MURDEROUS MINDS: The Dexter Killer Pt. 1

Summary

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Killer Minds: Inside the Minds of Serial Killers & Murderers

Episode: MURDEROUS MINDS: The Dexter Killer Pt. 1

Release Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson (A), Dr. Tristin Engels (B)

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Episode Overview

This episode embarks on a chilling and analytical exploration of "The Dexter Killer," Mark Twitchell—a failed Canadian filmmaker whose obsession with cinematic murder escalated into real-life violence. Hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels blend narrative detail with forensic psychological analysis, examining how Mark’s lifelong detachment from reality, obsession with violent fiction, and increasing compartmentalization led to an attempted transformation into his own fictional killer. This is Part 1 of a two-part deep dive into the mind of a man who blurred art and atrocity, attempting to live out the twisted fantasies that once lived only in his scripts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mark Twitchell’s Early Life & Fascination with Fantasy (04:15 – 08:52)

• Mark grew up in Edmonton, Canada, loving sci-fi, fantasy, and especially performing original and parody skits with childhood friend Kirk (e.g., “Judge Fred”—a mashup of Judge Dredd and Fred Flintstone).
• As a child, Mark’s imaginative play rapidly veered toward violent themes (“Wheel of Torture”), detailing scenarios where contestants met gruesome ends.
• Insight: Dr. Engels highlights the distinction between a healthy hobby and a dangerous obsession, noting Mark’s inability to achieve balance:

  “A hobby is typically something a child enjoys doing in their free time...A fixation or an obsession, on the other hand, goes far beyond that...It usually interferes with other important aspects of life like school or social activities.” (06:15 – 07:09)

2. Blurring the Line Between Fiction and Reality (07:38 – 08:52)

• Mark’s fantasies served as both refuge and source of power amid bullying and isolation.
• Dr. Engels warns this immersion can condition an individual to need escalating levels of violent fantasy for emotional release:

  “He is essentially, possibly conditioning himself that in order to get an emotional release or to feel powerful or even joy, he needs to do so through reenacting these violent thoughts.” (07:44 – 08:33)

3. Obsession with Anti-heroes and Escalating Online Behavior (08:52 – 12:26)

• Mark’s fixation grows as he immerses himself in Star Wars fandom, identifying most with Anakin/Darth Vader (defending even brutal acts on forums).
• He experiments with online deception—creating fake profiles as Satan, Jesus, or women flirting with men.
• Insight: Dr. Engels points to “online disinhibition”—empowering Mark to act without social consequence, giving him escalating thrills of control:

  “With Mark, this online behavior is actually a clear escalation. He’s gone from performing violence in skits...to psychologically taunting strangers online where he is actively causing harm.” (11:12 – 12:05)

4. Personal Setbacks and Intensification of Fantasies (12:26 – 17:46)

• Mark’s first marriage ends amid debt and claims of “extreme and repeated mental cruelty.”
• Returns to Edmonton and throws himself into fan filmmaking ("Star Secrets of the Rebellion"), achieving limited notoriety, even attracting minor “Star Wars” actors.
• Mark remarries, but soon becomes obsessed with the TV show “Dexter,” finding deep resonance with the double-life serial killer protagonist.

5. The Dexter Influence: From Fiction to Fixation (17:46 – 25:35)

• After bingeing “Dexter,” Mark’s filmmaking ambitions pivot to violent psychological thrillers. He conceives “House of Cards,” essentially a Dexter homage.
• He is increasingly unable to separate fantasy and reality, quitting his job against his wife’s wishes to focus on his film, all while hiding the truth.
• Analysis: Dr. Engels notes serious psychological fragmentation:

  “He’s compartmentalizing his life into different isolated parts, which can lead to a fragmented sense of identity...The more he detaches from reality, the more likely he is to become emotionally numb and desensitized to the consequences of his actions.” (20:06 – 21:10)

6. Filming “House of Cards” and Self-Identification with Killers (25:35 – 29:13)

• Mark meticulously recreates elements from “Dexter,” even obsessing over realistic kill scenes.
• He writes, “If my family and friends ever knew the real me, it would damage many of them, some irreparably.” (25:48)
• Dr. Engels explores Mark’s self-awareness and dangerous internal justification:

