That's because police were still looking for Johnny Altinger's red Mazda. DET. Web1.8M views 3 years ago Mark Twitchell was a film maker from Canada, who, one day, decided he wanted to turn one of his short films into a reality. 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.. And there's this huge revelation about "Oh yeah, I bought a red car off a guy." Julia Cowley: Yes. You know, we had a lot in common. He writes extensively about what he's going to wear, the weapon that he chooses. JUSTICE DONE According to investigative reporter, Steve Lillibuen, Twitchell enjoyed communicating through writing. Ever. And since I was close to the lake, "You rent a boat and dump her out in the middle of Lake Erie. That profile had caught the attention of a woman named Renee from Cleveland, Ohio. One of the biggest mistakes I think that he made was he had no idea how we do our job and that was a huge advantage to us. Edmonton JournalDexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. It is what it is and I am what I am.". Something inside my head just gave me red flags and said, "He did it.". ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I grabbed him by the leg as if to drag him back into the garage caveman style.". Altinger, thinking he was meeting a woman, was lured to Twitchells kill room in his garage-turned-film-studio. And if anything happens to me, you'll know where to look.". The hockey mask wearing man had ordered him to the ground at gunpoint. 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. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell wrote to me quite extensively about his interest in "Dexter." Mark Twitchell, a fringe filmmaker accused in a slaying that matched one of his scripts, spent earlier years feverishly hawking and buying Bill Clark: You know, one of the first things we did was check the police records figuring hopefully someone called the police on this. In October 2008, Mark Twitchell put his dark side into action. The short film featured a killer luring men to a garage and murdering them. BILL CLARK [interrogation]: There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that you're involved in the disappearance of John Altinger. And that's when I slipped out of the jacket, rolled underneath the garage door and then got up. MURDERER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter killer due to his obsession with the TV show. 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. "He had this kind of processing kit that was very similar to what Dexter uses.". Twitchell himself admitted to killing Altinger and authoring the document but he stated that he did it in self-defence. ", "SK Confessions." They said they would have a mannequin or a dummy to run the sword through, and when I got there, there was none. I didnt know what was going on, he said in the documentary My Online Nightmare. Showtime is a division of Paramount Global, which owns CBS. Embarrassed and confused, Tetreault convinced himself that perhaps it wasn't as serious as he first thought. But it was only a hunch. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. The "Dexter" garage. Troy Roberts: How do you get away with it? His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell testified that this was all a big misunderstanding he had killed Johnny in self-defense . He also talked about some Star Wars fan fiction films hed made in the past, and how he was now funding his films through investors. 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". Steve Lillebuen exchanged dozens letters with Mark Twitchell during a three-year period. 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. Bill Clark: We found out he was telling his wife he was going to work every day. Bill Clark: His red Mazda was missing. Twelve years ago, Twitchell was a fresh-faced radio student at NAIT. Troy Roberts: Why didn't you go to the police immediately? Gary Altinger: When I received that email And this e-mail was completely out of character. living in the Midwest before returning to Canada to pursue a career in The public's attention drew to him after he was allegedly known to be inspired by Dexter Morgan, a fictional character. The man who was tricked into that very bad date in Twitchell's garage, Gilles Tetreault, continues to be haunted by the experience. 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. Det. And her suspicions kept growing with another email he sent. You know, the fight for my life . Police allege that around Oct. 10, Mr. Altinger was lured to a south-side residential garage for a blind date arranged online. Bill Clark: We know that he lured him to the garage in the same way he lured Gilles Tetreault. Bill Clark: He looked pretty comfortable in the interview. I think he is different than Dexter. But there was one clue that would give police their first big break in the case. 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. But Twitchell claimed he could explain everything. Det. Mark Twitchell, 29, had rented the garage space to film his movie "House of Cards." Det. Tetreault fought back in a violent struggle and escaped the horrific scene, but didn't report the attack until seeing the hockey mask at a police press conference following Altinger's death. Gilles Tetreault: And then he starts punching me on the side of the head. Updated on: April 26, 2022 / 11:45 AM DET. Det. The Devil's Cinema Penguin Random House / My Space. 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. She was basically livin' on the main floor, he was livin' in the basement. Gilles Tetreault: He's about 6 foot and this black and gold hockey mask painted all painted up on his face. One passage about a knife read: "I thrust it into his gut. It was actually he was probably going to kill me. Troy Roberts [outside Twitchell's garage]: What was the most damning piece of evidence that you discovered? Gilles Tetreault: And I tried to run and all of a sudden my legs wouldn't work I just fell, boom right on the gravel driveway. 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. 