| Overview |
Frank Lundy is a character in Season Two and Season Four of the Showtime series DEXTER.
He was a high-ranking and illustrious FBI Special Agent who led the task force dedicated to identifying and arresting the Bay Harbor Butcher.
Summary[]
In Season Two, during the Bay Harbor Butcher Case, Lundy gradually becomes dangerously close to discovering that Dexter Morgan is The Bay Harbor Butcher. Meanwhile, Lundy becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Debra Morgan. Dexter outmaneuvers and frames Sergeant James Doakes as the Butcher; this leads Lundy to spearhead the entire police force in a full-scale manhunt to find Doakes. After the deceased James Doakes is mistakenly thought to have been the Butcher, the case is closed. Lundy moves on to Oregon to hunt a different serial killer. Debra stays in Miami.
In Season Four, Lundy returns to Miami with the intention to find the mysterious Trinity Killer. By this time, he has retired from the FBI. Sexual tensions arise between him and Debra and eventually they resume their love affair, resulting in Deb ending her relationship with Anton Briggs. However, Lundy is murdered by someone, leaving Deb heartbroken.
Personality[]
Lundy is cool, calm, confident, and incredibly knowledgeable. With his extensive background and subsequent knowledge of the criminal mind, he often discovers crucial case evidence.
He is renown for breaking seemingly impossible high-profile criminal cases (e.g. Green River Killer, and the DC Sniper), leading many to liken him to a "rock star." ("Waiting to Exhale")
During Lundy's romantic relationship with Debra Morgan, his influence greatly assists Debra in coping with her lingering trauma from her experience as The Ice Truck Killer's prisoner and near victim.
Season Two[]
Frank Lundy, a Special Agent with the FBI, arrives at the station. Dexter watches apprehensively as Lundy briefs the homicide team on the Bay Harbor Butcher. He declares that the agencies will work together on the case, and tells everyone that he is developing a task force. Lundy shows pictures of The Ice Truck Killer victims and compares his killings to the killings by The Bay Harbor Butcher, stating that they are different M.O.s. Dexter feels that he is losing control and ducks out of the briefing to clear his head.
Frank Lundy sets up a task force for the Bay Harbor Butcher Case. Deb is assigned to it but wants no part of it. She goes to see Lundy and asks what's taking so long for her to get off the task force. Lundy wonders why she wants off. Deb tells him that she's the last one who should be on the task force because of what she went through with The Ice Truck Killer. Lundy explains that he wanted her because of her first-hand look into the mind of a serial killer, and suggests that she could be in the position to catch someone even worse that the Ice Truck Killer. Deb goes back to the interviews.
All of the bodies in the field morgue have been identified, and thirteen have known criminal records, but the police don't know what the pattern means. The Captain thinks that the public needs reassurance. Special Agent Frank Lundy disagrees, but is silent.
Debra Morgan, Angel, and Lundy examine bodies in the field morgue. Lundy points out that some of the victims had no known criminal record. Angel takes the case of Oscar Sota to investigate further. Deb suggests that the killer may have cut him up for fun.
At the station, Deb has figured out that one of the victims without a criminal record was suspected of being a murderer. Lundy leaves for a date, and suggests that Deb start dating again, too.
The next day, Deb tells Lundy that she took his advice and hooked up with a guy at the gym. Lundy is embarrassed. Deb apologizes. Lundy admits that his own date was horrible and that he shouldn't be dating at all. A smitten Deb tells him that he should. He, however, says that he already had a perfect relationship and could never have one again.
Outside of the field morgue, Angel Batista remarks to Dexter that it’s so hot, he could melt. Dexter privately wishes the bodies would melt away, which gives him an idea. That night, Dexter breaks into the field morgue. He breaks the AC unit, hoping that the garbage collection truck will be blamed for backing into it.
The next morning, Masuka, Lundy and the Marine Biologist arrive to collect specimens, but the morgue is flooded and the bodies have melted to goo.
Tne marine biologist helps with the investigation. It is discovered that The Bay Harbor Butcher used a freshwater marina (meaning it was near a populated area of Biscayne Bay. The biologist says the algae on the rocks found inside the body bags could tell what kind of pollutants were in the marina’s water, and narrow it down.
