Bill Clark: It was basically almost like a movie script. Along the way, Twitchell also seemed to develop an obsession with murder and death. The 29-year-old Canadian man had a wife and a young daughter, and aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. Twitchell's first film project, a "Star Wars" fan film, had received some media buzz back in 2007. His friends, having broken into his condo and finding no evidence he had packed for a vacation, alerted the police. Twitchell's film has never been released. Renee [reading email]: "There's an enormous missing person, possible homicide investigation going on centralized around a location I've rented for film work. Apart from this, Marks case was featured in the American magazine Crime Watch Daily. WebHe was found guilty during a jury trial in 2011 and sentenced to life in prison. Gilles Tetreault [driving]: I was actually late, so I was driving quite fast to get there. In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. The evidence in The Dexter Killer case and newly revealed letters from police stated that Mark wanted to be like the fictional character Dexter Morgan. Det. Bill Clark: And we first drove to his parents' house where he had been staying. Det. Troy Roberts: How do you get away with it? He was now obsessed with the TV show Dexter. Steve Lillibuen: Yes absolutely. DET. 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. Totally out out of character. He had no job. The directions led police directly to Mark Twitchells door. A passage from the document read as under: This story is based on true events. 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. DETECTIVE [interrogation]: I mean it's kinda odd that you're filming that kind of thing. When they found Altingers blood in Twitchells car, they arrested him on Oct. 31, 2008. 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. Det. Movie's over. 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 We did a film about killin' a guy in here and I filmed it all. That piece of tooth matched up to our victim. Who is Mark Twitchell? There was actually some substance in these letters? 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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. I am Mallika Singh, a lawyer and writer by profession. Then, the Dexter Killer lured his victims in. This is what happened to me. Police allege that around Oct. 10, Mr. Altinger was lured to a south-side residential garage for a blind date arranged online. When not at work, you can find me at the stable. Then a year-and-a-half after Johnny Altinger disappeared, Twitchell, while awaiting trial, broke his silence and gave the police a map. Easier to find a car than than a person. 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. Britsh actor Jeremy MARK TWITCHELL [interrogation]: I'm working on a comedy right now. Det. MARK TWITCHELL: Yeah. BILL CLARK [interrogation]: There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that you're involved in the disappearance of John Altinger. Is he takin' another weapon out?". He spent countless hours scouring the Internet, buying and selling Star 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. 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. And his friend even questioned him on the email. 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. 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". Writing gives me a sense of freedom and independence. This story is based on true events, Mark Twitchell wrote. DET. "Dexter" on his mind, Twitchell drew a portrait of Michael C. Hall the actor who plays him. Hours later, Twitchell even agreed to let officers back into the garage where he had filmed "House of Cards." 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. Bill Clark: We know that he lured him to the garage in the same way he lured Gilles Tetreault. He referred to the document as fiction based on fact. Twitchell claimed he bought the red Mazda for just $40, and that it was parked at a friend's house. 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. Twitchell was impounded by the police when they found Altingers blood in his cars trunk. We're gonna take a drive. One passage about a knife read: "I thrust it into his gut. And when it was done and I watched, I went, "Wow, that guy interviewed well.". Cowley believes Twitchell took pleasure in planning and executing his crimes as if they were romantic trysts. The document was retrieved from Marks laptop despite being deleted. "The film is set a few days before ANH and follows the true format of a Star Wars film to the letter. Please enter valid email address to continue. In 2007, Twitchell directed Star Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Mark Twitchell worked with a tight-knit group of guys on various film projects. But there was one clue that would give police their first big break in the case. 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. Det. Cops say his fascination with the fictional TV killer carried over into his real-life crimes. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and later gained a And if anything happens to me, you'll know where to look.". MARK ANSTEY [to reporters]: We have not found John Altinger's body. Gilles Tetreault: I really thought it was a mugging at the time. And then, in a search of Twitchell's belongings, police found his laptop. Police believed "SK" was shorthand for "serial killer. Steve Lillibuen: So, the motive is the mystery, the why did he do this. It is what it is and I am what I am., Lillebuen, however, has his doubts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We He wasnt everybodys friend. Bill Clark: Well, John's friends were concerned. Twitchell denied knowing anything about a missing man or a red Mazda and he had no problem with the police wanting to search the garage. Gilles Tetreault: That's when I was ready to fight I punched him and I felt really weak. filmmaking. Mark Twitchell tells police about the deal he got on a red Mazda. The episode chronicles the tale of one of the strangest copycat killers in history. 