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. After all, she was an aspiring writer and a friendship with a movie maker could open doors. Mark Twitchell was nothing like author Steve Lillibuen expected. Det. 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. What other line is there to cross? 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. Sheena had refused to tell Tetreault her exact address, giving him only driving instructions. Steve Lillibuen (reading letter): "Nobody would side with Dexter Morgan if he went around slaughtering schoolteachers and mail carriers on a whim.". Weeks, then months, passed and still no luck. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell had actually been granted access to finish watching the series while he was incarcerated. 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: It was unbelievable. Adding to their circumstantial case: Twitchell possessing Altinger's car, the "SK Confessions" document and his "Dexter" obsession. Gilles Tetreault: That's when I was ready to fight I punched him and I felt really weak. Mark Twitchell And then in this case because he learned from Gilles that the Taser didn't work, he hit him over the head with a lead pipe. 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.. In 2011, Twitchells attempt to murder charge got a courts stay in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta. His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. Mark Twitchell Though hes become known as the Dexter Killer, Twitchell himself denies that his crimes have anything to do with the fictional character. And tomorrow came and I wasI felt so ashamed that I got duped. He didn't have to. 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.". That's because police were still looking for Johnny Altinger's red Mazda. 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. At his garage, they found an eerily Dexter-like scene that included plastic sheets on the window, a blood-splattered table, and cleaning supplies. However, he abandoned his right to appeal in 2012. Mark is often referred to as the Dexter Killer because of his fond love and personal identification with the lead character, Dexter Morgan. Dont worry about neighbors thinking youre a burglar.. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mark Twitchell 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. Det. Which is a it's actually a full-blown feature that's actually gonna have a decent budget in the neighborhood of about three-and-a-half million . But Mark Twitchell also had an urge to kill. 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. / CBS News. So, I'm like, "Oh no, what am I gonna do now. Police believe that Johnny Altinger was hit over the head with this pipe shortly upon entering the darkened garage. He had a table set up for his victims. 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". 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. Troy Roberts [outside Twitchell's garage]: What was the most damning piece of evidence that you discovered? DET. April 12, 2022 7:40am. We don't even know if we have a crime. Mark Twitchell, a low-budget filmmaker in Edmonton, Alberta, was obsessed with Star Wars. Det. His case gained extensive media coverage. 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?". Twitchell stabbed and bludgeoned his victim before cutting him up and partially burning the body. We're gonna take a drive. KILLER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter Killer due to his obsession with the TV show. Dexter, which they say Mr. Twitchell idolized on his Facebook page. Twitchell graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2000. He's very charismatic. Gary Altinger, Johnny's older brother, says the last time anyone heard from him was on October 10, 2008, when the 38-year-old left for a date with a woman named "Jen.". 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. From having a kill room to using plastic sheeting Twitchell, a self-proclaimed Dexter fan, killed like the character did. Twitchell's story may be coming to the big screen. 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. Twitchell stabbed and bludgeoned his victim before cutting him up and partially burning the body. It came out that Mark used a dating site to allure men by presenting himself as a woman. Edmonton JournalDexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. Altingers remains were put into garbage bags and dumped in a storm sewer. Horse riding is another passion that keeps me going. Twitchell himself admitted to killing Altinger and authoring the document but he stated that he did it in self-defence. Bill Clark [in car in front of Twitchell's house]: What I said was, "We're investigating a missing persons. 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. Mark Twitchell The episode chronicles the tale of one of the strangest copycat killers in history. Twitchell stated that he had caught up on everyDexterepisode that he missed since he was arrested and convicted. 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." Twitchell's response to Hall's comments was to downplay his fascination with the "Dexter" character. Twitchell began writing to Lillibuen before he was even convicted in 2011. 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. 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. 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. And hypothetically, how would you get away with it? "I wanted the weapon used for the deed itself to be simple, elegant and beautiful.". Gilles Tetreault: When I grabbed the gun, I felt the gun was plastic. Twitchell even ran a Facebook page where he wrote about the episodes from Dexters point of view. Police believed Mark Twitchell's garage resembled a scene right out of the Showtime series "Dexter." Stars Wars stuff all over the unit, but hey, whatever people collect, they collect.". Mark Twitchell He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011. Bill Clark: It just doesn't make sense. 