involvement, LaGuerta makes it clear that she will depose her if she steps out of line. Season seven At the beginning of this season, LaGuerta discovers a blood slide containing serial killer Travis Marshall's blood at the scene of his death. Realizing that this is reminiscent of the Bay Harbor Butcher's modus operandi, she begins to investigate whether the Butcher is still alive, and sets out to prove Doakes' innocence. Eventually, she begins to suspect Dexter when she learns that he moved his boat during the Bay Harbor Butcher investigation. She enlists help from Matthews, who tells her that her suspicions are unfounded. As LaGuerta and Matthews dig into the case, they revisit the cabin Doakes died in and discover that Santos Jimenez had rented the cabin, prompting Matthews to reveal to LaGuerta that Jimenez was responsible for the death of Dexter and Brian Moser's mother. LaGuerta's suspicion of Dexter intensifies after she learns about his background and then hears of the disappearance of Jimenez. They search the area and find evidence of Doakes's involvement, which LaGuerta insists was planted. Eventually, LaGuerta forms a plan to finally confirm whether Dexter is the Butcher; she pulls strings to have Hector Estrada, the man who ordered Dexter's mother killed, released from prison in hopes that Dexter will go after him. Sure enough, Dexter finds Estrada and is about to kill him when he realizes that LaGuerta has set him up. He reluctantly lets Estrada go so he can escape, but LaGuerta deduces what was about to happen when she sees the killing room. LaGuerta has Dexter arrested for killing Estrada, who is in fact still alive but is forced to let him go when forensic specialist Vince Masuka provides evidence proving Dexter's innocence. This turn of events only strengthens LaGuerta's resolve to arrest Dexter, especially after she finds circumstantial evidence that Dexter and Debra were near the scene of Marshall's death. She confronts Debra with this evidence, but Debra fends her off. As this situation escalates, Dexter decides the only solution is to kill LaGuerta. He kidnaps and kills Estrada, and then drugs LaGuerta unconscious when she arrives at the scene. His plan is to shoot her and then stage the scene to make it appear as if she and Estrada killed each other. Just then, Debra finds him and begs him not to kill LaGuerta, who regains consciousness. LaGuerta pleads with