During a presentation, Angel Batista notifies the task force that only three marinas have restricted water flow - Turkey Creek, Sunset Keys, and Coral Cove. Debra Morgan mentions Coral Cove as the marina was where her father had kept the family boat. She said Dexter still uses the slip, but half the police force also have boats there. Batista adds that it is one of the few affordable marinas on a cop’s salary.
Frank Lundy assigns himself and Debra to investigate the marina at Coral Cove. As soon as they arrive there, Lundy sits down on the dock and takes off his shoes, complaining about the Miami heat. Debra tries to discuss what steps to take in finding the killer, but Lundy begins to eat his lunch, saying he always eats lunch at 1;00 pm. It didn’t take long for Debra to become frustrated, and she starts to walk away. Lundy stops her, and states, “This isn’t a commercial marina. I haven’t seen a single rental I.D. on any of these hulls. But I can see the upkeep on this place is dismal. Unsecure perimeter, poor lighting. Come out here at night, no one would know what the hell you’re doing. That’s why I'm going to order 24-hour surveillance on this marina and the two others. As soon as I finish my lunch.” Impressed, Debra smiles, sits down, takes off one boot and sock, and puts her foot in the water.
The next day, Debra comes to work and finds Lundy making sure the marina surveillance is in place. Debra says she is working up rental logs for the other two marinas.
Debra assumes that Gabriel is using her to write a book about her engagement to "The Ice Truck Killer" and angrily breaks up with him. Discussing the break-up with FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy, he gives her the background check that he had run on Gabriel, revealing that Gabriel is a children's writer, and Debra realizes that The Ice Princess is a children's book. Lundy assure Deb that Gabriel will forgive her. Lundy reveals that his wife died two years ago from cancer.
A copycat killer claims to be inspired by The Bay Harbor Butcher. The police investigate when a man says that he was attacked by the Butcher. Dexter begins to think that Frank Lundy suspects him of being involved. Lundy tells Debra that the FBI will take over the case if another kill is committed by a copycat killer. Before this is possible, Dexter finds and kills the copycat killer. He then purposefully leaves his dismembered body for the police to discover. This is seen as a way for the Butcher to discourage other copycat killers.
Dexter learns that he was filmed while cleaning his boat at the marina. By pulling the fire alarm at work, Dexter manages to delete the video file the next day before it is viewed by his coworkers.
Meanwhile, Debra's boyfriend thinks that she is growing too close to Lundy.
A 32-page manifesto has been sent to the Miami Tribune from The Bay Harbor Butcher and it sends the Special Task Force into chaos. However, this is part of Dexter's plan as he tries to be proactive in keeping Lundy off his trail. The manifesto is thought to be authentic because it contains three names of victims that were never released. However, Lundy figures out that the man who wrote the manifesto has a law enforcement background, and perhaps is one of them.
With Lundy having determined that The Bay Harbor Butcher is somebody in law enforcement, he calls in several FBI Special Agents to help with the investigation. Deb and Batista are reluctant to consider the possibility that one of their own is the Butcher. Masuka compares Lundy to Adolph Hitler.
Lundy asks Deb to look into drug dealer Anthony Rodrigo, one of the BHB victims. He also asks her to dinner, which she accepts.
Dexter meets with Lundy, who brings up the Rodrigo case. Rodrigo was arrested for murder, but the blood work allowed him to walk free; soon afterward, on April 16, 2002, he disappeared thanks to the Bay Harbor Butcher. Lundy notes that Dexter performed the blood work, which was later proven wrong. Dexter tries to cover for himself, arguing that the blood work was actually correct, but Lundy expertly counters all of his points. Eventually, Dexter "admits" that he made a mistake because he was overworked.
Debra tells Dexter that she has a date with Lundy, and Dexter passively and somewhat facetiously accuses her of sleeping her way to the top. Annoyed, Deb insults Dexter's choice in women—namely, Lila.
That night, Deb has dinner at Lundy's apartment, and the two flirt and kiss.
James Doakes meets with Lundy for questioning. Lundy notes that Doakes worked on several of the BHB victims' cases, but never got a conviction. Upon learning that it was erroneous blood work that let Rodrigo go free, Doakes has a sudden realization that it was Dexter's fault and quickly leaves.
