He proved himself highly disorganized and erratic during the filming. In October 2008, Mark Twitchell put his dark side into action. Goin', "Yeah, this isn't right. Twitchell even posed as Dexter Morgan on Facebook. Investigators finally had hard evidence they had found Altinger's blood in Twitchell's trunk. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Renee: He was a filmmaker and he was working on a new thing called "House of Cards.". What Tetreault heard next came as an even greater shock. 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. He spoke to them about his career in filmmaking, his wife, Jess, and his 8-month-old daughter, Chloe. 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. 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", " 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. As authorities began building their case, there was one crucial part of "SK Confessions" they wanted to verify about a victim who had survived. An initial search of the garage uncovered what appeared to be blood spatter, which Mark Twitchell told police came from the "House of Cards" execution scene he was filming. 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. Little did they know the case was about to take an unusual turn. Totally out out of character. On the day he disappeared, Johnny Altinger had forwarded the directions of where he was going to friends. The next year, Twitchell married an American woman and moved to Illinois. 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 where there's smoke there's fire. Steve Lillibuen (reading letter): "Nobody would side with Dexter Morgan if he went around slaughtering schoolteachers and mail carriers on a whim.". Bill Clark: It's almost like, at times, Mark Twitchell lives in a fantasy world. JUSTICE DONE 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. Mark directed Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion (2007), a full-length fan film prequel which was set a few days before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. On October 31, 2008, Mark Twitchell was charged with the first degree murder. Mark Twitchell 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. 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. The episode chronicles the tale of one of the strangest copycat killers in history. BILL CLARK [interrogation]: So, as you know Mark, we're just here trying to find this John fellow. Probably one of the biggest pieces, a piece of tooth that was found inside there. So, he dragged me back to the garage. Bill Clark: It was basically almost like a movie script. 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.". Mark Twitchell EDMONTON CROWN PROSECUTION OFFICEThe message that Gilles Tetreault received from Sheena, who was really Mark Twitchell. The only witness the defense called was Mark Twitchell and he had one unbelievable tale to tell. Are we parked right on top of the sewer where you dumped the body? Bill Clark: He talked a lot about how he loved the show "Dexter.". No root cause there is no school bully or impressionably gory movies or Showtime television series to point the finger at. From having a kill room to using plastic sheeting Twitchell, a self-proclaimed Dexter fan, killed like the character did. 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 his garage, they found an eerily Dexter-like scene that included plastic sheets on the window, a blood-splattered table, and cleaning supplies. His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. After all, she was an aspiring writer and a friendship with a movie maker could open doors. Driven by this desire and his passion for the TV show Dexter, Twitchell started plotting out a Dexter-like murder. DET. Det. And you can write it all down. He wouldn't. I mean, she was emotional. Gilles Tetreault: Finally, I look back, and that's when I see this man kinda hovering over me with a hockey mask There's just this chill down my back, as I wow, this is no date. MARK ANSTEY [to reporters]: To date we do not know who this victim is. In the end, the jury took just five hours to find Mark Twitchell guilty. You've got to do something.". Bill Clark: We got an undercover operator to work the internet and pretend he was gonna an investor. 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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. Gary Altinger: Not a message, nothing. BILL CLARK [to Twitchell in police car]: Look familiar Mark? Chris Heward: My character was killed with a samurai sword. A star only in his own warped mind | Edmonton Journal Steve Lillibuen: I asked him a lotta softball questions just about who he was, his family, his upbringing -- all that kinda background detail. Steve Lillibuen: Mark Twitchell had actually been granted access to finish watching the series while he was incarcerated. That identical strange message had gone out to all of Johnny's friends as well. It read "I went through great lengths to bring my wife over to the comfortable belief I wasn't cheating on her.". But Mark Twitchell also had an urge to kill. He added, It sometimes scares me how much I relate.. Tetreault, who has written a book about his ordeal, spoke to "48 Hours" recently. For detectives in the Edmonton Police Department, the disappearance of Johnny Altinger was a mystery in more ways than one. He writes extensively about what he's going to wear, the weapon that he chooses. Why didn't I tell somebody where I am?". Star Wars - Secrets of the Rebellion. Troy Roberts: And what did you take that to mean? The strange story about the red car, the serial killer movie being filmed for Clark it could only mean one thing. 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. It says that Jeremy Bulloch is in the movie and it says it's coming out in June. Det. Twitchell wrote numerous letters to the journalist, with Lillibuen telling CBS Newsthat he found themurderer of Johnny Altingerto be very responsive to letter writing. But for Lillibuen, there were still so many questions. 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. Residents saw him flee the building, chased by a man wearing a hockey mask that was decorated in slashes of black and gold. ", "The Dexter Killer:" Inside the mind of a murderer. A week later, the masked man would find his next target, Johnny Altinger, who wouldn't be as lucky as the first victim. In letters, Twitchell clung to his defense that he had no choice but to kill Johnny Altinger and then dismember him. Det. Twitchell began writing to Lillibuen before he was even convicted in 2011. The message that Gilles Tetreault received from Sheena, who was really Mark Twitchell. 