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. And we have nothing. ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I grabbed him by the leg as if to drag him back into the garage caveman style.". Star_Wars_(film) dbr:Parole; Produced by Asena Basak. His landlord said he and his wife were model tenants, even after they were divorced in late 2004 and Mark Twitchell moved into another unit in the townhouse complex. 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. GILLES TETREAULT [police interview]: I was off balance, I couldn't run I fell down on the gravel driveway and, uh, basically crawling. Trump motion to dismiss E. 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Bill Clark and "48 Hours" contributor Troy Roberts watch Twitchell's reaction as Clark told him "I now know that you killed John Altinger. That's when he grabbed my legs and started pulling me back to the garage. In fact, he seemed guilty of nothing more than wanting to brag about his film career. ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I plunged the knife deep into his neck ", Det. A jury didnt buy it. 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. Det. 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.. WebStar Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion was directed by Mark Twitchell, a Canadian producer, actor, and director. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Det. Michael McHugh is the producer-editor. John was very, very, very responsible. This is who he is. The "Dexter" garage. He is killing very innocent, good people living productive lives. So, I'm like, "Oh no, what am I gonna do now. As Twitchell tells it, he was forced to kill Altinger in self-defense. That profile had caught the attention of a woman named Renee from Cleveland, Ohio. They divorced within 4 years. Twitchell claimed that Altinger's death was nothing more than a publicity stunt gone horribly awry. Inside The Story Of Sawney Bean And His Clan Of Cannibal Killers That Inspired 'The Hills Have Eyes', What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. They said they would have a mannequin or a dummy to run the sword through, and when I got there, there was none. Troy Roberts: These weren't ramblings of a crazy man. A pool of blood that police found in Mark Twitchells garage. Get this over with? ", Det. Steve Lillibuen: The first time I met him, he actually had me laughing. Twitchell graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. On October 31, 2008, Mark Twitchell was charged with the first degree murder. Det. According to investigative reporter, Steve Lillibuen, Twitchell enjoyed communicating through writing. Bill Clark: He talked a lot about how he loved the show "Dexter.". At a glance, Mark Twitchell seemed perfectly normal. Twelve years ago, Twitchell was a fresh-faced radio student at NAIT. I have never heard of this thing. DET. 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". 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". Cops arrested Twitchell on October 31, 2008, and charged him with first degree murder. 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. And to Lillibuen's surprise, even behind bars Twitchell was able to feed his obsessions. Steve Lillibuen: He has very much that salesman slick behavior, he knows how to put it on to get people to like him. 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.". Joss Hnatiuk met Mark Twitchell on a Star Wars fan message board. But as soon Tetreault arrived, someone attacked him from behind. The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. He wouldn't do this to us. Det. Troy Roberts: That was part of your plan, you're thinking he grabs my jacket, and I can get free . He was also lured in the same manner as Altinger. Troy Roberts [watching interrogation video]: You didn't get much of a reaction, did you? Det. He rented a garage, found potential victims on dating apps, and set the scene with plastic sheeting, a table, and different kinds of weapons. The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. Updated on: April 26, 2022 / 11:45 AM Bill Clark: We had a, you know, luminol tests done on the floor. What's he gonna do? So, he dragged me back to the garage. And it worked. But it was Twitchell's Facebook page comparing himself to TV's fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan that really raised eyebrows. Det. In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. There is no key. OFFICER [to Twitchell outside garage]: Bring back any memories? Those directions led police directly to that garage, which turned out to be rented to an aspiring filmmaker named Mark Twitchell. 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. Dexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. BILL CLARK [interrogation]: So, as you know Mark, we're just here trying to find this John fellow. Bill Clark: In any homicide investigation you obviously want to bring closure to the family So not only do you want to make that phone call saying, "We got the guy that did this to your loved one," but in this case, we wanted to say to 'em, look, "we found Johnny.". Cops say his fascination with the fictional TV killer carried over into his real-life crimes. I believe your husband's got somethin' to do with it and this quite possibly you know, could be a homicide." And a few miles away, detectives had been at the Twitchell home where they found Jess Twitchell Mark's unsuspecting wife of two years. No warning signs that something like this was on the horizon. 