Det. 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. He had no history of violence and was hardly a suspect. Tetreault, who has written a book about his ordeal, spoke to "48 Hours" recently. The search of the car also led police to discover a deleted file on Mark Twitchell's laptop called "SK Confessions." Cops arrested Twitchell on October 31, 2008, and charged him with first degree murder. In early 2011, Mark Twitchell faced charges of the first-degree murder for killing John Brian Altinger. The 29-year-old Canadian man had a wife and a young daughter, and aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. 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. ", Det. ", "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. OFFICER [to Twitchell outside garage]: Bring back any memories? Armed with the directions, police were led directly to that garage. On the day he disappeared, Johnny Altinger had forwarded the directions of where he was going to friends. So, I thought, "Oh, well, you know, I'll be friends with him.". But for Lillibuen, there were still so many questions. Eventually, Twitchell revealed his true identity. Thats about people with criminal minds. Interestingly, the document police had found in Twitchell's laptop titled "SK Confessions" also referenced a crumbling marriage and secrets. 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. small following among sci-fi fans when he directed Star Wars: Secrets Bill Clark: It was basically almost like a movie script. On October 31, 2008, Mark Twitchell was charged with the first degree murder. But there was one clue that would give police their first big break in the case. His friends, having broken into his condo and finding no evidence he had packed for a vacation, alerted the police. The story begins in October 2008. Who is Mark Twitchell? Bill Clark: Ultimately Mark Twitchell drove around with it, according to the "SK Confessions" document. Another man had been lured to the same garage and met a gruesome end. At a glance, Mark Twitchell seemed perfectly normal. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. WebStar Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion was directed by Mark Twitchell, a Canadian producer, actor, and director. Jimmy Siokos tells "48 Hours Mystery" about what it was like to work with Mark Twitchell on a "Star Wars" fan film. Renee: He said, "You cut her up in little pieces. 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. 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. Edmonton-raised Mark Andrew Twitchell was a fledgling filmmaker whose first major project, a green-screen fan film called Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion, We could see what looked like pieces of human torso down there. But it was only a hunch. In June 2010, as Mark Twitchell prepared to take the stand at his trial and argue that he had "accidentally" killed Johnny Altinger in self-defense, he decided to finally disclose the location of Altinger's body. Police allege that around Oct. 10, Mr. Altinger was lured to a south-side residential garage for a blind date arranged online. Police believed "SK" was shorthand for "serial killer. 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. Julia Cowley: He's not killing bad guys. She graduated from Oberlin College, where she earned a double degree in American History and French. Joan Adelman and Michelle Harris are the editors. Renee [reading email]: "There's an enormous missing person, possible homicide investigation going on centralized around a location I've rented for film work. 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? Mark Twitchell is a real-life killer inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. It's the same mask, everything. Gilles Tetreault: I really thought it was a mugging at the time. Those directions led police directly to that garage, which turned out to be rented to an aspiring filmmaker named Mark Twitchell. Det. Tetreault, who was 33 at the time, was excited to meet the woman who called herself "Sheena.". Twitchell claimed that Altinger's death was nothing more than a publicity stunt gone horribly awry. In 2007, Twitchell directed Star Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Gary Altinger: Not a message, nothing. John was very, very, very responsible. Bill Clark: It's a missing persons case. Who is Mark Twitchell? This is the story of my progression into becoming a serial killer., In the document, he described setting up his kill room and gathering plastic sheeting, a steel drum for the body parts, as well as weapons like a butcher knife, a fillet knife, and a serrated saw for the bones.. 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. Joss Hnatiuk met Mark Twitchell on a Star Wars fan message board. living in the Midwest before returning to Canada to pursue a career in Twitchell, then 29 years old, a married man with a young daughter, had used the garage as a set for a recent movie project. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Johnny Altinger's friends were also able to hand over the directions Johnny had forwarded them before his date. He next tried to dump them into the river but was afraid of being seen. Chris Heward: My character was killed with a samurai sword. 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. The murder charges have yet to proven in court and Mr. Twitchell has yet to make an appearance. The detached garage had been rented by Mr. Twitchell and had been used by him recently to shoot a short, low-budget movie about a man who is lured online to a garage, trussed up and tortured for his computer passwords, then hacked to bits. You know, we had a lot in common. Steve Lillebuen exchanged dozens letters with Mark Twitchell during a three-year period. Tough guy Mark Twitchell peed his pants he was so scared. No warning signs that something like this was on the horizon. Britsh actor Jeremy On one of his blogsites, Mr. Twitchell wrote last year that he felt he was answering a higher calling to re-energize a franchise that creator George Lucas had fumbled by focusing more on computer imagery than plotlines. Troy Roberts: That was part of your plan, you're thinking he grabs my jacket, and I can get free . He had no history of violence and was hardly a suspect. Twitchell wrote numerous letters to the journalist, with Lillibuen telling CBS Newsthat he found themurderer of Johnny Altingerto be very responsive to letter writing. I am a keen observer and an ardent reader. But Twitchell remained silent. The man who was tricked into that very bad date in Twitchell's garage, Gilles Tetreault, continues to be haunted by the experience. Gilles Tetreault [driving]: I was actually late, so I was driving quite fast to get there. Detective Clark was relentless, taking Twitchell on a tour of his old neighborhood. The garage door will be open for you a touch, Sheena had written. I still think about the stun gun. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell wrote to me quite extensively about his interest in "Dexter.". And if anything happens to me, you'll know where to look.". We don't know if foul play's happened here. BILL CLARK [interviewing Twitchell]: I'm gonna go get the car ready. Twitchell also faced an attempted murder charge for his alleged attack on Gilles Tetreault, a computer company contractor. Once again, the victim believed he had met a woman on PlentyOfFish and followed her online instructions to Twitchells garage. Julia Cowley: He's a depraved individual, and he knows that. 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. Julia Cowley: I think he identified with Dexter to some degree. Showtime is a division of Paramount Global, which owns CBS. Mark is often referred to as the Dexter Killer because of his fond love and personal identification with the lead character, Dexter Morgan. You know, the fight for my life . Bill Clark: They pulled off the hard drive a deleted file titled "SK Confessions. Gilles Tetreault was at home oblivious to the horror he had escaped when a friend told him to watch the news. Produced by Asena Basak. But as soon Tetreault arrived, someone attacked him from behind. Mark Twitchell is serving a life sentence for killing Johnny Altinger in 2008. Hours later, Twitchell even agreed to let officers back into the garage where he had filmed "House of Cards." And that's when I slipped out of the jacket, rolled underneath the garage door and then got up. 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.. Det. And since I was close to the lake, "You rent a boat and dump her out in the middle of Lake Erie. It's a combination of a sexual motive and thrill killing. And you can write it all down. Police say Twitchell was fascinated by the fictional character in the hit Showtime series "Dexter." Steve Lillibuen: I learned really quickly that he preferred to talk through writing. 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. 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. We actually demanded that he tell us. He graduated from a radio and television program at the MICHAEL C. HALL (audio): it is horrifying to entertain the notion that something you did inspired that. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? If you want to delve into more details, watch the CBS 48 Hours Season 34 Episode 38: The Dexter Killer here. DETECTIVE [interrogation]: I mean it's kinda odd that you're filming that kind of thing. I'm dead.". He proved himself highly disorganized and erratic during the filming. CBS News 48 Hours The Dexter Killer aired on April 23, 2022. In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Det. The episode chronicles the tale of one of the strangest copycat killers in history. And Mark Twitchell's explaining, "Oh, no, that's my movie prop. Bill Clark: One of the first lines it says "I'm not sure when I decided to become a serial killer, but it was a feeling of pure euphoria. Author Steve Lillibuen sold the rights to his book "The Devil's Cinema" to a film company. In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. 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. 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. 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 know that he lured him to the garage in the same way he lured Gilles Tetreault. DET. Easier to find a car than than a person. WebCheck out this great listen on Audible.com. And her suspicions kept growing with another email he sent. Troy Roberts: Why didn't you go to the police immediately? 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. After this, the actor who played Dexter stated he did not think Dexter glamorized a serial killer. Is he takin' another weapon out?". Bill Clark: It was unbelievable. Mark represented himself as a woman and allured Johnny into meeting him. According to the Edmonton Journal, he made a fan film called Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion that generated buzz online. 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). Bill Clark: They had been livin' and basically sleeping in separate bedrooms. And since Altinger had shared the driving directions sent by his date before he disappeared, they reported him missing and forwarded the directions to the police. This article was published more than 14 years ago. Police believed Mark Twitchell's garage resembled a scene right out of the Showtime series "Dexter." He was now obsessed with the TV show Dexter. 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 And then, in a search of Twitchell's belongings, police found his laptop. 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. Right away I'm saying to myself this is a bunch of crap. And they found dirty dishes. 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." Gary Altinger: They found his passport. Steve Lillebuen authored the book The Devils Cinema which focussed on the complete case. Twitcher was inspired to shift from filmmaking to murdering people because of the fictional character Dexter Morgan. And a week later, another man, 38-year-old Johnny Altinger, went to meet a date at Twitchells garage. Mark Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Canada but spent several years Bill Clark: We had a, you know, luminol tests done on the floor. It sometimes scares me how much I relate. The public's attention drew to him after he was allegedly known to be inspired by Dexter Morgan, a fictional character. The Dexter killer, whose real name is Mark Andrew Twitchell is a Canadian filmmaker who is convicted of the first-degree murder of John Gilles Tetreault: At first, I was in shock. 