Maria LaGuerta

Lore & Background

Discussions between LaGuerta and Angel Batista in the first and fourth seasons provide minor insight into LaGuerta's backstory. According to the dialogue, her family is located entirely in Cuba, and she mentions the experience of being alone in a foreign land, suggesting that she was sent to live in America independently. In the series' beginning, LaGuerta is depicted as a determined and ambitious woman with a stronger aptitude for political maneuvering than practical police duties. She holds a deep animosity towards Debra, Dexter Morgan's sister, but harbors an attraction to Dexter. In the conclusion of the first season, Captain Tom Matthews, her superior, removes her from her leadership position due to her inability to apprehend the Ice Truck Killer.

Reader's Guide

In season three, LaGuerta announces Batista’s promotion to sergeant, and she is reunited with Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits) after his brother Oscar is killed. After Debra unintentionally badmouths Oscar in front of Miguel, LaGuerta convinces Batista to drop her from the case, and attends Oscar’s wake. LaGuerta tries to reassure Miguel that the police will find Freebo, though he is doubtful. After Batista and Quinn are offered information exonerating Chickey Hines, who Miguel convicted, LaGuerta confronts Miguel with the new evidence.

At Batista’s mention, LaGuerta confronts Miguel over not speaking with Chickey Hines. LaGuerta gets frustrated when evidence suggests Freebo is probably gone. When LaGuerta again confronts Miguel over not talking to her witness, Miguel suggests that having to accept Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher may be clouding her judgement. LaGuerta gives a witness statement granting Hines an alibi to his attorney, Ellen Wolf.

Ramon meets with LaGuerta after he begins working on the case of a woman murdered by the Skinner, and suspects him of using the case to insert himself into the investigation of his brother's death. LaGuerta is enraged at Wolf after finding out she is investigating Miguel for misconduct. Batista keeps her out of the loop while Debra looks into the possibility of Ramon as the Skinner, and LaGuerta compliments Debra after Ramon is arrested for false imprisonment.

LaGuerta gives Ramon a deal where he has to give up his shield and retire to not be charged, which mends her relationship with Miguel. LaGuerta asks Wolf to accompany her to a police charity and the two develop a friendship. After Wolf stops answering her phone, LaGuerta becomes worried and is horrified when her body is found at a cemetery. LaGuerta reports Toby Edwards as the suspect in Wolf’s murder, and interrogates him.

She believes he is the killer until Quinn tells her of evidence that exonerates him. Miguel visits LaGuerta at her home, and the two kiss before being discovered by Miguel’s wife Sylvia (Valerie Cruz). Through her own personal investigation and input from Dexter, LaGuerta uncovers that Miguel is responsible for Wolf's death. LaGuerta confides in Dexter, considering him the only other person aware of the truth.

After Miguel's demise at Dexter's hands, LaGuerta becomes distressed by the possibility of the Cuban community honoring Miguel by naming a highway after him. She desires to obtain solid evidence to prove Miguel's guilt in Wolf's murder. However, Dexter manages to persuade her that pursuing the case would only inflict further pain upon Miguel's family and the community, and even if successful, the evidence would be insufficient. Reluctantly, LaGuerta lets go of the matter.