sparking countless fan theories.
Who is the New York Ripper?
From scattered mentions across different episodes, we’ve learned that the Ripper’s weapon of choice was a crowbar-like tool, used to carry out his brutal killings. One of these weapons was even revealed to be in the possession of Leon Prater, a billionaire and serial killer-obsessed collector of serial killer memorabilia, who keeps it locked away in his disturbing private vault.
By Episode 7, it was confirmed that the New York Ripper is no longer active. Instead, he now torments his victims’ families by making harassing phone calls — a deranged attempt to relive the terror of his past crimes.
Fan Theories and Suspects
Naturally, Dexter fans dove headfirst into speculation about who the Ripper might be. Theories have ranged from Dexter’s landlord Blessing Kamara, to NYPD Detective Melvin Oliva, to Leon Prater himself. One of the most talked-about suspects is Jonah Mitchell, the son of the infamous Trinity Killer from the original series, who hasn’t been seen since Dexter Season 6’s “Nebraska” episode.
While each of these suspects carried some narrative weight, one theory stood out above the rest — and not always for the right reasons.
Blessing Kamara Confirmed Not to Be the New York Ripper
The most viral theory suggested that Blessing Kamara, Dexter’s landlord in New York, was secretly the Ripper. Fans pointed to his shadowy past in Sierra Leone and his mother’s warnings to keep “the darkness away from home” as possible foreshadowing.
But now, that theory can officially be put to rest. During an interview on Dexter: Final Cut, executive producer and writer Scott Reynolds addressed which fan theories surprised him the most. He was quick to debunk the Blessing rumor once and for all:
“There’s a lot of folks that were saying Blessing is the New York Ripper. Which I’m like, no, not a chance. That’d be so crazy if everybody Dexter wanders into is a serial killer. I love that the fans are so involved with it that they’re thinking, what’s going to happen next?”
In other words: Blessing Kamara is not the Ripper — and never was.
Why the Theory Never Made Sense
Here at Dexter Daily, we’ve been skeptical of this theory from the beginning. As much fun as it was for fans to speculate, it always seemed far too convenient. In a city of 8 million people, the odds of Dexter stumbling into yet another serial killer — one who just happens to be his landlord — felt like a stretch, even by Dexter standards.
The showrunners cleverly planted a few red herrings to keep fans guessing, but as Reynolds confirmed, Kamara’s past was never meant to tie him to the Ripper murders. It was simply another layer of misdirection to keep us engaged.
Final Thoughts
With the Blessing Kamara theory officially dead, the mystery of the New York Ripper remains unsolved — at least for now. Could the truth be revealed in the finale? Or is this chilling case being saved as a thread for future seasons of Dexter: Resurrection?
One thing is certain: the Ripper storyline may not be at the forefront of Season 1, but it has successfully captured the imagination of the fanbase.
What do you think? Were you shocked that Blessing Kamara isn’t the Ripper, or did you see this reveal coming? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.