A pool of blood that police found in Mark Twitchells garage. MURDERER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter killer due to his obsession with the TV show. Heartbroken dad issues warning after son, 13, dies in TikTok challenge, Red flag after possible suspect in missing brothers case made eerie request, Two dead and four injured after 19-year-old 'opens fire at prom after party', $80k reward offered for shooting suspect Francisco Oropesa after five killed, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Cops say killer Mark Twitchell is obsessed with the TV show Dexter, Mark Twitchell was sentenced to life in prison in April 2011. Altingers remains were put into garbage bags and dumped in a storm sewer. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Steve Lillibuen: still is adamant that this was not a planned and deliberate murder and to be frank, he is wrong. As authorities began building their case, there was one crucial part of "SK Confessions" they wanted to verify about a victim who had survived. DET. That piece of tooth matched up to our victim. Voluntarily, the amateur filmmaker came down to the Edmonton Police Station to speak with detectives. And his friend even questioned him on the email. Police believed "SK" was shorthand for "serial killer. Then a year-and-a-half after Johnny Altinger disappeared, Twitchell, while awaiting trial, broke his silence and gave the police a map. Bill Clark: We know that he lured him to the garage in the same way he lured Gilles Tetreault. DET. The recently aired CBS episode delves into this aspiring serial killers psyche. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bill Clark: They learned, of course, the garage is rented out to an individual named Mark Twitchell. He had a table set up for his victims. MARK TWITCHELL [graduation video]: "I'm glad I got to work with you all and I hope I see you all in the industry.". where there's smoke there's fire. And they found dirty dishes. Bill Clark and "48 Hours" contributor Troy Roberts watch Twitchell's reaction as Clark told him "I now know that you killed John Altinger. Two weeks before Altinger's disappearance he shot a low budget horror film about a man using an online dating service to lure victims to their deaths. Steve Lillibuen, a college professor and an investigative journalist, was covering the trial for the Edmonton Journal and went on to write a book, "The Devil's Cinema," about the case. filmmaking. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. She thinks she knows what made Twitchell tick. ", "SK Confessions." Concerns for Altingers safety were raised when friends and family received an email claiming to be from him, saying his date had taken him on an extended trip to Costa Rica. Store officials confirmed Mark Twitchell worked there as a sales rep from 2002 to 2004 until he was "released." Court documents filed in Peoria noted that Mark married Megan Twitchell, a U.S. citizen, in Edmonton on Jan. 4, 2001, and they eventually moved to the Illinois city, where they worked at American Electronics Appliance. His friends, having broken into his condo and finding no evidence he had packed for a vacation, alerted the police. Mark was arrested on October 31, 2008, and was charged with first-degree murder on the first day. For other inquiries, Contact Us. So, he dragged me back to the garage. Driven by this desire and his passion for the TV show Dexter, Twitchell started plotting out a Dexter-like murder. I believe your husband's got somethin' to do with it and this quite possibly you know, could be a homicide." living in the Midwest before returning to Canada to pursue a career in In 2008, John Brian Altinger, 38-year-old former White Rock, B.C., oilfield equipment manufacturer known to his friends as Johnny, interacted with Mark on the dating website Plenty of Fish. An initial search of the garage uncovered what appeared to be blood spatter, which Mark Twitchell told police came from the "House of Cards" execution scene he was filming. Twitchell even posed as Dexter Morgan on Facebook. It has no bearing whatsoever on what actually happened. Though Twitchell claimed that the death of Johnny Altinger in October 2008 was self-defense and that hed only been trying to film a movie a movie about luring men to a garage and killing them police found a script hed tried to delete describing the murder scene in precise, chilling detail. After Johnny Altinger disappeared, his friends received a strange message stating that hed met an extraordinary woman named Jen whod offered to take him on a nice long tropical vacation. Altingers friends found this highly suspicious. I am Mallika Singh, a lawyer and writer by profession. "I'd ask him one question and I'd get 10 pages back as an answer.". The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. And I've been cleaning it up over the last couple weeks ", Det. Det. Steve Lillibuen: I learned really quickly that he preferred to talk through writing. We don't know if foul play's happened here. Det. The police, not believing this story, impounded Twitchell's laptop and car, and found Altinger's blood in the car's trunk. In April 2011, Twitchell was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. And that's when I slipped out of the jacket, rolled underneath the garage door and then got up. Eventually, Twitchell revealed his true identity. According to the Edmonton Journal, he made a fan film called Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion that generated buzz online. Twitchell's film has never been released. Sheena had refused to tell Tetreault her exact address, giving him only driving instructions. Those directions led police directly to that garage, which turned out to be rented to an aspiring filmmaker named Mark Twitchell. Yet Twitchell continued to make excuses. And it worked. Gilles Tetreault: I can't do this, I gotta fight back so I got up and I ripped the tape off my eyes. The episode chronicles the tale of one of the strangest copycat killers in history. He became especially enchanted with the American TV show Dexter, which follows the story of a blood-splatter expert who kills murderers that avoided prosecution. Mark Andrew Twitchell (born July 4, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011 for the murder of John Brian Altinger. His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. Bill Clark: They had been livin' and basically sleeping in separate bedrooms. That's when he grabbed my legs and started pulling me back to the garage. Gilles Tetreault: And it's the same hockey mask that I saw. The Sun additionally reported that passages in SK Confessions lined up almost perfectly with Gilles Tetreaults police interview, as Tetreault had come forward with his own experience after reading about Twitchells arrest. The newfound evidence including letters reveals how this psycho killer planned the murder(s). Clark listened while Twitchell told him how he came into possession of a red car a detail he failed to mention when he spoke with police earlier. Altinger also informed his friends that he is going to meet this woman with whom hed been chatting. Johnny Altinger's blood was found in the trunk of Mark Twitchell's family car a discovery which led to the filmmaker's arrest on Halloween day in 2008. Mark Twitchell tells police about the deal he got on a red Mazda. He said he intended to let both men go so they would create a buzz for his film by telling people that this had actually happened to them. Feb 11, 2012. A staff writer for All That's Interesting, Kaleena Fraga has also had her work featured in The Washington Post and Gastro Obscura, and she published a book on the Seattle food scene for the Eat Like A Local series. Troy Roberts: And what did you take that to mean? In the document, the killer wrote about his kill room, explaining that it included "several rolls of painters plastic sheeting" and a 45-gallon steel drum "for the body parts" as well as a "game processing kit" containing multiple different knives and a serrated saw "for the bones". He added, It sometimes scares me how much I relate.. Three weeks after Altinger's disappearance, police charged Twitchell with first-degree murder. WebMark Andrew Twitchell (born July 4, 1979) is a Canadian filmmaker convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011 for the murder of John Brian Altinger. I was just really bewildered. Gilles Tetreault: I wasn't really afraid of him at that time. The strange story about the red car, the serial killer movie being filmed for Clark it could only mean one thing. Gary Altinger: When I received that email And this e-mail was completely out of character. Following the narrative, police believe Altinger was then stabbed and dismembered on a makeshift autopsy table. At the time, Renee was upset with her ex-husband's new wife. DET. Chris Heward: "How much of the blood splatter on the wall was from your filming?" Once again, the victim believed he had met a woman on PlentyOfFish and followed her online instructions to Twitchells garage. Steve Lillibuen: So, the motive is the mystery, the why did he do this. We Det. So how did this young Canadian filmmaker end up accused of horrific acts? Troy Roberts: Why didn't you go to the police immediately? Steve Lillibuen: Twitchell's been dubbed "The Dexter Killer" because of the numerous links between the television series and the real-life crimes. He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011. Mr. Twitchell went to school in Edmonton and did postgraduate studies in radio and television in the Alberta capital. Mark Andrew Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 4, 1979. He had no history of violence and was hardly a suspect. Dexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. And there's this huge revelation about "Oh yeah, I bought a red car off a guy." In SK Confessions, he wrote that though the crimes were not a copy-cat [of] the style of Dexter Morgan, he still wanted to pay homage to the character. And to Steve Lillebuen, who corresponded extensively with Twitchell for his book, The Devils Cinema: The Untold Story Behind Mark Twitchells Kill Room, Twitchell said, As youre aware, Dexter has almost nothing to do with my case. What Tetreault heard next came as an even greater shock. Then, read up on historys most infamous serial killers. Det. Bill Clark [in car in front of Twitchell's house]: What I said was, "We're investigating a missing persons. After a brief scuffle, Tetreault was able to overpower his attacker and escape from the garage. living in the Midwest before returning to Canada to pursue a career in He had no job. In the interview, police noticed that Twitchell had a lot of energy, considering the time of night. Twitchell's response to Hall's comments was to downplay his fascination with the "Dexter" character. This is the story of my progression into becoming a serial killer. It contained all details about Marks planning, failed attempts, successful attempts and