Rita died in the TV show Dexter in the season 4 finale titled "The Getaway." She was killed by Arthur Mitchell, also known as the Trinity Killer, as an act of vengeance against Dexter. Rita's death was violent and occurred off-screen, with her body later found by Dexter in a bathtub filled with her own blood. Their son Harrison was found crying and covered in her blood in the bathroom, mirroring the traumatic discovery of Dexter as a baby. The murder was significant because it broke the Trinity Killer's usual pattern to punish Dexter personally by killing Rita. This event drastically impacted Dexter's character and altered the course of the show.