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. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Three weeks after Altinger's disappearance, police charged Twitchell with first-degree murder. Throughout their correspondence, Lillibuen continued to grapple with what drove Twitchell and then Twitchell told him: Steve Lillibuen [reading letter]: "There is no key. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. When I looked at the weapons that was my first sign. WebHe was found guilty during a jury trial in 2011 and sentenced to life in prison. 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 once talkative movie director barely uttered a line. From having a kill room to using plastic sheeting Twitchell, a self-proclaimed Dexter fan, killed like the character did. He proved himself highly disorganized and erratic during the filming. Mark Twitchell In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. 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. BILL CLARK [to Twitchell in police car]: So here we are back at the killing garage. A jury didnt buy it. But the property also had a second purpose: a man was planning on parking here and ducking under the bay door as he headed toward the house, where a beautiful woman supposedly Large amounts of blood had been spilled on the floor of the garage. I said, "None of the blood splatter was from us.". Bio - Mark Andrew Twitchell | Edmonton Journal Mark Andrew Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 4, 1979. They were interested in speaking with anyone who had worked on "House of Cards," where actor Chris Heward's character meets an untimely, bloody end in the film. He is lucid. So of course the police have tossed my house and impounded my car Not fun considering they won't find anything ". Bill Clark: And we first drove to his parents' house where he had been staying. 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. Jimmy Siokos tells "48 Hours Mystery" about what it was like to work with Mark Twitchell on a "Star Wars" fan film. Who is Mark Twitchell? Steve Lillibuen: He was newly married and a new father. Here's a few words from the director Mark Twitchell. Twitchell claimed that Altinger's death was nothing more than a publicity stunt gone horribly awry. He graduated from a radio and television program at the It is what it is and I am what I am., Lillebuen, however, has his doubts. Steve Lillibuen: He has very much that salesman slick behavior, he knows how to put it on to get people to like him. MARK TWITCHELL movie interview]: "The word has gotten around We we don't have a body. It came out that Mark used a dating site to allure men by presenting himself as a woman. 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.". 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. It's a combination of a sexual motive and thrill killing. The episode chronicles the tale of one of the strangest copycat killers in history. Det. This time, he managed to get into his truck. A week later, the masked man would find his next target, Johnny Altinger, who wouldn't be as lucky as the first victim. This story is based on true events, Mark Twitchell wrote. But Mark Twitchell also had an urge to kill. Bill Clark: It was just a huge piece of evidence 'cause not only would it verify what was written in "SK Confessions" it would also have a living witness so it was paramount that we find this person. Twitchell, then 29 years old, a married man with a young daughter, had used the garage as a set for a recent movie project. Det. Tetreault's story matched nearly word for word what was in "SK Confessions. Bill Clark: When you you read all the experts' books about these type of individuals is they tend to like the media attention. 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. 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. But the police were more interested in Twitchell's latest production: a suspense thriller called "House of Cards," where a hockey masked serial killer lures a man to garage via the internet and kills him. 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. Twitchell began writing to Lillibuen before he was even convicted in 2011. Renee: He said, "You cut her up in little pieces. This time Bill Clark conducted the interview. Gilles Tetreault: It was dark then I kind of looked around for the door she told me to go through and that's when somebody came out attacked me from behind. Bill Clark: It was unbelievable. Chris Heward: "How much of the blood splatter on the wall was from your filming?" Suffice it to say that I crossed the line on Friday, he wrote. And he did his best to erase his own memory. 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. Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion 2008 - Theiapolis So anytime I'd seen one I'd always have my flashlight with me and would get out and actually take a look. 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. 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 Mark-Twitchell It was shortly before Johnny Altinger disappeared. 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. Bill Clark: They have a look around and they see somewhat looks like blood. Hours later, Twitchell even agreed to let officers back into the garage where he had filmed "House of Cards." Twitchell claimed he bought the red Mazda for just $40, and that it was parked at a friend's house. 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.". In 2013, he purchased a television for his prison cell and stated that he had caught up on every Dexter episode that he missed since his arrest. And then you just go in through the garage.". Steve Lillibuen: The first time I met him, he actually had me laughing. Voluntarily, the amateur filmmaker came down to the Edmonton Police Station to speak with detectives. If you want to delve into more details, watch the CBS 48 Hours Season 34 Episode 38: The Dexter Killer here. They wouldn't elaborate. 