Doakes breaks into Dexter's apartment and inspects the place. He eventually looks behind the air conditioner and finds Dexter's collection of blood slide trophies. He takes them with him.
Deb and Lundy start the day in bed together. Lundy doesn't wish to hide their relationship from their coworkers, but Deb is reluctant to make it public. Lundy then gets a call and learns of a break in the Bay Harbor Butcher Case.
At his apartment, Dexter realizes his blood slides are gone, and determines that Lundy has them. FBI agents soon come knocking, with orders to bring him into the station. Accepting that he's been found out, Dexter calmly goes with them. At the station, Lundy and Captain Thomas Matthews present Dexter with the blood slide box. Dexter briefly says that the slides are trophies, after which Lundy and Matthews reveal that their prime suspect is James Doakes. They go over how Doakes investigated several BHB victims before their deaths and how he fits the profile of a murderous vigilante. Since Doakes flew out of the country this morning, they got a warrant to search his car at the airport; the slides were found in the trunk. Amazed by how well the story fits together, Dexter goes along with it and says that he's always sensed something off about Doakes, which would explain why Doakes constantly antagonizes him.
Lundy puts a protective FBI detail on Dexter in case Doakes comes after him. To preserve the department's reputation, Matthews enforces an in-house forensic investigation, and makes Dexter the lead technician in analyzing the slides. Dexter wipes the box of fingerprints, and the FBI technicians return to take his orders, much to his satisfaction.
Dexter outmaneuvers and frames Sergeant James Doakes as the Butcher; this leads Lundy to spearhead the entire police force in a full-scale manhunt to find Doakes.
LaGuerta later becomes outraged when Lundy plans to release the Doakes story to the press, but he orders her to cooperate with the investigation or risk unemployment.
LaGuerta then urges Deb to talk to Lundy about the press, but Deb demurs. The two get into an argument, and Deb eventually blurts out that she's sleeping with Lundy, officially putting their relationship in the open.
At the station, Deb checks Doakes' phone records and learns that he called LaGuerta shortly after the manhunt was launched. Lundy tells Deb to confront LaGuerta; Deb is reluctant, but Lundy argues that she knows LaGuerta better than he does, and that this could be good practice for her, since he'll leave Miami once the Bay Harbor Butcher Case ends — a reminder that leaves Deb disconcerted.
Lundy goes over Doakes' known fake IDs, while Dexter's analysis of the blood slides yields twelve new BHB victims. LaGuerta quietly approaches Batista and gets a list of the twelve names.
Dexter asks Lundy to pull the protective FBI detail off him, and Lundy agrees. Deb objects, but Dexter insists that a trained killer like Doakes wouldn't be dumb enough to come out of hiding just because of a grudge. Deb criticizes Lundy, and it becomes clear that she's upset about his imminent departure from Miami.
LaGuerta approaches Lundy with an alibi for Doakes: during the time that one of the twelve new BHB victims went missing, she and Doakes were on a constant stakeout. She presents a log of personal notes that she took during the stakeout, but Lundy can't accept them as evidence, since LaGuerta's credibility has been undermined by her keeping the phone call a secret. He then berates her for trying to protect Doakes and thus ruining this chance at exonerating him.
Deb finally confronts Lundy about his leaving Miami. The two talk things out, and Lundy reveals that he thought Deb would get tired of him when the BHB case ended, which Deb finds endearing. Lundy then gets a call and learns that one of Doakes' fake IDs was recently used to rent a car.
With little progress in the Butcher case, the FBI assigns Deputy Director Max Adams to take over the case, thereby pushing Special Agent Lundy off to the side. The knives that Dexter planted as evidence against Doakes are found, and the search for Doakes intensifies.
At one point, Deb asks Lundy to access the FBI files and do a search on Lila Tournay, which he does. She asks if Max Adams will be pissed that he used the files for this, and Lundy says, "I certainly hope so."
Meanwhile, Lundy's task force determines Doakes' location, and Dexter must race his colleagues to reach the cabin first. When he arrives at the cabin, he discovers that it has been destroyed and at first believes it to be a miracle. The next morning, the police find Doakes' body in the water, along with the dismembered remains of Jose Garza. Deputy Director Adams is satisfied that this proves Doakes really was the Bay Harbor Butcher, and Frank Lundy is forced to agree with him.
