Dexter Episode 7: Circle of Friends

Dexter helps the department on the Ice Truck Killer case as Debra and Batista identify a suspect, Neil Perry, a taxidermist with a history of violence and mental illness, who is then arrested and confesses. Dexter is not convinced Perry is the real killer, and later meets him briefly, leaving relieved that Perry does not fit what he has been sensing about the case.

At the same time, Dexter deals with the return of Rita’s recently paroled ex-husband, Paul, who wants access to their children. Rita tries to protect Astor and Cody by setting strict conditions for any further contact, including supervised visits for six months before she will consider anything less restrictive.

Dexter also tries to repair a mistake from earlier in the season when Jeremy Downs, a young killer he once let escape, is back in police custody on a murder charge. Dexter confronts Jeremy in interrogation and pushes him to explain why he killed again; Jeremy says he feels empty and hoped killing would make him feel something. Dexter tells him they are alike in that way and urges him to only kill people who deserve it, but later learns Jeremy has killed himself in prison after taking that advice to heart.

LaGuerta sees the Perry arrest as a chance to advance her career, only to feel undermined when Captain Matthews takes the credit. Debra also asks Rudy, the prosthetic manufacturer she knows from the hospital, out on a date.