  “He knows on some level that his violent fantasies aren’t socially acceptable...He could be setting the stage for denial, believing that because others can’t handle the ‘real him,’ he is entitled to act out his violent fantasies without facing the consequences.” (25:59 – 27:00)

7. From Fantasy to Planning Real Murder (29:13 – 34:06)

• Dissatisfied with staged violence, Mark determines only the real experience will satisfy his need for “authenticity.”
• He starts crafting a real murder plan matching the script: creating a fake woman’s profile on PlentyOfFish, preparing a kill room, and writing a manifesto titled “SK Confessions”:

  “This is the story of my progression into becoming a serial killer.” (34:02)

8. First Attempted Murder: Gilles Tetreault (35:50 – 40:01)

• Mark lures Gilles to the garage. In a chaotic sequence, the victim escapes after a struggle, alerting neighbors; Mark deletes all evidence and experiences intense anxiety at nearly being caught.

• Dr. Engels draws a parallel to Jeffrey Dahmer’s failed first attempt, emphasizing how fantasy never accounts for messy real-life outcomes—failure only increases compulsion and determination to try again.

  “This just reinforced his urge to kill, because even though he failed, he still proved to himself he’s capable of carrying it out. Now all he has to do is refine his approach, which is something we see happen often with serial offenders.” (40:01 – 41:19)

9. Rapid Escalation: Selecting the Next Victim (41:41 – 43:56)

• The day after the attempt, Mark modifies his weapons and fake profile, repeating the scheme with a new target, John Brian Altinger.
• The episode ends on this dark note, setting up Part 2.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mark’s Motivation:

  “If my family and friends ever knew the real me, it would damage many of them, some irreparably.”
  (Mark Twitchell's writings, 25:48)

• On Creative Desensitization:

  “Even though right now, no one’s being harmed, it’s still giving him a sense of joy or gratification…He’s essentially, possibly conditioning himself that in order to get an emotional release or to feel powerful or even joy, he needs to do so through reenacting these violent thoughts.”
  (Dr. Engels, 07:44 – 08:33)

• The Slippery Slope Between Hobby and Harm:

  “A hobby is typically something a child enjoys doing…A fixation or an obsession…goes far beyond that…interferes with other important aspects of life…It becomes problematic if it disrupts a child’s emotional development or well being.”
  (Dr. Engels, 06:15 – 07:09)

• Linking Art and Atrocity:

  “Mark romanticizing Dexter in this way, even writing a film inspired by him, is more evidence that he’s normalizing violent or antisocial behaviors.”
  (Dr. Engels, 25:59 – 26:40)

• On Escalating Compulsion:

  “Writing serves as an emotional release for him...By writing, he’s able to covertly experience his violent fantasies...it also allows him to frame his actions in a way that is justified, controlled and rationalized in his own mind.”
  (Dr. Engels, 34:06 – 35:03)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction of Mark Twitchell & Setup – 00:01 – 03:15
• Analysis of Mark’s Childhood Fantasies – 04:15 – 08:52
• Online Deception & Early Marital Collapse – 11:12 – 12:26
• Star Wars Fan Film & Career Aspirations – 12:26 – 17:46
• Obsession with Dexter: Genesis of House of Cards – 17:46 – 25:35
• Psychological Escalation and Self-Identification – 25:35 – 29:13
• Setting Up Real-World Crime – 29:13 – 34:06
• First Attempted Murder (Gilles Tetreault) – 35:50 – 40:01
• Rapid Escalation, Selecting New Victim – 41:41 – 43:56

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Tone and Host Dynamics

• Vanessa’s narrative is detailed and empathetic, anchoring events in emotional context and storytelling.
• Dr. Engels provides steady, clinical insight—consistently grounding the story in psychological theory and forensic patterns.
• The episode employs a careful balance of suspense, compassion for victims, and clinical detachment, all while directly engaging the true crime and psychology-savvy listener.

