At a glance, Mark Twitchell seemed perfectly normal. GILLES TETREAULT [police interview]: After this all happened, I realized how lucky I was. Troy Roberts: And when did you grow concerned. Bill Clark: It's a missing persons case. But it was only a hunch. Gary Altinger: They found his passport. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Police discovered Twitchell spent countless hours making elaborate Halloween costumes. Altinger also informed his friends that he is going to meet this woman with whom hed been chatting. He wasnt everybodys friend. Mark Twitchell, a filmmaker turned into a killer, is now counting his days in prison in 2022. Please enter valid email address to continue. Gilles Tetreault: I couldn't believe it. Another man had been lured to the same garage and met a gruesome end. Gary Altinger: When I received that email And this e-mail was completely out of character. So, investigators called Twitchell again. Star Wars tribute film titled Secrets of the Rebellion, a feature-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. By now, Renee had called police. It read "I went through great lengths to bring my wife over to the comfortable belief I wasn't cheating on her.". Det. I just remember reading it all and just was fascinated by this document going, "Holy mackerel.". And he was stunned that I got up and started yelling at me to back down on the ground. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and later gained a Host Jian Ghomeshi brought up the case of Mark Twitchell, who was convicted in 2011 of luring, murdering and dismembering an Edmonton man. 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. 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. A lot of people saw him as a loner. In 2007, Twitchell directedStar Wars: Secrets Of The Rebellion, a full-length fan film prequel to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. ", "SK CONFESSIONS" PASSAGE: "I grabbed him by the leg as if to drag him back into the garage caveman style.". You put her in trash bags, like Dexter." And I liked it.. What's Mark Twitchell's psyche? I have never heard of this thing. 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. Twitchell claimed that Altinger's death was nothing more than a publicity stunt gone horribly awry. 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. Twitchells film was never released. Everything's turning up negative. ", Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case: A timeline of events, Lamar Johnson: "I am a freed man and a blessed man", Chad Daybell's kids claim he was "fooled in worst, most deadly way possible", Moms chatting at a water park help crack a cold case murder, Letters from Mark Twitchell: Inside the mind of a killer. Bill Clark: We found out he was telling his wife he was going to work every day. WebStar Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion was directed by Mark Twitchell, a Canadian producer, actor, and director. 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". In May 2013, it was reported by the National Post that Twitchell had purchased a television for his prison cell. ", Lillibuen read one of Twitchell's letters: "I killed Johnny Altinger in a horrific accident of self-defense. Bill Clark: Ultimately Mark Twitchell drove around with it, according to the "SK Confessions" document. We did a film about killin' a guy in here and I filmed it all. Detective Bill Clark knew his next move was finding the alleged victim who had escaped from Mark Twitchell's garage. The recently aired CBS episode delves into this aspiring serial killers psyche. Gilles Tetreault: That's when I was ready to fight I punched him and I felt really weak. 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.. Bill Clark: No, he's uh well he knows not to say anything he's talking to his lawyers. of the Rebellion (2007), a fan film for the Star Wars franchise that You wanna tell us where the body is now? I believe the victim entered the garage and was attacked by another male who was wearing a hockey mask . Or was it in fact Mark Twitchell's confession of murder? Twitchell stated that he had caught up on everyDexterepisode that he missed since he was arrested and convicted. After cursorily shoving aside my human sensibilities, I dealt with his remains in a disrespectful manner that traumatized me forever.". Troy Roberts: How do you get away with it? Renee: I'm a huge fan of the Showtime show "Dexter." Renee: I thought it was gonna be like a working relationship, a working friendship. Little did they know the case was about to take an unusual turn. 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. Steve Lillibuen: I asked him a lotta softball questions just about who he was, his family, his upbringing -- all that kinda background detail. Star Wars toys over the Internet before his wife divorced him, alleging "extreme and repeated mental cruelty. His interest in the show was raised numerous times during his trial. The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. 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. Det. Dexter Killer Mark Twitchell was an aspiring filmmaker whose scripts bore a striking resemblance to his crimes. So, I'm like, "Oh no, what am I gonna do now. The only witness the defense called was Mark Twitchell and he had one unbelievable tale to tell. Then a year-and-a-half after Johnny Altinger disappeared, Twitchell, while awaiting trial, broke his silence and gave the police a map. "SK Confessions" described the killer finally choosing a sewer to dump the remains, but that's where the pages stopped. Their email exchanges soon became dark. 