Weeks, then months, passed and still no luck. The recently aired CBS episode delves into this aspiring serial killers psyche. Both Lillebuen and police say that Twitchell's fascination with the TV killer Dexter Morgan carried over into his real-life crimes. Voluntarily, the amateur filmmaker came down to the Edmonton Police Station to speak with detectives. His friends, having broken into his condo and finding no evidence he had packed for a vacation, alerted the police. It was actually he was probably going to kill me. Twitchell wrote numerous letters to the journalist, with Lillibuen telling CBS Newsthat he found themurderer of Johnny Altingerto be very responsive to letter writing. The search of the car also led police to discover a deleted file on Mark Twitchell's laptop called "SK Confessions." 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. On October 31, 2008, Mark Twitchell was charged with the first degree murder. First look at Britain's biggest EVER stage for King Charles' coronation concert, Souness fights back tears as he announces emotional retirement on Sky Sports, Sky Sports' Martin Tyler slammed for 'racist' comment about Spurs star Son, Iconic high street favourite to return after 4 years as shoppers 'can't wait', News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Det. Once again, the victim believed he had met a woman on PlentyOfFish and followed her online instructions to Twitchells garage. And you can write it all down. Over the course of almost three years, they exchanged dozens of letters. Britsh actor Jeremy Twitchell even posed as Dexter Morgan on Facebook. There is no key. The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. I still think about the stun gun. The directions led police directly to Mark Twitchells door. Troy Roberts: And what did you take that to mean? He was sentenced to 25 years to life. Those directions led police directly to that garage, which turned out to be rented to an aspiring filmmaker named Mark Twitchell. And since I was close to the lake, "You rent a boat and dump her out in the middle of Lake Erie. What led to this happening? Writing gives me a sense of freedom and independence. Bill Clark: And there are some things that were, you know, raisin' your Spidey senses in this one. Bill Clark: It's almost like, at times, Mark Twitchell lives in a fantasy world. Later, Twitchell insisted that hed lured Tetreault and Altinger to the garage because he thought hed attack them and let them escape so that when his movie came out theyd come forward, thus creating buzz.. Maybe Mark Twitchell wanted to kill like Dexter, and maybe he didnt. ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I grabbed him by the leg as if to drag him back into the garage caveman style.". Bill Clark: His red Mazda was missing. 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. Renee [reading Facebook message]: "We all have a dark side, some darker than others and you're not the only one to relate to Dexter. 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. Trump motion to dismiss E. 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Twitchell had attempted to lure another victim to his kill room earlier that month. Police cameras were rolling as a forensics team processed Twitchell's family car and the garage he rented. He had a table set up for his victims. He had an interest in film and graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a bachelors degree in Radio and Television Arts in 2000. April 12, 2022 7:40am. "I crossed the line and I did something and I liked it". Right away I'm saying to myself this is a bunch of crap. ", Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case: A timeline of events, Lamar Johnson: "I am a freed man and a blessed man", Chad Daybell's kids claim he was "fooled in worst, most deadly way possible", Moms chatting at a water park help crack a cold case murder, Letters from Mark Twitchell: Inside the mind of a killer. And his friend even questioned him on the email. Det. He's not gonna admit to anything. Bill Clark: He talked a lot about how he loved the show "Dexter.". Dont worry about neighbors thinking youre a burglar.. In a twist, a man came forward after the arrest to say he was lured to the garage a week before Mr. Altinger disappeared. There was actually some substance in these letters? 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. So, police kept searching on their own, looking in sewer after sewer. Feb 11, 2012. The police, not believing this story, impounded Twitchell's laptop and car, and found Altinger's blood in the car's trunk. And it was a little taste of his own medicine, I guess. And they found everything just like as if he were going to return an hour or two later And with that information, then they went to the police, and they said, "Hey, listen. Fortunately, it took police far less time to catch up with Mark Twitchell than it took their fictional counterparts to catch up to Dexter Morgan. Twichells first-degree murder trial contained a key piece of evidence entitled SK Confessions, which meant Serial Killer Confessions. Det. Experts say it's a long shot, but it worries Tetreault. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Suffice it to say that I crossed the line on Friday, he wrote. This is who he is. filmmaking. "I'd ask him one question and I'd get 10 pages back as an answer.". 