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. After cursorily shoving aside my human sensibilities, I dealt with his remains in a disrespectful manner that traumatized me forever.". He is lucid. 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. Julia Cowley: And while he's technically not a serial killer he was headed in that direction if they hadn't have caught him. Det. 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. Troy Roberts: How do you get away with it? Troy Roberts: These weren't ramblings of a crazy man. WebExtra: Jimmy Siokos on Mark Twitchell. We Mark Twitchell worked with a tight-knit group of guys on various film projects. What's Mark Twitchell's psyche? Mr. Twitchell went to school in Edmonton and did postgraduate studies in radio and television in the Alberta capital. Maybe Mark Twitchell wanted to kill like Dexter, and maybe he didnt. 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. They found Mark Twitchell guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. 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. "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "Please stop hitting me oh my skull.". Bill Clark: It's almost like, at times, Mark Twitchell lives in a fantasy world. Lillibuen said: "He wrote me probably 30 or 35 different letters - up to about 350 pages like an entire book worth. Det. 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. DETECTIVE: And we end up going to that garage because of a missing person who supposedly went there. It is what it is and I am what I am., Lillebuen, however, has his doubts. Twitchell claimed he bought the red Mazda for just $40, and that it was parked at a friend's house. He was then stabbed to death. For detectives in the Edmonton Police Department, the disappearance of Johnny Altinger was a mystery in more ways than one. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Ever. 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. 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. The only witness the defense called was Mark Twitchell and he had one unbelievable tale to tell. 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. 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. Lillebuen wrote a book about the case titled "The Devil's Cinema: The Untold Story Behind Mark Twitchell's Kill Room.". His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. 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?". Dexter Killer: Everything about Mark Twitchell, the Killer who wore a Hockey This story is based on true events. Steve Lillibuen: The first time I met him, he actually had me laughing. Host Jian Ghomeshi brought up the case of Mark Twitchell, who was convicted in 2011 of luring, murdering and dismembering an Edmonton man. He graduated from a radio and television program at the ", "The Dexter Killer:" Inside the mind of a murderer. Bill Clark: We found out he was telling his wife he was going to work every day. Driven by this desire and his passion for the TV show Dexter, Twitchell started plotting out a Dexter-like murder. According to investigative reporter, Steve Lillibuen, Twitchell enjoyed communicating through writing. Renee was intrigued. That he purchased a car for $40? He rented a garage, found potential victims on dating apps, and set the scene with plastic sheeting, a table, and different kinds of weapons. On October 31, 2008, Mark Twitchell was charged with the first degree murder. Steve Lillibuen: Which, you know, I find quite surprising considering that the way he ended up in prison I believe it's been taken down since then. You put her in trash bags, like Dexter." And to Lillibuen's surprise, even behind bars Twitchell was able to feed his obsessions. No doubt in my mind at all Mark. It was actually he was probably going to kill me. Bill Clark: He thought he was way smarter than the police. filmmaking. He had no job. One passage about a knife read: "I thrust it into his gut. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. The Devil's Cinema Penguin Random House / My Space. This story is based on true events, Mark Twitchell wrote. Det. Bill Clark: And we first drove to his parents' house where he had been staying. Det. MARK TWITCHELL movie interview]: "The word has gotten around 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. His friends, having broken into his condo and finding no evidence he had packed for a vacation, alerted the police. Please enter valid email address to continue. The plot of House of Cards might have seemed suspicious to police, but it was nothing next to a deleted file they later found on Twitchells computer, titled SK Confessions. Though Twitchell said it was just a screenplay, investigators believed that SK meant serial killer and that the document was actually a detailed account of Twitchells crimes. John Altinger. He spent countless hours scouring the Internet, buying and selling Star "I'd ask him one question and I'd get 10 pages back as an answer.". Over the course of almost three years, they exchanged dozens of letters. So obviously that's what we're gonna look for first. Bill Clark: We got an undercover operator to work the internet and pretend he was gonna an investor. 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. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Det. filmmaking. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell testified that this was all a big misunderstanding he had killed Johnny in self-defense . The media even fought an application to lift bans on covering his trial. He writes extensively about what he's going to wear, the weapon that he chooses. So how did this young Canadian filmmaker end up accused of horrific acts? What Tetreault didn't realize was that he had been weakened by the effects of a stun baton. As authorities began building their case, there was one crucial part of "SK Confessions" they wanted to verify about a victim who had survived. 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. 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. Stars Wars stuff all over the unit, but hey, whatever people collect, they collect.". 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. 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.
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