even the process of how he dismembered the body and disposed of the remains.. He graduated from a radio and television program at the No root cause If I were capable of premeditated murder Normal, healthy, well-adjusted 30-year-old men I once heard the legend of another worthy victim I dealt with his remains in a disrespectful manner that traumatized me forever psychopathic serial killer I quickly grew to resent and hate this man., Nobody would side with Dexter Morgan if he went around slaughtering schoolteachers and mail carriers on a whim.. Steve Lillibuen: He was newly married and a new father. Gilles Tetreault was at home oblivious to the horror he had escaped when a friend told him to watch the news. Tetreault, who was 33 at the time, was excited to meet the woman who called herself "Sheena.". Mark Twitchell, a fringe filmmaker accused in a slaying that matched one of his scripts, spent earlier years feverishly hawking and buying Star Wars toys over the He is still in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary. Right away I'm saying to myself this is a bunch of crap. This time Bill Clark conducted the interview. Born on July 4, 1979, Mark Andrew Twitchell grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Police believe that Johnny Altinger was hit over the head with this pipe shortly upon entering the darkened garage. Detective Clark hoped Twitchell would provide the final chapter. Twitchell's film has never been released. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Troy Roberts: And when did you grow concerned. These are the words of Mark Twitchell, written to investigative journalist and author Steve Lillibuen: Steve Lillibuen [reading letters]: "It would appear that I'm unique in the world. In March of 2011, Mark Twitchell went on trial for the murder of Johnny Altinger. Twitchell posed as a woman on the Plenty of Fish dating site and set up a meeting with John Altinger, 38, on October 10, 2008. Twelve years ago, Twitchell was a fresh-faced radio student at NAIT. From having a kill room to using plastic sheeting Twitchell, a self-proclaimed Dexter fan, killed like the character did. Tetreault, who has written a book about his ordeal, spoke to "48 Hours" recently. And I liked it.. Bill Clark: It just doesn't make sense. So he was, you know, just a typical local guy who had dreams of making it big in Hollywood and really no red flags. And a few miles away, detectives had been at the Twitchell home where they found Jess Twitchell Mark's unsuspecting wife of two years. Bill Clark: We do believe, as investigators, that the account written by Mark Twitchell in that "SK Confessions" is exactly what he did to John Altinger. Altinger, thinking he was meeting a woman, was lured to Twitchells kill room in his garage-turned-film-studio. He spoke to them about his career in filmmaking, his wife, Jess, and his 8-month-old daughter, Chloe. Detective Bill Clark knew his next move was finding the alleged victim who had escaped from Mark Twitchell's garage. Questions Lillibuen hoped might be answered when he got a call out of the blue from Mark Twitchell himself. In 2023, Twitchell will be eligible to apply for early parole. DET. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell wrote to me quite extensively about his interest in "Dexter.". He is killing very innocent, good people living productive lives. Gradually though, Marks life went from making the stories through film to At his garage, they found an eerily Dexter-like scene that included plastic sheets on the window, a blood-splattered table, and cleaning supplies. Troy Roberts: And what were you thinking when when you heard this? Goin', "Yeah, this isn't right. Gilles Tetreault: He grabbed my jacket I jerked forward to make sure he had a good hold on it, and I thought it's the perfect time. Updated on: April 26, 2022 / 11:45 AM Over the course of almost three years, they exchanged dozens of letters. Twitchell graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. Episode 265: In October 2008, 38-year-old Johnny Altinger was looking for love online and, thinking hed found it, was lured to his death in a dingy south Edmonton, Alberta garage. He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011. Troy Roberts: How do you get away with it? Gary Altinger: I just thought right away after I had read this, that's gotta be the weirdest message I've ever received. OFFICER [to Twitchell outside garage]: Bring back any memories? It's really freaky too And as soon as they called me on the phone I got this weird chill. It's a combination of a sexual motive and thrill killing. I I've shacked up with this really rich lady She's even gonna buy me a new car so I'm just looking to unload mine how much do you have on you?". Embarrassed and confused, Tetreault convinced himself that perhaps it wasn't as serious as he first thought. Twitchell himself admitted to killing Altinger and authoring the document but he stated that he did it in self-defence. MURDERER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter killer due to his obsession with the TV show. Cops say his fascination with the fictional TV killer carried over into his real-life crimes. Who is Mark Twitchell? Mark Andrew Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 4, 1979. BILL CLARK [to Twitchell in police car]: So here we are back at the killing garage. Bill Clark: It's a missing persons case. Edmonton JournalDexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. Johnny Altinger's friends were also able to hand over the directions Johnny had forwarded them before his date. Part of the report included a return trip by Tetreault to the garage in which the incident had taken place. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell testified that this was all a big misunderstanding he had killed Johnny in self-defense . Joan Adelman and Michelle Harris are the editors. Under director, it has Mark Twitchell. A lot of people saw him as a loner. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Gilles Tetreault: He's about 6 foot and this black and gold hockey mask painted all painted up on his face. They have said the crime has parallels to the Showtime TV show Renee: And I wanted her dead, at the time. GILLES TETREAULT [police interview]: I was off balance, I couldn't run I fell down on the gravel driveway and, uh, basically crawling. This is what happened to me. He wouldn't. He told the police that hed been filming a movie called House of Cards that just happened to be about men who were killed after being lured to a garage for a date. MARK TWITCHELL [interrogation]: I'm working on a comedy right now. At that instant, I knew there was no date.. Gilles Tetreault: And he tore a piece of tape and he covered my eyes with it. But where was Johnny Altinger's body? That doesnt change the fact that his crimes, and Dexters fictional ones, have obvious parallels. That identical strange message had gone out to all of Johnny's friends as well. Det. DET. Lillebuen said: "He had a kill room set up with plastic sheeting. Wow, yeah, this is this is the guy. In 2011, Twitchells attempt to murder charge got a courts stay in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta. I start hearing different things like a jingling noise and stuff like that my head is just racing, like it's like thinking, "What's goin' on? Star_Wars_(film) dbr:Parole; Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and later gained a Thats when I looked back to see this man hovering [behind] me with a hockey mask. Are we parked right on top of the sewer where you dumped the body? What other line is there to cross? Bill Clark: We had a, you know, luminol tests done on the floor. Heward left the garage film set unharmed but rattled. He graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. The police, not believing this story, impounded Twitchell's laptop and car, and found Altinger's blood in the car's trunk. Lillibuen said: "He wrote me probably 30 or 35 different letters - up to about 350 pages like an entire book worth. The Dexter killer, whose real name is Mark Andrew Twitchell is a Canadian filmmaker who is convicted of the first-degree murder of John Brian Altinger. What led to this happening? But he claimed Altinger became enraged at being tricked, and he accidentally killed him in self-defense. But Twitchell claimed he could explain everything. Is he takin' another weapon out?". Twitchell started running a dating website Plenty of Fish in 2008 and that is when the real trouble started. Bill Clark: We found out he was telling his wife he was going to work every day. Troy Roberts: That was part of your plan, you're thinking he grabs my jacket, and I can get free . After cursorily shoving aside my human sensibilities, I dealt with his remains in a disrespectful manner that traumatized me forever.". But was the document a screenplay? Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. But the question remains was Twitchell inspired to kill by the TV show? In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I plunged the knife deep into his neck ", Det. Troy Roberts: These weren't ramblings of a crazy man. ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I grabbed him by the leg as if to drag him back into the garage caveman style.". Police allege that around Oct. 10, Mr. Altinger was lured to a south-side residential garage for a blind date arranged online. His unease only escalated when police asked him about that allegedly fake movie blood they spotted in the garage. Det. News of the arrest shocked friends and family of both the accused and the victim. Gilles Tetreault [driving]: I was actually late, so I was driving quite fast to get there. You know, we had a lot in common. Renee was intrigued. DETECTIVE [interrogation]: Altinger Does that name ring a bell to you or mean anything to you? ", Renee: He said over the weekend he did something, and he liked it. Renee: He said, "You cut her up in little pieces. These letters help us delve into the horrific mind of an aspirational serial killer who could have killed many if he had not been caught on time. Bill Clark: One of the things they had found was a hockey maskthe "SK Confessions" talked about how Mark Twitchell had worn this mask when he attacked both victims. And when it was done and I watched, I went, "Wow, that guy interviewed well.". Det. It sometimes scares me how much I relate. Tell me about that. WebCheck out this great listen on Audible.com. Dexter Killer: Everything about Mark Twitchell, the Killer who wore a Hockey This story is based on true events. Residents saw him flee the building, chased by a man wearing a hockey mask that was decorated in slashes of black and gold. Mark Twitchell was nothing like author Steve Lillibuen expected. He had taken his vehicle; it couldn't be found. "Mark has way too much in common with Dexter Morgan" read Twitchell's status. I'm dead.". MARK ANSTEY [to reporters, holding up hockey mask]: We have some details on this male victim