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. Bill Clark: So, I know that this diary we have is true. On October 3, 2008, Gilles Tetreault drove to a garage in Edmonton, believing that he was about to meet a woman named Sheena whom hed met on a dating site called PlentyOfFish. Mark Twitchell was an Edmonton native who wanted to become a filmmaker. Bill Clark[driving]: So, all these manhole covers were pulled off in this alley. But Twitchell remained silent. The short film featured a killer luring men to a garage and murdering them. But he maintained a core What Tetreault heard next came as an even greater shock. living in the Midwest before returning to Canada to pursue a career in Twitcher was inspired to shift from filmmaking to murdering people because of the fictional character Dexter Morgan. Mark Andrew Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 4, 1979. But Twitchell had underestimated the police. Mark Twitchell worked with a tight-knit group of guys on various film projects. Gradually though, Marks life went from making the stories through film to Twitchell wrote numerous letters to the journalist, with Lillibuen telling CBS Newsthat he found themurderer of Johnny Altingerto be very responsive to letter writing. Troy Roberts: So, I mean, you spoke to him a couple of times a day online? Mark Twitchell, The Dexter Killer Whose Obsession With The TV Show Led Him To Murder. Twitchell, then 29 years old, a married man with a young daughter, had used the garage as a set for a recent movie project. Twitchell's first film project, a "Star Wars" fan film, had received some media buzz back in 2007. That doesnt change the fact that his crimes, and Dexters fictional ones, have obvious parallels. DET. You put her in trash bags, like Dexter." It's a rare look inside the mind of a killer. When I saw that they were real, I thought, "This is off. Throughout their correspondence, Lillibuen continued to grapple with what drove Twitchell and then Twitchell told him: Steve Lillibuen [reading letter]: "There is no key. What Tetreault didn't realize was that he had been weakened by the effects of a stun baton. Bill Clark [in car in front of Twitchell's house]: What I said was, "We're investigating a missing persons. I'm like "Wow, why was my punch so weak? And then, in a search of Twitchell's belongings, police found his laptop. I knew he couldn't hurt me anymore. If you want to delve into more details, watch the CBS 48 Hours Season 34 Episode 38: The Dexter Killer here. Twitchell graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. At a glance, Mark Twitchell seemed perfectly normal. Steve Lillebuen who wrote The Devils Cinema read a part of Marks letters that read as: It would appear that Im unique in the world. Det. This article was published more than 14 years ago. That's changed slightly I now know that you killed John Altinger. Det. Bill Clark | Edmonton Police: To hear how everything happened it was like you're watching the movies But now we have it happening in real life. Get this over with? And they found dirty dishes. Julia Cowley: Mark Twitchell cannot be rehabilitated. Along the way, Twitchell also seemed to develop an obsession with murder and death. In 2023, Twitchell will be eligible to apply for early parole. Police soon discovered that the Twitchell marriage was already fractured. You know, the fight for my life . And her suspicions kept growing with another email he sent. The day after Twitchell was arrested in connection to Altinger's death, police found a suspiciously deleted file on Twitchell's computer labeled "SK Confessions". Lillebuen wrote a book about the case titled "The Devil's Cinema: The Untold Story Behind Mark Twitchell's Kill Room.". According to the Edmonton Journal, he made a fan film called Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion that generated buzz online. What other line is there to cross? Renee was intrigued. DET. Clark had no hard evidence against Mark Twitchell. And we have nothing. You know, be careful And John said, "Yeah, well, here's the directions. Steve Lillibuen: He just said straight out, "If you're gonna be writing a book about me, you might as well come straight to the source.". Driven by this desire and his passion for the TV show Dexter, Twitchell started plotting out a Dexter-like murder. At that instant, I knew there was no date.. This time, he managed to get into his truck. Bill Clark: Well, John's friends were concerned. We we don't have a body. What's Mark Twitchell's psyche? Lillebuen said: "He had a kill room set up with plastic sheeting. He wouldn't. Detective Bill Clark knew his next move was finding the alleged victim who had escaped from Mark Twitchell's garage. Thats when I looked back to see this man hovering [behind] me with a hockey mask. Twelve years ago, Twitchell was a fresh-faced radio student at NAIT. JUSTICE DONE Mr. Twitchell, 29, was arrested on Halloween and charged with the first-degree murder of Johnny Altinger, a 38-year-old pipeline-industry worker originally from White Rock, B.C. But no one knew not Twitchells Facebook friends nor his wife, Jess just how much Twitchell believed that he related. It says that Jeremy Bulloch is in the movie and it says it's coming out in June. He is still in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary. Residents saw him flee the building, chased by a man wearing a hockey mask that was decorated in slashes of black and gold. The Devil's Cinema Penguin Random House / My Space. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. A week later, the masked man would find his next target, Johnny Altinger, who wouldn't be as lucky as the first victim. Mark Twitchell, The 'Dexter Killer' Inspired To Murder By 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.. Det. He didn't have to. He rented a garage, found potential victims on dating apps, and set the scene with plastic sheeting, a table, and different kinds of weapons. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and later gained a Is he takin' another weapon out?". And there's this huge revelation about "Oh yeah, I bought a red car off a guy." We're gonna take a drive. When I looked at the weapons that was my first sign. Det. So how did this young Canadian filmmaker end up accused of horrific acts? Gary Altinger: They found his passport. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We're a Digital Platform offering the Latest Updates and News from Entertainment, Technology, Lifestyle and Food Industry. According to investigative reporter, Steve Lillibuen, Twitchell enjoyed communicating through writing. Edmonton JournalDexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. Gary Altinger: I've met a woman named Jen. So anytime I'd seen one I'd always have my flashlight with me and would get out and actually take a look. Soon after the divorce, Mark Twitchell returned to Edmonton to spearhead a low-budget $60,000 Det. Stars Wars stuff all over the unit, but hey, whatever people collect, they collect.". Little did they know the case was about to take an unusual turn. The public's attention drew to him after he was allegedly known to be inspired by Dexter Morgan, a fictional character. His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. Police believed "SK" was shorthand for "serial killer. Renee: He said, "You cut her up in little pieces. Gilles Tetreault: I really thought it was a mugging at the time. Twitchell's film has never been released. Who is Mark Twitchell? Steve Lillibuen: He blames Johnny, saying it was Johnny's reaction to his attempt at this promotion is what happened. Mark said, Its what it is and Im what I am. The Dexter Killer is still serving his sentence in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary and still enjoys watching Dexter. "He had this kind of processing kit that was very similar to what Dexter uses.". Twitchell's handwritten directions on a Google map led police to a manhole where Twitchell had dumped Johnny's remains. Lillibuen said: "He wrote me probably 30 or 35 different letters - up to about 350 pages like an entire book worth. In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He is still in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary. WebHis name was Mark Twitchell and the aspiring filmmaker was renting a two-door garage (above) in Edmonton, Canada as his make-shift film studio. 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? They have said the crime has parallels to the Showtime TV show DETECTIVE: And we end up going to that garage because of a missing person who supposedly went there. Troy Roberts [outside Twitchell's garage]: What was the most damning piece of evidence that you discovered? And when it was done and I watched, I went, "Wow, that guy interviewed well.". Though his assailant had a gun, Tetreault decided to take his chances and fight back. Cops arrested Twitchell on October 31, 2008, and charged him with first degree murder. Gilles Tetreault: And then he starts punching me on the side of the head. Star Wars - Secrets of the Rebellion. There is no key. On October 3, 2008, Gilles Tetreault followed directions to a location in Edmonton where he was supposed to meet a woman named "Sheena" he met online. Sheena had refused to tell Tetreault her exact address, giving him only driving instructions. He spoke to them about his career in filmmaking, his wife, Jess, and his 8-month-old daughter, Chloe. Retired FBI criminal profiler Julia Cowley didn't work on this case, but she spoke with Detective Clark and reviewed Mark Twitchell's writings and letters for "48 Hours." Showtime is a division of Paramount Global, which owns CBS. This is the story of my progression into becoming a, . 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., Joe Metheny: The Baltimore Cannibal Who Turned Human Victims Into Hamburgers, Did You Know That A Woman Started Fathers Day? 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. You know, we had a lot in common. DETECTIVE [interrogation]: I mean it's kinda odd that you're filming that kind of thing. Who is Mark Twitchell? But for Lillibuen, there were still so many questions. Investigators followed it to an alleyway just a half block away from where they had stopped the search. DET. Desperate for some answers, Johnny's friends broke into his apartment. Det. In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. It has no bearing whatsoever on what actually happened., Twitchell added, There is no root cause no school bully or impressionably gory movies or video game violence or Showtime television series to point the finger at. WebMark Twitchell had turned his obsession with Star Wars into making a fan film. Twitchell's film has never been released. Steve Lillibuen: I learned really quickly that he preferred to talk through writing. 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. ", "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. Gary Altinger: I just thought right away after I had read this, that's gotta be the weirdest message I've ever received. Det. 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. Mark is often referred to as the Dexter Killer because of his fond love and personal identification with the lead character, Dexter Morgan. Tough guy Mark Twitchell peed his pants he was so scared. WebExtra: Jimmy Siokos on Mark Twitchell. The only witness the defense called was Mark Twitchell and he had one unbelievable tale to tell. During questioning, filmmaker Mark Twitchell appeared to be eager to help investigators. Det. ", Det. 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. Dexter, which they say Mr. Twitchell idolized on his Facebook page. Gilles Tetreault: And he tore a piece of tape and he covered my eyes with it. contained a short cameo with actor. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell testified that this was all a big misunderstanding he had killed Johnny in self-defense . 