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End of Part 1 Summary. Part 2 promises to uncover the horrifying outcome of Mark’s next steps, the fate of John Altinger, and the full psychological unraveling of “The Dexter Killer.”

Transcript

[A]

Hey, everyone, it's Vanessa. If you're enjoying Killer Minds, you'll love a new Crime House show. I'm part of Crime House Daily. Twice every weekday, host Katie Ring brings you the biggest crime stories as they unfold. In the morning, get the latest updates. At night, dive into the moments that matter. And on Sundays, I'm looking back with true crime this week, exploring unforgettable cases from the coming week in history, all with a common theme. A Follow Crime House Daily wherever you listen or catch us on YouTube so you never miss an episode. This is Crime House. Ever since he was a kid, Mark Twitchell knew he was going to be a famous director. He saw it so clearly. Walking the red carpet, rubbing shoulders with a list celebrities, seeing his name in lights, he wanted to be considered alongside the greats Scorsese, Tarantino and Spielberg. And even though Mark spent years working towards this dream, at some point it began slipping through his fingers. When that happened, he came up with a new idea. One that would put him back on the path to stardom. He decided to film a movie about a killer. And that the best way to make that art was to imitate it. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Killer, A Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.

[B]

And I'm Dr. Tristan Engels. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes.

[A]

A killer Crime House is made possible by you. Please rate, review and follow Killer Minds to enhance your listening experience with ad. Free early access to each two part series and bonus content. Subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. A warning. This episode contains descriptions of violence and the dissection of human bodies. Listener discretion is advised. Today we begin our deep dive on Mark Twitchell, an aspiring Canadian movie director with dreams of becoming a household name. While his early projects garnered some interest, a lack of funding quickly got in the way. But when Mark came up with a new idea for a slasher movie, he knew this would be the big break he needed. But he wanted it to be based on a true story. And in order to do that, he had to commit murder himself.

[B]

As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like the psychological impact of Mark's childhood obsessions, how Mark justified his increasingly strange behavior, and what led him to physically record his darkest desires.

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[B]

So let's talk about the distinction between a hobby and a fixation. Especially in children, what it really comes down to is balance and intensity. A hobby is typically something a child enjoys doing in their free time. It's usually a creative or imaginative outlet. Hobbies are generally healthy and temporary. A fixation or an obsession, on the other hand, goes far beyond that. It's when the child becomes obsessed with a particular activity or subject to the point where it starts consume them and dominates their thinking, their feelings and even their behavior. Fixations and obsessions can make it hard for a child to focus on anything else. And it usually interferes with other important aspects of life like school or social activities. And it becomes problematic if it disrupts a child's emotional development or well being. Mark is experiencing a hard time fitting in at school and he was being bullied. Children who are rejected by their peers or are bullied often feel powerless, lonely and frustrated. So it' uncommon for them to retreat into a fantasy world or their imagination as an emotional escape. But his fantasy world is dark and it's possibly even vengeful because of that bullying. And he's turning his fantasy into a performative reality. And that's where it becomes concerning. Especially when it took over his entire life like you had described. Vanessa.

[A]

So how does Mark's relationship with his hobbies affect his understanding of what's real and what's fiction?

[B]

So it can blur the lines between what's real and what's fiction. Skits by nature are fictional and performative, so they are detached from any real social consequences which can cause Mark to be detached from that as well. This can also desensitize him to violence because he has turned violence into an outlet. Even though right now no one's being harmed, it's still giving him a sense of joy or gratification. So he's essentially, possibly conditioning himself that in order to get an emotional release or to feel powerful or even joy, he needs to do so through reenacting these violent thoughts. The problem with this is without intervention or the introduction of healthy coping skills, over time, he will more than likely become habituated. Meaning because of repeated exposure to violent fantasies and those reenactments over time, it's no longer gonna give him the same level of emotional release or control. And it's possible that as a result, he will need to escal to continue gaining that sense of Emotional release.