With all of the evidence of the Bay Harbor Butcher murders pointing to Doakes as the killer, the case is closed. As Dexter and Vince Masuka catalog the debris found in the cabin, Dexter is surprised to learn that Doakes' death is provisionally being listed as a suicide.
The case is closed and Lundy moves on to find another serial killer in Oregon. Although Deb plans to meet Lundy at the airport, she stays in Miami to help search for Astor and Cody, who are missing.
Season Four[]
Maria LaGuerta sends the homicide team to Lisa Bell’s crime scene. It’s discovered that Lisa’s femoral artery had been cut and she bled out in minutes. Dexter states that it’s a well-organized crime scene, noting that the killer took his time and thoroughly cleaned up after himself.
Dexter returns to Lisa Bell’s house with Karen, a forensic tech. To their surprise, they find much older blood under a tile, apparently from a different crime. Dexter is taken off guard when Frank Lundy suddenly walks in and states that he’s there to see him. Lundy asks, “How’s my favorite blood spatter analyst?” Faking a smile, Dexter replies, “How’s my favorite serial killer hunter?” Lundy says he’s there because the database has a girl recently killed at that address. When Dexter confirms that the girl’s femoral artery was severed and the killer meticulously cleaned the scene, Lundy asks to meet with him later at the station. “Shit,” Dexter thought.
When Frank Lundy drops in to the police station, Masuka is starstruck. When Lundy asks to speak with Dexter alone, Masuka is disappointed. Lundy tells Dexter that he’s in Miami on a case, and Dexter asks why he needs his help when he has the full resources of the FBI. Lundy reveals that he’s retired from the FBI, and now uses his time to track down the one “twisted son of a bitch who got away.” Lundy has dubbed him the Trinity Killer because he kills in threes all over the country. However, he can’t prove that he exists. Lisa Bell’s murder profile fits the case and Lundy is sure that Trinity is in Miami, starting another kill cycle. When Lundy says Trinity has been killing for about fifteen years, Dexter tells him about Vicky Noonan’s murder. They realize that Trinity has been killing for much longer -- at least thirty years. Dexter remarks that Trinity is the most successful serial killer to ever get away with it.
On Dexter’s way to the station’s motor pool to pick up a loaner car, he is intercepted by Lundy who wants to talk about the bathtub murder. Dexter says he has not run across any hair or fiber in the second blood sample from the crime scene. He advises Lundy to talk to Debra since she's the lead on the case. Lundy says it’s “kismet” that they meet again. Dexter walks away, thinking, Last thing I need right now is Frank Lundy, rock star FBI profiler standing between me and Benny Gomez.
Lundy unexpectedly joins Debra for lunch outside the station. She’s amused to see him eating sushi instead of his usual cucumber and cream cheese sandwich. Debra says it's weird that he showed up when she hasn’t heard from him in two years. Lundy apologizes, and explains that the task force he's trying to assemble is hush-hush. They begin to talk about the Lisa Bell Case, and Debra brings up how Vicky Noonan was murdered thirty years ago in the same bathtub. She says Vicky’s husband, who was convicted of her murder, is now free and being picked up for questioning. Lundy asks to listen to the interview.
With Lundy watching, Debra interviews ex-convict Eddie Noonan. The man swears that he is innocent of the initial crime and has an alibi for this new murder. Once outside the interrogation room, Lundy and Debra agree that Noonan did not commit either murder. Lundy asks Debra to dinner so they can review the case. He also wants to tell her what he’s working on. After hesitating to meet him privately, Debra agrees.
Maria and Debra talk about Lundy's unexpected arrival in Miami. Debra thinks he’s trying to get next to her but insists that it’s long over, and she’s happy with Anton as her boyfriend.
Debra surprises Lundy when she shows up at his hotel room. She tells him that she doesn’t want to hurt or mislead him, but they won’t be rekindling their relationship. After she repeatedly states how happy she is with Anton, Lundy informs Debra that his purpose in Miami is to work on finding the Trinity Killer. He says it’s an obsession and shows her a pinned map, gruesome photos, and some files. Debra feels foolish for thinking Lundy came back to reunite with her. She leaves in a huff, calling herself an idiot.