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 "Dexter" garage. He was sentenced to 25 years to life. Author Steve Lillibuen sold the rights to his book "The Devil's Cinema" to a film company. Troy Roberts: So, I mean, you spoke to him a couple of times a day online? They can never fail to surprise us. Something inside my head just gave me red flags and said, "He did it.". Bill Clark: They had been livin' and basically sleeping in separate bedrooms. Detective Clark hoped Twitchell would provide the final chapter. TheForce.Net - Fan Films - Secrets Of The Rebellion Mark Twitchell worked with a tight-knit group of guys on various film projects. Steve Lillibuen: Yes absolutely. But police had found a helpful clue during the search of Twitchell's home. Trump motion to dismiss E. Jean Carroll lawsuit denied, U.S. to let Afghan evacuees renew temporary legal status, Tornado hits Virginia Beach, likely damaging hundreds of homes, First Republic Bank seized by regulators, then sold to JPMorgan Chase, Texas man who lost wife and son in shooting shares story, Supreme Court to hear case that could curb power of federal agencies, Mental health of LGBTQ youth worsening in current "hostile political climate", Waiter killed, woman wounded in shooting at popular New Orleans restaurant, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo found dead at 46, "He wrote me probably 30 or 35 different letters up to about 350 pages like an entire book worth," investigative journalist and author Steve Lillebuen said of Mark Twitchell. And her suspicions kept growing with another email he sent. Mr. Twitchell went to school in Edmonton and did postgraduate studies in radio and television in the Alberta capital. Mark Twitchell tells investigators that he had bought a red Mazda off a stranger for $40 and that it was parked at a friend's house. Both Lillebuen and police say that Twitchell's fascination with the TV killer Dexter Morgan carried over into his real-life crimes. The public's attention drew to him after he was allegedly known to be inspired by Dexter Morgan, a fictional character. And since I was close to the lake, "You rent a boat and dump her out in the middle of Lake Erie. Embarrassed and confused, Tetreault convinced himself that perhaps it wasn't as serious as he first thought. And that's when I slipped out of the jacket, rolled underneath the garage door and then got up. View our online Press Pack. The story begins in October 2008. Investigators say Twitchell was obsessed with the fictional serial killer at the center of the TV series "Dexter.". Bill Clark: Ultimately Mark Twitchell drove around with it, according to the "SK Confessions" document. His reaction was pure Hollywood.". "There was 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. Tetreault, who has written a book about his ordeal, spoke to "48 Hours" recently. Bill Clark: He thought he was way smarter than the police. "SK Confessions," which police had been dissecting word by word, spoke volumes. A week later, the masked man would find his next target, Johnny Altinger, who wouldn't be as lucky as the first victim. He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011. 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. Ever. Then, read up on historys most infamous serial killers. MARK ANSTEY [to reporters]: We have not found John Altinger's body. Bill Clark: We got an undercover operator to work the internet and pretend he was gonna an investor. DETECTIVE [interrogation]: Altinger Does that name ring a bell to you or mean anything to you? Gilles Tetreault: I wasn't really afraid of him at that time. He added, It sometimes scares me how much I relate.. Steve Lillibuen: He blames Johnny, saying it was Johnny's reaction to his attempt at this promotion is what happened. Police began digging deeper into his background. Gilles Tetreault: I couldn't believe it. Dexter Killer: Everything about Mark Twitchell, the Killer who wore a Hockey This story is based on true events. 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.. "The film is set a few days before ANH and follows the true format of a Star Wars film to the letter. Cowley believes Twitchell took pleasure in planning and executing his crimes as if they were romantic trysts. Ex-wife of filmmaker charged in death alleged 'extreme' mental It just so happened that the police were looking for Johnny Altinger's red Mazda. That profile had caught the attention of a woman named Renee from Cleveland, Ohio. Gilles Tetreault: And it's the same hockey mask that I saw. DET. Though his assailant had a gun, Tetreault decided to take his chances and fight back. Steve Lillibuen: still is adamant that this was not a planned and deliberate murder and to be frank, he is wrong. Det. Julia Cowley: Mark Twitchell cannot be rehabilitated. On the day he disappeared, Johnny Altinger had forwarded the directions of where he was going to friends. And they found dirty dishes. 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. Then, the Dexter Killer lured his victims in. You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. Twitchell 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. Who is Mark Twitchell and why is he called the Dexter killer? 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. Twitchell was impounded by the police when they found Altingers blood in his cars trunk. Bill Clark: Based on the emails, they talk about Costa Rica, the officers search all the parking lots at the airport It's not found. I didnt know what was going on, he said in the documentary My Online Nightmare. "I'd ask him one question and I'd get 10 pages back as an answer.". Armed with the directions, police were led directly to that garage.