Vince Masuka

Lore & Background

Masuka is portrayed as being obsessed with sex and is not shy about propositioning every woman he meets, although he is able to tone it down when necessary. In the third season, Detective Joey Quinn confronts Masuka on his behavior, stating that it is the reason that no one likes to be around him. Masuka seems to accept Joey's explanation when no one comes to see his speech on his newly published work, for which he has cleaned up his act and dressed formally.

However, his disappointment at this quickly evaporates when Debra and others defend his assessment of a crime in front of the doubting agents from another enforcement agency by suggesting that Masuka has been published multiple times. At Debra's request, he returns to his previous demeanor at the end of the episode, although he appears less vulgar. He is known for his loyalty to his colleagues and is greatly distraught after seeing Dexter's wife Rita kiss another man; which he tries to convey to Dexter.

Reader's Guide

Vince Masuka is the Miami Metro Police lead forensic science investigator, working alongside Dexter Morgan in the lab and at crime scenes. He is known for cracking tasteless and inappropriate jokes, invoking his Japanese heritage only when convenient, and harboring unrequited desire for Dexter's foster sister Debra. In the novels, Dexter views him as a kindred spirit, believing that Masuka is also "pretending to be human," and asks him to serve as the best man at his wedding.

In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Vince throws a large bachelor party for Dexter within a few hours of finding out about his engagement. In the television series, Masuka sets up Dexter's bachelor party and kidnaps him to get him there (where, in the belief that he had been kidnapped by a serial killer called the Skinner, Dexter slugs him in the eye just as he opens the car trunk). In Dexter in the Dark, Masuka takes his role as best man so seriously that he calls in favors to hire a famous caterer for Dexter's wedding.

Did You Know?

• Masuka fires an intern for stealing a prosthetic forearm and hand from the Ice Truck Killer case and selling it online.
• In the eighth season, Masuka discovers he has a daughter, Niki, from a sperm donation.
• In the Dexter: New Blood finale, Batista and Quinn discuss whether they will attend Masuka's wedding.