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. As authorities began building their case, there was one crucial part of "SK Confessions" they wanted to verify about a victim who had survived. But Twitchell claimed he could explain everything. But he claimed Altinger became enraged at being tricked, and he accidentally killed him in self-defense. 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.". Bill Clark [in car in front of Twitchell's house]: What I said was, "We're investigating a missing persons. Under director, it has Mark Twitchell. Altingers remains were put into garbage bags and dumped in a storm sewer. Gilles Tetreault: When I grabbed the gun, I felt the gun was plastic. Jimmy Siokos tells "48 Hours Mystery" about what it was like to work with Mark Twitchell on a "Star Wars" fan film. Altingers remains were put into garbage bags and dumped in a storm sewer. Det. Twitchell stated that he had caught up on everyDexterepisode that he missed since he was arrested and convicted. Steve Lillibuen [reading letter]: He wrote to me "As you are aware, Dexter has almost nothing to do with my case.". 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 so embarrassed about the encounter, however, that Tetreault didnt tell anyone about it. And to Lillibuen's surprise, even behind bars Twitchell was able to feed his obsessions. He had no job. 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. Bill Clark: Gilles Tetreault was online on the plentyoffish.com website Which is a dating site. Twitchell's handwritten directions on a Google map led police to a manhole where Twitchell had dumped Johnny's remains. 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. The 29-year-old Canadian man had a wife and a young daughter, and aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. filmmaking. 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. 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. Steve Lillibuen: I learned really quickly that he preferred to talk through writing. Det. Chris Heward: "How much of the blood splatter on the wall was from your filming?" Mark Twitchell was an Edmonton native who wanted to become a filmmaker. Clark had no hard evidence against Mark Twitchell. 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. Gilles Tetreault: He's about 6 foot and this black and gold hockey mask painted all painted up on his face. This is who he is. It is what it is and I am what I am.". 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. DET. Gilles Tetreault was at home oblivious to the horror he had escaped when a friend told him to watch the news. 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. Troy Roberts [outside Twitchell's garage]: What was the most damning piece of evidence that you discovered? Luminol tests later revealed excessive amounts of human blood that wasn't visible to the naked eye. DET. 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. 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. Sheena had refused to tell Tetreault her exact address, giving him only driving instructions. John was very, very, very responsible. And his friend even questioned him on the email. It's like I remember getting the phone call at the police station just thinking "holy crap.". I'm like "Wow, why was my punch so weak? That doesnt change the fact that his crimes, and Dexters fictional ones, have obvious parallels. Police say Twitchell was fascinated by the fictional character in the hit Showtime series "Dexter." Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The short film featured a killer luring men to a garage and murdering them. Gilles Tetreault: I can't do this, I gotta fight back so I got up and I ripped the tape off my eyes. He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011. Following the narrative, police believe Altinger was then stabbed and dismembered on a makeshift autopsy table. Bill Clark: We know that he lured him to the garage in the same way he lured Gilles Tetreault. Troy Roberts: So, I mean, you spoke to him a couple of times a day online? No root cause there is no school bully or impressionably gory movies or Showtime television series to point the finger at. Cops arrested Twitchell on October 31, 2008, and charged him with first degree murder. In 2011, Twitchells attempt to murder charge got a courts stay in the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta. Twitchell's story may be coming to the big screen. 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. Bill Clark: They have a look around and they see somewhat looks like blood. They found Mark Twitchell guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. Questions Lillibuen hoped might be answered when he got a call out of the blue from Mark Twitchell himself. That profile had caught the attention of a woman named Renee from Cleveland, Ohio. MARK TWITCHELL: Yeah. Troy Roberts: These weren't ramblings of a crazy man. Part of the report included a return trip by Tetreault to the garage in which the incident had taken place. There was actually some substance in these letters? The "Dexter" garage. It is what it is and I am what I am., Lillebuen, however, has his doubts. Apart from this, Marks case was featured in the American magazine Crime Watch Daily. The film still hasnt been released to date. BILL CLARK [interrogation]: So, as you know Mark, we're just here trying to find this John fellow. Twitchell, then 29 years old, a married man with a young daughter, had used the garage as a set for a recent movie project. Twitchell's response to Hall's comments was to downplay his fascination with the "Dexter" character. Gradually though, Marks life went from making the stories through film to Detective Clark hoped Twitchell would provide the final chapter. According to CBS, he admitted to killing Altinger but insisted that Altinger had become enraged when he realized that the date was a set up. View our online Press Pack. Bill Clark: They had been livin' and basically sleeping in separate bedrooms. DET. MURDERER Mark Twitchell has become known as the Dexter killer due to his obsession with the TV show. Det. I was just really bewildered. But we figured it was something the first victim would key on. His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fictional character Dexter Morgan. Mark is often referred to as the Dexter Killer because of his fond love and personal identification with the lead character, Dexter Morgan. Thats about people with criminal minds. Marks fetish for Dexter did not rest in peace even after his conviction. Julia Cowley: Yes. What's going on? Steve Lillibuen: He blames Johnny, saying it was Johnny's reaction to his attempt at this promotion is what happened. But I said I couldn't do it. He worked as a Canadian filmmaker and was convicted of first Who is Mark Twitchell? We could see what looked like pieces of human torso down there. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. A week later, the masked man would find his next target, Johnny Altinger, who wouldn't be as lucky as the first victim. That he purchased a car for $40? Twitcher was inspired to shift from filmmaking to murdering people because of the fictional character Dexter Morgan. When not at work, you can find me at the stable. Bill Clark and "48 Hours" contributor Troy Roberts watch Twitchell's reaction as Clark told him "I now know that you killed John Altinger. When I looked at the weapons that was my first sign. I think he is different than Dexter. Renee: That he killed somebody. Susan Zirinsky and Judy Tygard are the executive producers, First published on April 23, 2022 / 11:12 PM. That's changed slightly I now know that you killed John Altinger. small following among sci-fi fans when he directed Star Wars: Secrets Goin', "Yeah, this isn't right. The directions led police directly to Mark Twitchells door. ", Renee: He said over the weekend he did something, and he liked it. Investigators say Twitchell was obsessed with the fictional serial killer at the center of the TV series "Dexter.". ", Lillibuen read one of Twitchell's letters: "I killed Johnny Altinger in a horrific accident of self-defense. Police cameras were rolling as a forensics team processed Twitchell's family car and the garage he rented. Det. We don't even know if we have a crime. They were now convinced it was no screenplay, but rather a diary of murder. Lourdes Aguiar and Anthony Venditti are also producers. And a few miles away, detectives had been at the Twitchell home where they found Jess Twitchell Mark's unsuspecting wife of two years. 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. That's because police were still looking for Johnny Altinger's red Mazda. Detective Clark was relentless, taking Twitchell on a tour of his old neighborhood. Renee: And I wanted her dead, at the time. He had no history of violence and was hardly a suspect. 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. Bill Clark | Edmonton Police: To hear how everything happened it was like you're watching the movies But now we have it happening in real life. Totally out out of character. According to CBC, a woman who met Twitchell through the Dexter Morgan Facebook page testified that they shared their love for the TV show through online messages. The once talkative movie director barely uttered a line. Mark was born in Edmonton, Alberta and always dreamt of making blockbuster films. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The man who was tricked into that very bad date in Twitchell's garage, Gilles Tetreault, continues to be haunted by the experience. He's very charismatic. When they found Altingers blood in Twitchells car, they arrested him on Oct. 31, 2008. Along the way, Twitchell also seemed to develop an obsession with murder and death. Altinger, thinking he was meeting a woman, was lured to Twitchells kill room in his garage-turned-film-studio. At first, Lillibuen didn't want to push Twitchell away with too many probing questions about his crimes. Renee: He was a filmmaker and he was working on a new thing called "House of Cards.". It has no bearing whatsoever on what actually happened. He is still in Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary. Movie's over. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. I am a keen observer and an ardent reader. Gilles Tetreault: And it's the same hockey mask that I saw. 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. They wouldn't elaborate. Renee: We talked about you know, serial killers and, you know, the psychology behind a serial killer. "The film is set a few days before ANH and follows the true format of a Star Wars film to the letter. 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. 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. 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