who was attacked, and we would like him to come forward. WebMark Twitchell IMDbPro Starmeter See rank He graduated from a radio and television program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and later gained a small Cowley believes Twitchell took pleasure in planning and executing his crimes as if they were romantic trysts. For the first time on television, Lillibuen is revealing the contents of Twitchell's letters. JuliaCowley: I think the primary motivation was sexual. Though his assailant had a gun, Tetreault decided to take his chances and fight back. Julia Cowley: And while he's technically not a serial killer he was headed in that direction if they hadn't have caught him. Horse riding is another passion that keeps me going. Bill Clark: When we got the word that the DNA matched, we briefed our tactical teamour arrest team, and we had officers ready to make the arrest. Det. The public's attention drew to him after he was allegedly known to be inspired by Dexter Morgan, a fictional character. DET. The only witness the defense called was Mark Twitchell and he had one unbelievable tale to tell. Mark already faced a maximums sentence of life in prison with no parole for 25 years so the court didnt find any need to proceed with more charges, and this charge was dropped against him. Mark Twitchell, The Dexter Killer Whose Obsession With The TV Show Led Him To Murder. Bill Clark: He thought he was way smarter than the police. Renee: I thought it was gonna be like a working relationship, a working friendship. It's like I remember getting the phone call at the police station just thinking "holy crap.". Twitchell, 31, is on trial for first-degree murder in Altingers death. This story is based on true events, Mark Twitchell wrote. And it was a little taste of his own medicine, I guess. He had a table set up for his victims. Moreover, he wore a hockey mask when he attacked his two victims. Bill Clark: It was unbelievable. So, there was obviously troubles in paradise there, we knew that Mark Twitchell had been having an affair with an old girlfriend and lying to his wife about having a job. EDMONTON CROWN PROSECUTION OFFICEA pool of blood that police found in Mark Twitchells garage. Bill Clark: I just thought, "That's unbelievable." ", "SK Confessions" told the story of a man who was lured to a garage and stabbed to death a plot strikingly similar to "House of Cards. KILLER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter Killer due to his obsession with the TV show. Bill Clark: And there are some things that were, you know, raisin' your Spidey senses in this one. And her suspicions kept growing with another email he sent. Why didn't I tell somebody where I am?". Detective Clark was relentless, taking Twitchell on a tour of his old neighborhood. Bill Clark: So, I know that this diary we have is true. The film still hasnt been released to date. I didn't really go into anything more, but I think that was enough. Another man had been lured to the same garage and met a gruesome end. Bill Clark: It's almost like, at times, Mark Twitchell lives in a fantasy world. DETECTIVE: And we end up going to that garage because of a missing person who supposedly went there. According to investigative reporter, Steve Lillibuen, Twitchell enjoyed communicating through writing. The show follows the adventures of Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter expert by day and psychotic knife-wielding vigilante butcher by night. During questioning, filmmaker Mark Twitchell appeared to be eager to help investigators. Twitchell claimed he bought the red Mazda for just $40, and that it was parked at a friend's house. That profile had caught the attention of a woman named Renee from Cleveland, Ohio. But Twitchell had underestimated the police. Their email exchanges soon became dark. Back at the station, Detective Clark and Mark Twitchell came face to face in the interrogation room once again. Julia Cowley: Mark Twitchell cannot be rehabilitated. More Details To Know, Gucci Family Story: A Heated Battle For House Of Gucci & Maurizios Murder, Lil Meech and Summer Walker Seemingly Confirm Romance, Bamboozle 2023 Canceled A Week Before Scheduled Dates, Fans Rejoice as Andrew Rannells and Tuc Watkins Reignite Their Relationship, Eva Green Wins $1 Million Lawsuit Against Producers of Failed Film A Patriot, Ed Sheeran Announces Intimate Subtract Tour in Support of New Album: Venues and Ticket Options Revealed, Citadel Episode 3: Release Date and Time on Prime Video. Lillibuen points to "SK Confessions," where Twitchell describes how he turned that garage into a kill room, set up a makeshift autopsy table, had plastic sheeting, and a processing kit similar to the one Dexter Morgan used. Det. Chris Heward: My character was killed with a samurai sword. Renee [reading email]: "There's an enormous missing person, possible homicide investigation going on centralized around a location I've rented for film work. Twitchell graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. He even talked about driving around with him and pulling up beside people at red lights and looking at them thinking that "they don't know I have a dead body in the trunk of my car.". John was very, very, very responsible. He was so embarrassed about the encounter, however, that Tetreault didnt tell anyone about it. Some information may no longer be current. We could see what looked like pieces of human torso down there.
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