In his quest to find Benny, Dexter returns to the boxing arena. While he’s there, Lundy calls him, wanting to talk about Trinity and toss around a few ideas. He’s certain that Trinity will kill a slightly older woman of two very soon. When Dexter says he’s unable to help that night, Lundy tells him that his life has changed in so many ways. Dexter replies, “I realize that now.”
Tarla Grant is sprawled on the concrete in front of the Old Port Warehouse. Masuka notes that there are no signs of violence previous to the jump. It’s looking pretty open-and-shut, when Frank Lundy shows up. Quinn asks why Lundy’s interested in the suicide. Deb says it’s weird that Tarla drove all the way from Fort Lauderdale to jump off this abandoned warehouse, and that she’d rather treat it as a homicide until they know more. Lundy walks around dictating notes into a tape recorder. Deb apologizes to Lundy for the scene at his hotel the other night, but Lundy admits he’s glad that Trinity has brought him to Miami. Lundy also tells her that if Tarla is Trinity’s victim, she was married with two kids, and there was likely a similar case on this site thirty years ago.
Anton shows up at the station and he and Deb head outside and interrupt Dexter’s lunchtime solitude, with Lundy right behind them. Talk turns to Tarla Grant just as Dexter stuffs half a sandwich in his mouth and hurries off. Deb tells Lundy that he was right about Tarla. Anton doesn’t know what they are talking about, so she lets Anton have a peek at the disturbing crime scene photos.
The team’s back at the warehouse, where Masuka is pushing a cartful of dummies up to the top floor to simulate Tarla’s jump. Quinn asks how they’re supposed to simulate a running leap, but Masuka says people don’t kill themselves that way; they just let go. Masuka observes Deb looking at Lundy and, for once, doesn’t have something pervy to say.
Dexter asks Lundy how many cycles Trinity’s gone through. He says there are fifteen that he knows of, but given these thirty-year-old cases they’re finding, there’s likely many more. Dexter smiles at this, but when he catches Lundy staring at him, he clarifies that it’s only impressive “in a very evil way.” Lundy believes Trinity has succeeded because he’s a lone wolf, drifting through life, having foregone all but the most rudimentary of human connections. Lundy says this description just as easily fits him as the hunt was the only thing that excited him. Lundy is intrigued that Trinity’s back in Miami, but wouldn’t say he’s come "home" since “people like us don’t really belong anywhere.”
While at a bar, Lundy tells Deb that he’s got evidence of Trinity in eight different cities across the country, but this is the first time, as far as he knows, that Trinity’s hit the same city twice. They are subtly flirting when Deb gets a text from Anton asking if she’s working late, to which she answers in the affirmative. He then calls her. “Don’t get take out,” Deb says, “I’m still working.” Anton says he loves her and she replies, “Me too.”
Dexter walks in on Frank Lundy and Deb looking through evidence related to The Trinity Killer. They talk about how he’s repeating his pattern from thirty years ago. LaGuerta comes in the lab, throws a few withering looks around, and essentially kicks Lundy out. As he leaves, Lundy says to Dexter, “You ever feel you’re this close to nabbing somebody? It’s a good feeling.” Dexter definitely knows that feeling. All too well.
Dexter walks in on Frank Lundy and Deb looking through evidence related to The Trinity Killer. They talk about how he’s repeating his pattern from thirty years ago. LaGuerta comes in the lab, throws a few withering looks around, and essentially kicks Lundy out. As he leaves, Lundy says to Dexter, “You ever feel you’re this close to nabbing somebody? It’s a good feeling.” Dexter definitely knows that feeling. All too well.
In a library, The Trinity Killer shushes a group of teen girls for talking too loud. He sits at a computer terminal looking at photographs and blueprints of an office building. He glances over and sees the newspaper headline about Lundy returning to Miami to hunt a serial killer.
Debra is on the phone discussing the Trinity Killer case with Lundy when Anton comes home. He knows she’s been talking to Lundy by the tone of her voice: “It goes up a notch every time you talk to him.” Deb defends their relationship as being strictly professional, and assures him he has nothing to be jealous of.
