Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Dexter: Original Sin season 1, episode 5 and Thanksgiving (2023).A dark theory about the mystery killer inDexter: Original Sinseems very plausible after a 2023 horror movie starring the possible murderer. The mystery ofwho killed Jimmy Powell inDexter: Original Sinis shaping up to be the show’s biggest twist. There are only a handful of new characters in thecast ofDexter: Original Sin, which means there are only a few potential killers so far. Since characters like Angel Batista (James Martinez) and Maria LaGuerta (Christina Milian) are still around in the originalDexter, there’s no way they could have killed Jimmy Powell.

Most ofDexter’s serial killersalso have some kind of personal connection to Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson), so it seems likely that Jimmy’s killer is already in the show. Even though there aren’t many possibilities for who could have killed Jimmy, his death remains a mystery even after the ending ofDexter: Original Sinepisode 5. Now, however, a new fan theory may have cracked the case and exposed Jimmy’s killer hiding in plain sight. The theory also seems very likely thanks to a completely separate horror film starring the same actor.

Patrick Gibson and Molly Brown as Dexter and Debra Morgan in Original Sin with Jennifer Carpenter as Deb in Dexter

Aaron Spencer Is Dexter: Original Sin Season 1’s Secret Villain – Fan Theory Explained

The person who killed Jimmy Powell may be hiding in plain sight inDexter: Original Sin, as a new theory asserts that it was Captain Aaron Spencer (Patrick Dempsey). Several Reddit users, likeShmullus_Jones, have hypothesized that since Spencer isn’t in the originalDexter, and since his job as the captain of Miami Metro Homicide effectively rules him out of any investigation, he could have kidnapped and killed Judge Powell’s son. The theory holds some water, as Spencer likely knew the Powells and could have easily convinced Jimmy to come with him, but there’s even more to the idea than that.

Dexter: Original Sin Reveals That Season 6’s Most Shocking Deb Twist Almost Happened 20 Years Earlier

Dexter’s season 6 finale featured one of the show’s biggest twists for Dexter & Deb, but Original Sin season 1 reveals it almost happened way earlier.

AsDexter: Original Sinepisode 4showed, Spencer is still quite angry about his wife’s infidelity and their divorce.He’s also been mostly absent in his son’s life, which means Spencer has ample time outside of work to moonlight as a killer. Plus, his knowledge of law enforcement would make it extremely easy for Spencer to confuse the detectives of Miami Metro and put them on the cartel’s scent. If Spencer does prove to be the killer, it would also present a great moment of drama and tension between Harry (Christian Slater) and Dexter as the latter tries to convince his father to let him kill Spencer.

Thomas Matthews sits on the couch in Dexter

Patrick Dempsey’s Killer Reveal In Thanksgiving Makes The Spencer Villain Theory More Likely

Dempsey Already Played A Cop-Turned-Killer In Thanksgiving, & He Could Do It Again In Dexter

There’s another piece of evidence that suggests Captain Spencer could be the killer inDexter: Original Sin. In 2023’sThanksgiving, Patrick Dempsey played Sheriff Eric Newlon, who turned out to be John Carver, the movie’s killer.The twist of Newlon’s true identity was so shocking, and Dempsey played both the law enforcement and murderer sides of his character so well, that he could easily do it again inOriginal Sin. It’s even possible thatThanksgivingserved as a sort of proof of concept for Dempsey to be cast as both a police captain and a serial killer inOriginal Sin.

Spencer Being Original Sin’s Killer Could Help Solve A Missing Dexter Character Mystery

Captain Matthews Is Strangely Absent From Original Sin - Spencer Being A Killer Could Bring His Character In

Perhaps the best part of Captain Spencer being the killer inDexter: Original Sinis how well it would explain one noteworthy character’s absence.Captain Thomas Matthews (Geoff Pierson) should be inOriginal Sin, as he was in most ofDexter’s eight seasonsand was good friends with Harry Morgan, but his role is currently being filled by Spencer.If Spencer is the serial killer and Dexter winds up killing him, it would be the perfect way to bring Matthews in and have him replace Spencer as Miami Metro’s captain. That twist would even work withOriginal Sin’s early 1990s setting.

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“And in the Beginning…”

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“Kid in a Candy Store”

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“F is for F***-Up”

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“The Joy of Killing”

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“Business and Pleasure”

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There is, of course, always the possibility that Captain Spencer won’t prove to be the main villain ofDexter: Original Sinseason 1. Other characters, like Tanya Martin (Sarah Michelle Gellar), also have evidence suggesting they are the killer, and the show could always introduce a yet-unnamed character as the real murderer.Original Sincould also introduce Matthews by either having Spencer retire or by having him be killed by the real murderer. In short, though it’s a fairly convincing theory, there’s no proof yet that Captain Spencer is the real killer inDexter: Original Sin.

Dexter: Original Sin

Cast

Dexter: Original Sin explores Dexter Morgan’s early years in 1991 Miami as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. Guided by his father, Harry, Dexter crafts a moral code and navigates a forensics internship at Miami Metro Police, all while controlling his darker impulses.

Thanksgiving

Originally conceived as a parody trailer in 2007’s Grindhouse, Thanksgiving is a 2023 horror-slasher film from director Eli Roth. The movie centers around a serial killer who heads to a small town in Massachusetts that creates a huge event out of Thanksgiving each year with the intent of turning the residents into the main course.