[A]

After high school, Mark kept pursuing his love of entertainment and attended Northern Alberta Institute of Technology where he enrolled in the radio and TV arts program. He spent hours writing furiously in his notebook, coming up with alternate storylines for his favorite sci fi franchises. Mark was especially fascinated with anti heroes. He was intrigued by their thought process and the moral questions they posed to the audience. Mark loved making movies that made big impressions. When he showed his creations to his parents, he watched them laugh, gasp and applaud. The attention made him feel important and solidified his desire to turn his love of filmmaking into a bona fide career. In the year 2000, 20 year old mark graduated college with a degree in radio and TV arts and and even though he was brimming with ideas and imagination, he kept gravitating towards an already established property, Star Wars. He was obsessed with the franchise and found a community who felt the same. Around this time, online message boards and forums had become a popular place for folks to share their interests. That's where Mark found his people. He became a prominent member of online Star wars communities where he'd discuss the prequels with fellow fans. He frequently came to the defense of his favorite villain, Anakin Skywalker, who, spoiler alert becomes Darth Vader. In one post, Mark went so far as to defend Anakin for slaughtering a group of children. He wrote, it's admirable how he manages to have a stomach for it. This was the start of a new chapter for Mark in which his whole life began to revolve around the Internet. He met his first wife in a chat room in 2001 and then packed up his life and moved to Illinois to live with her. But even in this new, exciting relationship, he still spent almost all his time on his computer. At this point, Mark also dabbled in another imaginative pastime, making fake online profiles. It's unclear why he decided to do this, apart from the fact that he thought it was fun. Sometimes he would pretend to be Satan or even Jesus Christ. Other times he would pose as a woman flirting with unsuspecting men online.

[B]

So there's something called online disinhibition. And that's the phenomenon that causes people to behave in ways they wouldn't in real life scenarios. Because of the perception of anonymity that the digital world can provide, people tend to explore different versions of themselves because they're cloaked in anonymity. And this is why you see so many online trolls and cyberbullies. They say really harmful things that they would otherwise not say to someone in person. But they feel empowered to do so because they can be detached and otherwise anonymous. And when it comes to Mark, this online behavior is actually a clear escalation. He's gone from performing violence and skits with his best friend where no one was actually being harmed to psychologically taunting strangers online where he is actively causing harm. Both are controlled environments for him, both are removed from social consequences, and both are giving him a sense of power and control. And the fact that he's choosing Satan and Jesus as identities speaks to this because these identities represent absolute power. So if Mark continues to get reinforced with this online behavior, then it will cause him to possibly even escalate that behavior more.

[A]