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. They can never fail to surprise us. Bill Clark: We found out he was telling his wife he was going to work every day. Mark Twitchell was nicknamed the Dexter Killer for his methods of emulating the Showtime dramas lead Dexter Morgan, a fictional character played by Michael C. Hall. "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "Please stop hitting me oh my skull.". When Gilles Tetreault went to meet his online date named "Sheena" at the set location of Twitchell's garage, he was attacked by Twitchell in a hockey mask. Police would not say whether Mr. Altinger's killing was filmed or comment on reports that Mr. Twitchell's production company, Xpress Entertainment, had earlier purchased off the Internet a high-voltage telescoping stun baton. At his garage, they found an eerily Dexter-like scene that included plastic sheets on the window, a blood-splattered table, and cleaning supplies. It has no bearing whatsoever on what actually happened. A passage from the document read as under: This story is based on true events. MARK TWITCHELL [interrogation]: I'm working on a comedy right now. However, he abandoned his right to appeal in 2012. Both Lillebuen and police say that Twitchell's fascination with the TV killer Dexter Morgan carried over into his real-life crimes. I didnt know what was going on, he said in the documentary My Online Nightmare. In 2007, Twitchell directed Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion, a full-length fan film set a few days before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. of the Rebellion (2007), a fan film for the Star Wars franchise that John Altinger. Once he arrived, police believe that Twitchell hit him over the head with a pipe, stabbed him to death, and then dismembered his body. While Twitchell was not initially a suspect, he told cops an unlikely story that Altinger sold his Mazda 6 to him for 40 Canadian dollars. Moreover, he wore a hockey mask when he attacked his two victims. I said- I told myself I'll do it tomorrow. Mr. Altinger's body has not been found, but police say they have enough evidence to lay a charge and believe he was killed in a manner similar to the script. The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. Mark Twitchell is serving a life sentence for killing Johnny Altinger in 2008. So anything you guys have in this, or if you've ever even heard of it, post away, because I have no idea what this is. We could see what looked like pieces of human torso down there. 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.". But there was one clue that would give police their first big break in the case. When not at work, you can find me at the stable. Cowley believes Twitchell took pleasure in planning and executing his crimes as if they were romantic trysts. KILLER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter Killer due to his obsession with the TV show. Bill Clark: They learned, of course, the garage is rented out to an individual named Mark Twitchell. But police had found a helpful clue during the search of Twitchell's home. ", Steve Lillibuen [reading letter]: "It's what it is and I'm what I am.". They wouldn't elaborate. Produced by Asena Basak. The killer then attempted to burn the remains in a barrel but failed. ", Lillibuen read one of Twitchell's letters: "I killed Johnny Altinger in a horrific accident of self-defense. He graduated from a radio and television program at the Steve Lillebuen authored the book The Devils Cinema which focussed on the complete case. Bill Clark: They have a look around and they see somewhat looks like blood. After cursorily shoving aside my human sensibilities, I dealt with his remains in a disrespectful manner that traumatized me forever.". Renee: He was a filmmaker and he was working on a new thing called "House of Cards.". 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. He referred to the document as fiction based on fact. He was to be in Provincial Court yesterday to enter a plea, but the case was put over to Nov. 26 so lawyers for both parties can sift through the evidence. BILL CLARK [to Twitchell in police car]: So, in order to finish the movie, we have to find the body, take it back to the people, the family done. Mark Andrew Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 4, 1979. One passage about a knife read: "I thrust it into his gut. Renee: And I wanted her dead, at the time. Police allege that around Oct. 10, Mr. Altinger was lured to a south-side residential garage for a blind date arranged online. Host Jian Ghomeshi brought up the case of Mark Twitchell, who was convicted in 2011 of luring, murdering and dismembering an Edmonton man. Bill Clark: When you you read all the experts' books about these type of individuals is they tend to like the media attention. The strange story about the red car, the serial killer movie being filmed for Clark it could only mean one thing. Renee [reading email]: "There's an enormous missing person, possible homicide investigation going on centralized around a location I've rented for film work. 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.. Though hes become known as the Dexter Killer, Twitchell himself denies that his crimes have anything to do with the fictional character. "There was The closer police looked, the more the lines blurred. He wanted to say that he planned his death deliberately to create a compelling story. After a brief scuffle, Tetreault was able to overpower his attacker and escape from the garage. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell wrote to me quite extensively about his interest in "Dexter.". His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. This is what happened to me. "The film is set a few days before ANH and follows the true format of a Star Wars film to the letter. But we figured it was something the first victim would key on. But where was Johnny Altinger's body? And again, he voluntarily agreed to answer more questions. His friends, having broken into his condo and finding no evidence he had packed for a vacation, alerted the police. I mean look at this profile.". By now, Renee had called police. Something goin' on here.". She thinks she knows what made Twitchell tick. BILL CLARK [interviewing Twitchell]: I'm gonna go get the car ready. The show follows the adventures of Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter expert by day and psychotic knife-wielding vigilante butcher by night.

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