Crime Drama 'Dexter' Linked to at Least Seven Murders, Criminologists Warn

The popular crime drama "Dexter," which follows a vigilante serial killer, has been linked to at least seven murders since its debut, prompting warnings from criminologists that the show may be providing inspiration and justification for real-world violence.

Recent cases highlight the show's influence. Within a 70-day period, two British men were convicted of gruesome murders after styling themselves on the fictional character Dexter Morgan. In one instance, 20-year-old forensics student Benjamin Day admitted to murdering Maria Saceanu, 24, after luring her to a plastic-lined "kill room" in an Airbnb, inspired by his obsession with the TV series. Day, who had changed his university course to study forensics, was found to have prepared the room similarly to those depicted in the show, complete with plastic sheeting and cleaning supplies.

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Just weeks before Day's confession, James Desborough, 40, was convicted of murdering and dismembering two men in his remote woodland cabin, a crime also influenced by "Dexter." Desborough had reportedly commented to a forensic biologist that he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in the show.

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Beyond these recent cases, other individuals convicted of killings inspired by "Dexter" include Steven Miles and Mark Howe in the UK, Canadian filmmaker Mark Twitchell, American teenager Andrew Conley, and Norwegian Havard Nyflot. These incidents date back to at least 2009.

Behavioral criminologist Alex Iszatt explained that "Dexter" provides a compelling narrative for individuals with violent tendencies. "Dexter gives them a ritual," Iszatt said. "They can fully become him: follow the same code and principles, wear the same clothes, and use the same methods of killing and disposing of bodies."

The show's premise follows Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a vigilante serial killer. His actions are governed by "The Code," a set of rules taught by his adoptive father, Harry Morgan, dictating that he only kill murderers who have escaped justice and must never be caught. Dexter refers to his compulsion to kill as his "Dark Passenger."

His modus operandi typically involves preparing a "kill room" lined with plastic sheeting to contain evidence, presenting victims with evidence of their crimes before killing them, and then dismembering their bodies for disposal.

"What makes Dexter particularly useful to a violent personality is that he provides a justification for killing," Iszatt noted. "You're not a monster with uncontrollable urges; you're a vigilante, with standards, and the people you kill deserve it. It doesn't matter if they happen to be your mother, brother or girlfriend."

Iszatt also pointed to the show's duality, where Dexter is respectable by day and a killer by night, likening it to a dark superhero fantasy that appeals to those fascinated by control and anonymity.

In the case of Benjamin Day, the prosecutor highlighted similarities between his actions and the show, including his choice of clothing, the preparation of the "kill room," and the use of items like plastic sheeting and a staple gun. The presence of knives and attempts at dismemberment were also noted as mirroring the series.

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The University of Worcester, where Day studied, offers crime scene simulation facilities, which the university stated are used for "immersive settings for working through real-world scenarios."

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Iszatt further suggested that the show provides a language for individuals to explain their own violence, framing it through the "Dark Passenger" narrative, which externalizes violent impulses. "The show doesn't explain why these people wanted to kill - they have pre-existing psychology, fantasies and circumstances - but it provides a language, an identity and a practical template through which those existing impulses are expressed," she said.

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Other documented cases include:

• Steven Miles (UK, 2014): Jailed for at least 25 years for murdering and dismembering his 17-year-old girlfriend, Elizabeth Thomas, with a fixation on copying Dexter Morgan. IMAGE11:
• Mark Howe (UK, 2014): Jailed for at least 21-and-a-half years for murdering his mother, Katrina Wardle, after a row. Howe had used a blood-splattered Dexter image as his Facebook profile picture and searched for "Dexter's kill knife." IMAGE7:
• Mark Twitchell (Canada, 2008): Dubbed the "Dexter Killer" for murdering Johnny Altinger, 38, and dismembering him. Twitchell reportedly watched "Dexter" episodes in his prison cell. IMAGE10:
• Andrew Conley (USA, 2010): Handed a life sentence for strangling his 10-year-old brother, having told his girlfriend he wanted to be like Dexter. IMAGE4:
• Havard Nyflot (Norway, 2010): Jailed for 18 years for kidnapping, murdering, and burying Faiza Ashraf, 26, claiming inspiration from "Dexter."

Michael C. Hall, the actor who portrayed Dexter Morgan, previously stated he hoped the show's appeal was not solely based on fetishization of violence, expressing horror at the idea that the show had influenced killers. Showtime Networks, which owns the "Dexter" producer Showtime, was contacted for comment.