While Mark was widening his online exploration, his personal life was crumbling. We don't know much about his first marriage, but it didn't seem like a happy one. During this time, Mark and his wife went almost $40,000 in debt. And when they eventually started Split up in 2004, his wife cited the reason for the split as, quote, extreme and repeated mental cruelty. It's hard to say how Mark felt about it, but after his marriage ended, the 25 year old decided to move back home to Edmonton and get to work on his filmmaking career. To some, it might have seemed like a strange choice. Known locally by the morbid nickname Deadmanton, Mark's hometown was hardly a bustling metropolis on the edge of the Canadian wilderness. Edmonton was isolated from the rest of the country and didn't attract the kind of cultural institutions that other places did. Plus, oil was the main employer in the area, not entertainment. But what Edmonton did have was a vibrant Star wars community, and that was great for him because he had a new, exciting plan. He was going to make his own Star wars community movie. While Mark had the big idea, he wasn't exactly a writer and he needed someone else to help flesh out the plot. Soon he found his guy. While working at a furniture store, Mark befriended Jim Siokos, a local schoolteacher who also loved Star wars and thought making a fan film was a great idea. The two men quickly started working together. Jim wrote the screenplay and Mark planned the production of the film he'd titled Star Secrets of the rebellion. As the project started to take shape, news of it began to spread across the fan forums that Mark frequented. He'd been right about one the Star wars community was very active in Edmonton and a lot of people wanted to get involved. Soon, Mark found himself with a dedicated crew and actors who were more than excited to be a part of the project. As for funding, Mark managed to scrounge up $60,000 for the budget and was fully prepared to spend all of it. Filming started in 2006 and over the course of the next year, Mark invested in a green screen studio, special effects, elaborate costuming and plane tickets to fly actors to Canada. And pretty soon his enthusiasm paid off. The online interest in this film had continued to grow and news about this grassroots love letter had spread through digital channels across Canada, sparking interest in fans and would be actors in the United States and around the world. One of those actors was Jeremy Bullock, who actually played a character called Boba Fett in the original Star wars trilogy. To the cast, crew and everyone watching the progress of the film, this further legitimized the project. For Mark. It was proof that his dream of becoming a world famous director was within reach. During the filming of Secrets of the Rebellion, things were looking up in all areas of Mark's life. While pursuing his passion passion as a filmmaker, he also fell in love for a second time. Sometime during this period, Mark started talking to a woman named Jess on the dating website plentyoffish.com and their relationship blossomed quickly. The pair were wed in 2007 and had a daughter in January of the following year. At that point, the film was in post production and there wasn't as much for Mark to do. So he started looking around for other projects. Bolstered by the initial success of his first idea, he started building his own production company called Express Entertainment and began courting the interest of would be investors. Meanwhile, Mark started gestating an idea for his next big film, a comedy to be titled Day Players. But around this same time, a friend introduced Mark to a new television show that changed everything for him. Dexter. At first it took some convincing for Mark to try out this new pulpy thriller. But once he started watching, he was hooked. In only four days, Mark devoured the entire first season which had just come out. Then he re watched the show over and over again. He was especially enthralled by the main character, Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter analyst turned serial killer who goes after violent offenders. Like the other antiheroes that Mark loved, Dexter challenged the audience's moral and ethical beliefs. He was smart, witty and handsome, while simultaneously acting as a cold blooded murderer, torturing and dissecting his victims in a kill room. Mark wasn't just fascinated by the show, he was inspired. And he knew that this was the subject he wanted to cover in his next movie. The idea of making a slasher film began to consume him and Mark knew that he had to Follow that impulse. After all, maybe this would be the thing that could take him beyond Edmonton and all the way to Hollywood. Maybe this was his chance to become a household name. He was right. Just not in the way he thought.

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All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail] in the first half of 2008, 28 year old Mark Twitchell's career was just getting started. He was finally in post production for his fan made movie star Secrets of the Rebellion. He was also starting to pitch his new comedy film Day Players to potential investors. All the while, the tantalizing idea of a slasher movie lingered in his mind. It turned out people were actually happy to give Mark money. After all, the production of his fan film had gotten a lot of attention and he seemed like a young new talent worth investing in. Even his own family and friends were keen to back him. They handed Mark tens of thousands of dollars to pursue his dream. This influx of cash gave Mark the confidence to dedicate all all of his time to filmmaking. So about halfway through the year, he decided to quit his day job at the furniture store. His wife Jess begged him not to. They had a young baby in the house and the couple needed as much financial security as they could get. But Mark did it anyway. And to hide it from his wife, he continued leaving home each morning as if he was going to work. Then he'd spend his days at coffee shops, emailing and investors. Sometimes he'd re watch episodes of Dexter.

[B]

So it sounds like Mark might now have another fixation. And that's on Dexter. However, Mark's continued detachment from reality, first through his fantasy world, then the online behavior, and now in his personal life, has serious psychological effects. He's compartmentalizing his life into different isolated parts, which can lead to a fragmented sense of identity. Essentially, Mark is splitting his life into sections. He's making it harder for him to understand who he really is, and this creates internal conflict as he tries to balance his real life responsibilities as a father and a husband with his fantasy driven goals or desires. And the more he detaches from reality, the more likely he is to become emotionally numb and desensitized to the consequences of his actions. As he continues down this path, this way of living becomes more reinforced and harder to break. And additionally, by psychologically isolating himself from reality and consequences, Mark is missing the chance to develop healthy coping skills or accountability. And without these, his behaviors are likely to escalate. And I know I've mentioned that, and it begs repeating over time, living a double life may cause Mark to become more deeply disconnected, where his fantasies start to feel more like reality and the consequences of his actions are just not important to him, let alone even a few factor in his decision making.