The Trinity Killer is lying in wait in the alley behind a tavern. A man comes out, whistles, and is joined by a woman whom he kisses on the head as she joins him. A second man, burping vociferously, comes out, and the Trinity Killer steps from the darkness, calling him a “Cxnt.” The confronted man turns to him and asks him what he said to him. “You’re a cxnt,” Trinity repeats. The barfly tells him to eff off, and Trinity provokes anew with, “Fucking pussy.” Not deterred by a deserved punch or two and some brutal kicks to the stomach, Trinity persists in labeling the man a fxggxt and says, “It’s your fault… All your fault.” The man walks away as the Trinity Killer rises to his feet and watches him walk away.
Lundy and Debra sit at a diner table and narrow down the likely locations of the Trinity Killer’s next kill to “the cannery or the bar beating.” They decide to camp out at the location of the bar later that night. Their conversation meanders to Anton’s jealousy and “what you’re thinking.” Lundy admits to having complicated (“deafening”) feelings about being so near Debra and working with her again. Deb becomes emotional and flees the scene.
Lundy, speaking into a tape recorder, is outside an office building that replaced the building where the Trinity Killer originally killed the bar beating victim. The Trinity Killer comes out the lobby door, spots Lundy, and retreats behind a pillar, saying, “I’m found.” He then walks toward Lundy and purposefully sideswipes him, dropping his keys in the process. He apologizes and walks on, leaving his keys on the ground. Lundy picks them up and follows after him to return them. Trinity proceeds to the street and hops on a bus. Lundy records notes of the encounter, describing Trinity, “… hair, gray, eyes blue… there’s something in them.”
Deb comes to see Lundy at the Blue Water Hotel, where he’s staying. Deb pushes her way in the room, planting kisses all over him. Debra and Lundy discuss whether she is a “fuckwad” for cheating on Anton.
The next morning, As Deb starts to leave, a gunshot rings out. She looks down and sees that she has been hit. Two more shots ring out, and Lundy falls to the ground.
From the perspective of Deb, we see the assailant’s hand pull Lundy's wallet from his pants pocket. “Stay with me,” Deb says as she begins to lose consciousness. Lundy had been fatally shot twice outside of his hotel; Debra was shot once above the hip and survives. At first, she thought the shooter was one of the Vacation Murderers but, later discovers it was The Trinity Killer's daughter. Debra is devastated by Lundy's death.
Despite how dangerous Lundy had been to him during the Bay Harbor Butcher Case, Dexter acknowledges that he was a worthy opponent who did not deserve such a sorry death.
(voice and archive footage; uncredited)
Quotes[]
- "This is the man who stands between me and death row." -Dexter voiceover about Lundy
Related Pages[]
- Arthur Mitchell
- Bay Harbor Butcher Case
- Blood Slide Boxes
- Cabin in the Everglades
- Coral Cove Marina
- Debra Morgan
- Dr. Manny Pena
- Field Morgue
- Frank Lundy Murder Case
- Max Adams (Lundy's boss)
- Railroad Car
- Special Task Force
- The Bluewater Hotel
- Trinity Case
Goofs[]
- When Dexter plays back the recording of Lundy describing Arthur, it's different - instead of saying that the 6'4" white male is "200, 220 lbs" he says "190-200 lbs".
Notes[]
- Viewers who watch the series "Criminal Minds" note that his role was reversed when Keith Carradine played serial killer Frank Breitkopf who was tracked down by the FBI's BAU. Both characters had the given name, Frank.
- In 2012, Keith Carradine voiced a main antagonist in a video game Hitman: Absolution. His character is named Blake Dexter and is an owner of a company named Dexter Industries. One of the company's taglines is "Dexter protects you." This is ironic, since in Season Two, when Lundy is antagonistic towards Dexter, some people consider the Bay Harbor Butcher as a protector.
- Lundy is the first main antagonist of the series to survive the season in which he is a main antagonist.
- It is possible that Frank Lundy is based on John Douglas, a prominent FBI agent who pioneered criminal profiling. They have similar traits and, interestingly, both contributed to The Green River Killer's eventual downfall.
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
