Rita Bennett

From Dexter Wiki

CHARACTER
Rita Bennet Morgan
First appearance	1x01 "Pilot"
Last appearance	Recurring
Reason
Age	early 30s
Profession	Former Hotel Concierge, Real Estate assistant
Status	Alive
Portrayed by	Julie Benz

Rita Bennett is Dexter Morgan's wife.

[edit] Early Life

Previously she lived in Miami with her two children, Astor and Cody. Her abusive ex-husband, Paul, was arrested by Debra Morgan during a domestic disturbance call, prompting Debra to introduce her to Dexter.

[edit] Personality

Due to her violent past, she initially has very little interest in sex, which works well for Dexter, who considers himself emotionally removed from humanity. Dexter says he feels Rita is a perfect girlfriend because she is "in her own way, as damaged as me."

Rita has no idea that Dexter is secretly a serial killer, and is in fact delighted with how great he seems to be with the children, and how much they seem to love Dexter. Rita begins to grow more confident in herself and, thus, her sexual appetite toward Dexter grows.

[edit] Relationship with Paul Bennett

When Paul is released from jail and tries to make himself part of his children's lives, she fears he will go back to his abusive ways.

One night, a drunken Paul attacks her and Rita defends herself by clubbing him over the head with a baseball bat. Unfortunately, Paul makes a convincing case that he was victimized by Rita, and sues for sole custody of Astor and Cody. Unbeknownst to Rita, Dexter knocks Paul out and frames him, making it appear he has relapsed into drugs and calls the police. Paul tries to convince Rita that she and the children are not safe around Dexter, who he suspects to have dragged him from the house and set him up.

Rita initially does not believe Paul, but when she finds his shoe in her yard, which at least partially corroborates his story, she begins to become suspicious of Dexter.