[A]

Does this seem like an escalation from his previous dishonesty in taking on other identities, like in his fake online profiles that he was doing?

[B]

Yes, in both cases Mark is engaging in deceptive behavior, but the stakes are higher with his wife because this deception involves real world relationships and responsibilities. His wife and child are dependent on his income and he seems to be completely unaffected by this because to him, pursuing what he wants is more important. His dream is a fantasy in itself, and although it's certainly possible that he could go on and become this famous director and have the income to match, it's less likely and less realistic to happen, let alone in the way he is building it up in his mind. But that's not a reality that he wants to live in.

[A]

Mark quit his job while he was on a career high, but the entertainment industry is fickle and things quickly came crashing down. Post production work on Secrets of the Rebellion stalled, though it's unclear why. And while initial interest in Mark's comedy movie Day Players started off promising, it never seemed to materialize into actual financial backing. Additionally, the money that his friends and family had given him was starting to dwindle. So Mark decided to take a different route. His other projects weren't gaining the kind of attention he was hoping for. So it was clearly time for a a new idea. And lucky for him, he'd already been working out the details for his slasher film. Soon, Mark started pitching this movie to would be investors. He sent out emails to his contacts framing the project As a short film about a killer, the finer details of the plot were hazy, and it wasn't clear if these potential backers even found the idea interesting. But Mark was on a roll, and he wasn't going to wait around for anyone to catch up. For the Star wars movie, Mark was a producer and the director, working with actors and screenwriters to help bring his ideas to life. But this time, Mark wasn't interested in delegating. He wanted the creative work behind this psychological thriller to be entirely his. He didn't have the resources to actually hire a crew. Actually, he hardly had money to make this movie at all. So when it came to production, he. He knew he had to get creative. That September, he called in a few favors from friends who'd worked on his previous projects and found an affordable location to shoot in, a detached garage that was being rented out for only $175 a month. Mark planned to shoot for two days at the end of September, and as production drew closer, he started fleshing out the film's plot beats in messages to his crew. The short, now titled House of Cards, was nearly identical to the premise of Dexter. It's centered around a serial killer who targets victims who he sees as being ethically bankrupt. The garage that Mark had rented would serve as the kill room, with a set designed to mimic the one in Dexter. Mark had even decided to cover the walls and floor with plastic sheeting, another nod to the show. The setting was extremely important to Mark. He asked his friends to build him specific props, like a large, heavy table and two chairs, One called the killer chair and the other the victim. He also insisted on buying a specific set of knives to be the killer's chosen weapons, along with a large oil drum. Soon enough, Mark had everything in place. He even had a small, dedicated cast who. Who would play the killer and the victim. Robert Barnsley and Chris Heward, respectively. They flew in for the film and agreed to work for free, with Mark promising that he would prioritize them for roles in future movies. Mark dove headfirst into finalizing the script, which, for him, involved researching serial killers. He was fixated on understanding the motivation that would lead a person to commit murder.

[B]

And.

[A]

And to his surprise, the more he read, the more he empathized with these killers. He even started to feel like he had the same traits they did and wrote extensively about it on his computer. One especially unsettling passage read, quote, if my family and friends ever knew the real me, it would damage many of them, some irreparably.

[B]

So it makes sense to me why Mark was be so enthralled with Dexter. He identifies with him. There's a lot of parallels with him and that character. They are both leading a double life and hiding their violent fantasies from the outside world. Dexter morally justifies his murders because he chooses people who harmed others. And in a lot of ways, Mark justifies his own violent fantasies also by expressing them in socially acceptable or creative ways. Mark romanticizing Dexter in this way, Even writing a film inspired by him is more evidence that he's normalizing violent or antisocial behaviors. And that quote you shared about if his family and his friends knew the real him, that suggests he has self awareness. So he knows on some level that his violent fantasies aren't socially acceptable. But at the same time, he seems to be creating an internal narrative that justifies keeping this secret. He could be setting the stage for denial, believing that because others can't handle the quote real him, that he is somehow entitled to act out his violent fantasies without facing the consequences. And the character of Dexter is just reinforcing that idea.