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: Mark Twitchell had actually been granted access to finish watching the series while he was incarcerated. In 2012, Michael C. Hall was asked about Mark Twitchell on a Canadian radio program. MICHAEL C. HALL (audio): it is horrifying to entertain the notion that something you did inspired that. Sheena had refused to tell Tetreault her exact address, giving him only driving instructions. At his garage, they found an eerily Dexter-like scene that included plastic sheets on the window, a blood-splattered table, and cleaning supplies. You wanna tell us where the body is now? No doubt in my mind at all Mark. But police had found a helpful clue during the search of Twitchell's home. He was lured out on the promise to meet this guy at this coffee shop And when he got about three blocks from his house, the tactical team swooped in on him and took him down. Why didn't I tell somebody where I am?". Mr. Twitchell went to school in Edmonton and did postgraduate studies in radio and television in the Alberta capital. Det. What led to this happening? 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. In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. DETECTIVE: And we end up going to that garage because of a missing person who supposedly went there. Mark Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Canada but spent several years Bill Clark: It just doesn't make sense. John Altinger. Horse riding is another passion that keeps me going. Gary Altinger: I've met a woman named Jen. Both Lillebuen and police say that Twitchell's fascination with the TV killer Dexter Morgan carried over into his real-life crimes. No root cause there is no school bully or impressionably gory movies or Showtime television series to point the finger at. 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. He rented a garage, found potential victims on dating apps, and set the scene with plastic sheeting, a table, and different kinds of weapons. At that instant, I knew there was no date.. Two weeks after the disappearance of Johnny Altinger at a garage film set, police had sharpened their focus on filmmaker Mark Twitchell. BILL CLARK [interviewing Twitchell]: I'm gonna go get the car ready. Store officials confirmed Mark Twitchell worked there as a sales rep from 2002 to 2004 until he was "released." Talking to CBS, the author called Twitchells insistence that Dexter had nothing to do with his crimes ridiculous and a logical disconnect.. Bill Clark [with Roberts at sewer]: And he had marked an "X," "X" marks the spot, and took us right to this sewer cover here. Det. Despite Twitchell telling the police that the document was a screenplay, investigators would come to find out it was a detailed account of Twitchell's crimes. Twitchell stabbed and bludgeoned his victim before cutting him up and partially burning the body. 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? Gilles Tetreault: When I grabbed the gun, I felt the gun was plastic. BILL CLARK [Mark Twitchell interrogation]: As I told you that night, I knew that you were involved in the disappearance at that time of Johnny Altinger. Police soon discovered that the Twitchell marriage was already fractured. Steve Lillibuen: I learned really quickly that he preferred to talk through writing. What other line is there to cross? His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. 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. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Cops say killer Mark Twitchell is obsessed with the TV show Dexter, Mark Twitchell was sentenced to life in prison in April 2011, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Despite comparisons to the fictional TV character Dexter Morgan, in a letter to Steve Lillebuen, Twitchell writes, "As you're aware, Dexter has 'almost nothing' to do with my case. Under director, it has Mark Twitchell. 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. 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. contained a short cameo with actor. I have to come forward.". The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. Twitchell had attempted to lure another victim to his kill room earlier that month. The only witness the defense called was Mark Twitchell and he had one unbelievable tale to tell. As Twitchell tells it, he was forced to kill Altinger in self-defense. 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. 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. small following among sci-fi fans when he directed Star Wars: Secrets They divorced within 4 years. Adding to their circumstantial case: Twitchell possessing Altinger's car, the "SK Confessions" document and his "Dexter" obsession. Bill Clark[driving]: So, all these manhole covers were pulled off in this alley. The 29-year-old Canadian man had a wife and a young daughter, and aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. 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. 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. MARK TWITCHELL movie interview]: "The word has gotten around that I'm making a 100 million dollar movie for 60 grand, and some production and directing jobs have already come my way.". And a few miles away, detectives had been at the Twitchell home where they found Jess Twitchell Mark's unsuspecting wife of two years. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Det. Gilles Tetreault: I can't do this, I gotta fight back so I got up and I ripped the tape off my eyes. During questioning, filmmaker Mark Twitchell appeared to be eager to help investigators. You know, be careful And John said, "Yeah, well, here's the directions. Gilles Tetreault: Right. Once Johnny went to the concerned place, Mark stepped him, before cutting him apart, partially burning him and then dumping his remains in garbage bags into a storm sewer. Bill Clark: It was basically almost like a movie script. Feb 11, 2012. DET. DET. Mark represented himself as a woman and allured Johnny into meeting him. Movie's over. Bill Clark and "48 Hours" contributor Troy Roberts watch Twitchell's reaction as Clark told him "I now know that you killed John Altinger.
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