Warning: SPOILERS for Dexter: New Blood
Kurt may have inadvertently let Dexter off the hook for his kill in Dexter: New Blood, but this raises serious questions about why he lied about Matt being alive. Despite presumably knowing that Dexter's victim is not safe and secure, he still refuses to acknowledge his fate. While this could be a sign of grief, it could also provide a clue to the character's motivations throughout the series.
After a decade-long hiatus from killing, Dexter Morgan finally returned to his serial killer life in Dexter New Blood episode 1. His first victim was Matt Caldwell, a reckless and entitled 30-year-old Iron Lake resident who Dexter discovered was responsible for the deaths of five people. As an extremely rusty killer, Dexter is having a more difficult time than ever before covering up his tracks and avoiding suspicion of Matt’s murder. While Dexter has had several close calls to being caught in Iron Lake, especially since his girlfriend Angela is the chief of police, it seemed the pressure was heating up when Kurt Caldwell arrived on the scene. As one of the most powerful and respected residents in Dexter: New Blood’s Iron Lake, the return of Matt’s father Kurt Caldwell led to an increased push for Iron Lake PD to augment their task force and check out any possibility regarding Matt's disappearance or possible death. While it seemed that Iron Lake's police were getting closer to finding the truth about Matt’s death after bringing in a forensic specialist and checking out infrared cameras in the woods, New Blood episode 3 ended with Dexter seemingly getting out of killing Matt scot-free.
After finding an extremely drunk Kurt outside of Iron Lake’s tavern, Dexter offers to give him a ride home, only for the powerful resident to declare that Matt is alive. Kurt claimed that he had not just spoken to Matt, but had FaceTimed him and confirmed him to be alive. Considering Dexter is the one who killed Matt and had only moments before burned his remains, it was extremely curious as to why Kurt would lie. With how drunk Kurt was, it’s possible he was lying simply out of denial in his grief, truly wanting to believe that his son was alive. On the other hand, Kurt has been characterized as one of Dexter: New Blood’s most dangerous villains, suggesting this lie connects to the popular hypothesis that he’s Iron Lake’s serial killer.
Kurt lying about Matt being alive makes the most sense when considering he could be the dangerous hunter serial killer. He had obviously seen how much more land Iron Lake’s police had to search with no sign of Matt’s body, which could possibly lead them to his secret cabin or burial ground for his victims. By telling Dexter and the police that Matt is alive, Angela would have to call off the search, thus keeping the police from catching onto his own crimes. It’s clear that Kurt's lying wasn’t simply due to a drunken stupor, with New Blood episode 4’s promo revealing that Kurt is continuing to tell the police that he’s excited his son is alive. Even if Kurt isn't Dexter: New Blood’s serial killer as theorized, there’s a menacing reason why he would lie about seeing and talking to Matt.
Wondering why Kurt would lie about Matt’s death, Dexter: New Blood episode 4 will likely see Dexter doing an investigative search of his own as in previous series. With the reason for Kurt’s lie most likely being that he doesn’t want the police to discover his murderous secrets, it’s possible Dexter will stumble onto his burial ground himself. Additionally, it’s possible Dexter already has - Dexter himself considered using the mine as a place to bury Matt’s body, and it could be where Kurt disposes of his victims. Whether or not Kurt Caldwell is Dexter: New Blood’s serial killer is yet to be confirmed, but there’s no doubt that his lying about Matt has a darker purpose.