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. When Tetreault got home, he discovered the profile on the dating site had been deleted. 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." 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. And that's when I slipped out of the jacket, rolled underneath the garage door and then got up. Det. DET. 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. 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.. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Tetreault's story matched nearly word for word what was in "SK Confessions. Britsh actor Jeremy Mark Andrew Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on July 4, 1979. The police, not believing this story, impounded Twitchell's laptop and car, and found Altinger's blood in the car's trunk. He had no history of violence and was hardly a suspect. View our online Press Pack. Det. This time, he managed to get into his truck. Police believed "SK" was shorthand for "serial killer. 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?". He is still in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary. Two weeks after the disappearance of Johnny Altinger at a garage film set, police had sharpened their focus on filmmaker Mark Twitchell. He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first Here's a few words from the director Mark Twitchell. You have entered an incorrect email address! Gilles Tetreault: And then he starts punching me on the side of the head. He is still in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary. He wouldn't do this to us. I'm dead.". Det. Bill Clark: And there are some things that were, you know, raisin' your Spidey senses in this one. living in the Midwest before returning to Canada to pursue a career in In March of 2011, Mark Twitchell went on trial for the murder of Johnny Altinger. So, police kept searching on their own, looking in sewer after sewer. But no one knew not Twitchells Facebook friends nor his wife, Jess just how much Twitchell believed that he related. Julia Cowley: Yes. He is targeting men that perhaps he would be interested in having a date with. Cops say his fascination with the fictional TV killer carried over into his real-life crimes. Steve Lillibuen: He has very much that salesman slick behavior, he knows how to put it on to get people to like him. TheForce.Net - Fan Films - Secrets Of The Rebellion ", "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. Jimmy Siokos tells "48 Hours Mystery" about what it was like to work with Mark Twitchell on a "Star Wars" fan film. Det. Dexter, which they say Mr. Twitchell idolized on his Facebook page. 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. This is the story of Mark Twitchell, Canadas Dexter Killer.. Bill Clark: Gilles Tetreault was online on the plentyoffish.com website Which is a dating site. Gary Altinger: I've met a woman named Jen. 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. Mr. Twitchell went to school in Edmonton and did postgraduate studies in radio and television in the Alberta capital. Mark Twitchell, John Altinger: Dateline NBC Replays Copycat 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. Joss Hnatiuk met Mark Twitchell on a Star Wars fan message board. And he did his best to erase his own memory. Twitchell's first film project, a "Star Wars" fan film, had received some media buzz back in 2007. Gilles Tetreault: He grabbed my jacket I jerked forward to make sure he had a good hold on it, and I thought it's the perfect time. 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. 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. Cops arrested Twitchell on October 31, 2008, and charged him with first degree murder. 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. Mark Twitchell was an Edmonton native who wanted to become a filmmaker. Easier to find a car than than a person. Bill Clark: They learned, of course, the garage is rented out to an individual named Mark Twitchell. We actually demanded that he tell us. But Twitchell had underestimated the police. However, he abandoned his right to appeal in 2012. Thats when I looked back to see this man hovering [behind] me with a hockey mask. MARK TWITCHELL [interrogation]: This guy, uh, taps on my window you know, "Hey buddy do you wanna buy a car? Something inside my head just gave me red flags and said, "He did it.". Seven days after Tetreault was attacked, police say Twitchell wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. He is lucid. Detective Bill Clark knew his next move was finding the alleged victim who had escaped from Mark Twitchell's garage. Det. Bill Clark [in car in front of Twitchell's house]: What I said was, "We're investigating a missing persons. What's going on? Mark Twitchell, a low-budget filmmaker in Edmonton, Alberta, was obsessed with Star Wars. Police discovered Twitchell spent countless hours making elaborate Halloween costumes. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Det. 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. Troy Roberts: That was part of your plan, you're thinking he grabs my jacket, and I can get free . 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. Twitchell's film has never been released. But the question remains was Twitchell inspired to kill by the TV show? The search of the car also led police to discover a deleted file on Mark Twitchell's laptop called "SK Confessions." DET. Court documents filed in Peoria noted that Mark married Megan Twitchell, a U.S. citizen, in Edmonton on Jan. 4, 2001, and they eventually moved to the Illinois city, where they worked at American Electronics Appliance. Twitchell had attempted to lure another victim to his kill room earlier that month. Det. Bill Clark: It just doesn't make sense. It came out that Mark used a dating site to allure men by presenting himself as a woman. Tetreault was thrown back in the garage, but he surprised himself by rolling out again. Exactly one month after he was attacked, Gilles Tetreault walked into the Edmonton Police Department and told police his incredible story. MARK TWITCHELL: Yeah. Dexter Killer: Everything about Mark Twitchell, the Killer who wore a Hockey This story is based on true events. But there was one clue that would give police their first big break in the case. Det. In 2023, Twitchell will be eligible to apply for early parole. What other line is there to cross? Bill Clark: It was unbelievable. At a glance, Mark Twitchell seemed perfectly normal. Yet Twitchell continued to make excuses. He had no history of violence and was hardly a suspect. Det. Det. At the time, Renee was upset with her ex-husband's new wife. According to the Edmonton Journal, he made a fan film called Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion that generated buzz online. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Get this over with? Tell me about that. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. And for Mark Twitchell, the aspiring filmmaker, there may be one final plot twist. 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. Dexter Killer: Everything about Mark Twitchell, the Killer who wore Investigators followed it to an alleyway just a half block away from where they had stopped the search. Questions Lillibuen hoped might be answered when he got a call out of the blue from Mark Twitchell himself. Ex-wife of filmmaker charged in death alleged 'extreme' mental His unease only escalated when police asked him about that allegedly fake movie blood they spotted in the garage. We could see what looked like pieces of human torso down there. He's very charismatic. The garage door will be open for you a touch, Sheena had written. If you want to delve into more details, watch the CBS 48 Hours Season 34 Episode 38: The Dexter Killer here. Mark Twitchell - Biography - IMDb Mark Twitchell, 29, had rented the garage space to film his movie "House of Cards." The Devil's Cinema Penguin Random House / My Space. 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. 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. Lillibuen said: "He wrote me probably 30 or 35 different letters - up to about 350 pages like an entire book worth. 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. But was the document a screenplay? Police say Twitchell was fascinated by the fictional character in the hit Showtime series "Dexter." Bill Clark: And we first drove to his parents' house where he had been staying. "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "Please stop hitting me oh my skull.". Police began digging deeper into his background. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Det. Mark was born in Edmonton, Alberta and always dreamt of making blockbuster films. Tough guy Mark Twitchell peed his pants he was so scared. 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 . Please enter valid email address to continue. Mark Twitchell 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. Embarrassed and confused, Tetreault convinced himself that perhaps it wasn't as serious as he first thought. Mark Twitchell 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. It's the same mask, everything. It was a story without an ending. A pool of blood that police found in Mark Twitchells garage. Troy Roberts: These weren't ramblings of a crazy man. That profile had caught the attention of a woman named Renee from Cleveland, Ohio. His case gained extensive media coverage. "I wanted the weapon used for the deed itself to be simple, elegant and beautiful.". The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Det. Twitchell even ran a Facebook page where he wrote about the episodes from Dexters point of view. Part of the report included a return trip by Tetreault to the garage in which the incident had taken place. This story is based on true events, Mark Twitchell wrote. Steve Lillibuen: So, the motive is the mystery, the why did he do this. Gilles Tetreault: She said "I'll just leave the garage door open for you. She thinks she knows what made Twitchell tick. Police soon discovered that the Twitchell marriage was already fractured. 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. His reaction was pure Hollywood.". When I looked at the weapons that was my first sign. 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. 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. So, I thought, "Oh, well, you know, I'll be friends with him.". Twitchell also faced an attempted murder charge for his alleged attack on Gilles Tetreault, a computer company contractor. Det. "The film is set a few days before ANH and follows the true format of a Star Wars film to the letter. But where was Johnny Altinger's body? Tetreault, who was 33 at the time, was excited to meet the woman who called herself "Sheena.". They have said the crime has parallels to the Showtime TV show Gilles Tetreault: That's when I was ready to fight I punched him and I felt really weak. 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. Who is Mark Twitchell and why is he called the Dexter killer? In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. That's because police were still looking for Johnny Altinger's red Mazda. 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. Mark Twitchell was born in Edmonton, Canada but spent several years / CBS News. After cursorily shoving aside my human sensibilities, I dealt with his remains in a disrespectful manner that traumatized me forever.". Mark Twitchell is serving a life sentence for killing Johnny Altinger in 2008. There is no key. Over the course of almost three years, they exchanged dozens of letters. contained a short cameo with actor. The hockey mask wearing man had ordered him to the ground at gunpoint. Troy Roberts [watching interrogation video]: You didn't get much of a reaction, did you? The document was retrieved from Marks laptop despite being deleted. They were now convinced it was no screenplay, but rather a diary of murder. News of the arrest shocked friends and family of both the accused and the victim. DET. Everything's turning up negative. 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. In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. He was then stabbed to death. Mark Twitchell tells police about the deal he got on a red Mazda. of the Rebellion (2007), a fan film for the Star Wars franchise that No warning signs that something like this was on the horizon. I mean look at this profile.". Cops say his fascination with the fictional TV killer carried over into his real-life crimes. Mark Twitchell, the Canadian movie maker turned killer who was inspired by the TV show Dexter, is the focus of another engrossing episode of Dateline NBC. He is killing very innocent, good people living productive lives. 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. "There was MARK TWITCHELL [graduation video]: "I'm glad I got to work with you all and I hope I see you all in the industry.". DET. In the interview, police noticed that Twitchell had a lot of energy, considering the time of night. Lourdes Aguiar and Anthony Venditti are also producers. This is the greatest feeling I ever felt in my life, because then I knew I had a fighting chance to get away. A staffer, who asked not to be named, said he knew him briefly: "I knew he was into movies and directed films, but nothing beyond that.".