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?". Steve Lillibuen: I learned really quickly that he preferred to talk through writing. Steve Lillibuen: He blames Johnny, saying it was Johnny's reaction to his attempt at this promotion is what happened. He graduated from a radio and television program at the Gilles Tetreault: I still think about the painted-up hockey mask. After a brief scuffle, Tetreault was able to overpower his attacker and escape from the garage. She thinks she knows what made Twitchell tick. Mark Twitchell is a real-life killer inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. Det. Twitchell also wrote the script of Day Players and shot a short horror film called House of Cards at the garage he rented in the south end of Edmonton. Det. Bill Clark: He looked pretty comfortable in the interview. ", " Star Wars dolls, paraphernalia, suits, outfits, he had it all - and he bought and sold them constantly," his ex-landlord, Jody Kimbrell, said in a telephone interview from Peoria, Ill., southwest of Chicago. Police say Twitchell was fascinated by the fictional character in the hit Showtime series "Dexter." 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. And they found dirty dishes. Who is Mark Twitchell? Tell me about that. BILL CLARK [to Twitchell in police car]: So here we are back at the killing garage. Ever. Gilles Tetreault: I stuck the key in the ignition and then I just sped away. What's Mark Twitchell's psyche? In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. So he was, you know, just a typical local guy who had dreams of making it big in Hollywood and really no red flags. I was just really bewildered. Mark Twitchell, The 'Dexter Killer' Inspired To Murder By Bill Clark: We got an undercover operator to work the internet and pretend he was gonna an investor. Bill Clark: They pulled off the hard drive a deleted file titled "SK Confessions. ", Steve Lillibuen [reading letter]: "It's what it is and I'm what I am.". A week later, the masked man would find his next target, Johnny Altinger, who wouldn't be as lucky as the first victim. Mr. Twitchell went to school in Edmonton and did postgraduate studies in radio and television in the Alberta capital. In 2011, Twitchells attempt to murder charge got a courts stay in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and later gained a No root cause there is no school bully or impressionably gory movies or Showtime television series to point the finger at. But no one knew not Twitchells Facebook friends nor his wife, Jess just how much Twitchell believed that he related. 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. Tetreault was thrown back in the garage, but he surprised himself by rolling out again. Twitchell began writing to Lillibuen before he was even convicted in 2011. He graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. Cops arrested Twitchell on October 31, 2008, and charged him with first degree murder. It's a rare look inside the mind of a killer. The message that Gilles Tetreault received from Sheena, who was really Mark Twitchell. MARK TWITCHELL movie interview]: "The word has gotten around 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. Gilles Tetreault: Right. "Mark has way too much in common with Dexter Morgan" read Twitchell's status. Voluntarily, the amateur filmmaker came down to the Edmonton Police Station to speak with detectives. Armed with the directions, police were led directly to that garage. He writes extensively about what he's going to wear, the weapon that he chooses. It is what it is and I am what I am.". It's the same mask, everything. Though his assailant had a gun, Tetreault decided to take his chances and fight back. What Tetreault didn't realize was that he had been weakened by the effects of a stun baton. WebJohnny believed he would meet the girl of his dreams, but a Star Wars and Dexter-Morgan-obsessed serial killer wannabe and 29-year-old amateur filmmaker named Mark Andrew Twitchell awaited him in the garages darkness. For the first time on television, Lillibuen is revealing the contents of Twitchell's letters. By now, Renee had called police. And you can write it all down. At first, Lillibuen didn't want to push Twitchell away with too many probing questions about his crimes. He next tried to dump them into the river but was afraid of being seen. GILLES TETREAULT [police interview]: After this all happened, I realized how lucky I was. Twitchell wrote numerous letters to the journalist, with Lillibuen telling CBS Newsthat he found themurderer of Johnny Altingerto be very responsive to letter writing. And it was a little taste of his own medicine, I guess. Julia Cowley: He's not killing bad guys. Chris Heward: "How much of the blood splatter on the wall was from your filming?" On Halloween morning 2008, while Twitchell was putting the finishing touches on his Halloween costume at his parents' home, police were busy laying a trap. And then, not showing up for work? 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. Julia Cowley: Yes. Troy Roberts [outside Twitchell's garage]: What was the most damning piece of evidence that you discovered? He is lucid. 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. 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. Over the course of almost three years, they exchanged dozens of letters. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Police discovered Twitchell spent countless hours making elaborate Halloween costumes. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Steve Lillibuen: Twitchell's been dubbed "The Dexter Killer" because of the numerous links between the television series and the real-life crimes. Altinger, thinking he was meeting a woman, was lured to Twitchells kill room in his garage-turned-film-studio. What led to this happening? In the interview, police noticed that Twitchell had a lot of energy, considering the time of night. Bill Clark: So, I know that this diary we have is true. Twitchell stated that he had caught up on everyDexterepisode that he missed since he was arrested and convicted. Both Lillebuen and police say that Twitchell's fascination with the TV killer Dexter Morgan carried over into his real-life crimes. Feb 11, 2012. 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. contained a short cameo with actor. "SK Confessions" described the killer finally choosing a sewer to dump the remains, but that's where the pages stopped.