[A]

Do you think it would be more comforting for him or maybe just terrifying for Mark to find himself relating to serial killers?

[B]

It depends on how Mark would frame that psychologically, But I believe it's more likely than not that he finds it comforting. And here's why. Mark has used fantasy as a way to escape. He created and immersed himself in fictional worlds to cope emotionally and express his true self in again, socially acceptable ways. But over time, the boundary between fantasy and reality blurred for him. So it's very possible that the character of Dexter feels less like fiction and more like a real possibility. And I think that became even stronger once he started the film. The fact that he's creating a movie set with a kill room modeled after Dexter could be a form of escalation even for Mark, because he's shifted from abstract fantasy or fiction to actionable ideas. Now it's important to understand that writing scripts or stories about violence or horror or dark topics doesn't automatically mean someone is violent or intends to act out those themes in real life. Many creators, writers and filmmakers use these themes as a way to explore complex emotions, societal issues, or simply engage in creative expression. And for most, fiction is a way to tell a story, to challenge fears or entertain. And it's not a reflection of personal desires or intentions. Violence in art is often about creating tension or provoking thought rather than encouraging harm. And what separates fiction from reality is the ability to differentiate between the two. And Mark struggles to do that. He comes with a combination of psychological factors that most creatives don't have, like this need for control, emotional detachment or desensitization, lack of any kind of intervention or accountability, a history possibly of trauma and possible antisocial training traits. He's weaponizing creative outlets. And when you consider that with his fiction and his creative writing, it's more than just simple creative exploration Mark started.

[A]

Filming House of cards on September 26, only a few months after he first came up with the idea. Over the course of the two allotted filming days, Mark and his crew shot the entire thing in the rented garage. Throughout the the shoot, Mark was particular often stopping scenes and retaking moments to get everything just right. As you mentioned, that control Dr. Ingalls. He also chided the cast if they handled props incorrectly like he demanded, they avoid leaving fingerprints on the knife blades. Toward the end of the second day of shooting, the team filmed one of the movie's biggest shots, a close up of the killer as he plunges the knife into the victim's chest. Mark had made mixed up a large bag of fake blood. The actor playing the killer, Robert, would puncture it through a shirt pulled taut to make it easier for him to stab. After a few tries, Robert nailed it, bursting open the blood bag and sending a burst of red ooze through the hole in the T shirt. The cast was thrilled with the shot, but for Mark, it didn't feel right. He sat in silence for a while as the cast and crew waited for his thumb. Ultimately, Mark said it was fine and that they should move on, but the shot had bothered him and he didn't know why yet. By this point, the movie was wrapped. Mark had told the cast and crew that he only needed them for two days and his time was up. Plus, he had no money for reshoots. But Mark still felt like that kill shot wasn't realistic enough, and as he mulled over what to do, it hit him. He would redo the scene, but not for the cameras, just for him. Because Mark had just realized that in order to create something truly believable, he needed to experience it for himself. Welcome to Only Murders in the Building the Official Podcast. Join me, Michael Ciro Creighton as we go behind the the scenes with some of the amazing actors, writers and crew from Season five. The audience should never stop suspecting anything. How can you not be funny crawling around on a coffin? Yeah, that's true. Catch Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast now streaming wherever you get your podcasts and watch Only Murders in the Building streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers. Terms apply. This episode is brought to you by FXX and Hulu. Futurama returns on September 15, blending heartfelt moments with razor sharp hum while accidentally saving the day. The Planet Express crew is back, defying gravity and common sense. From the creator of The Simpsons comes 10 new episodes where the romance is hotter, the threats are bigger, and the action hits harder. Don't miss the all new season of Futurama returning September 15th at 8pm Watch it on FXX or streaming on Hulu. Do you want to know what it's like to hang out with Ms. 13 in El Salvador? Or how the Russian mafia fought battles all over Brooklyn in the 1990s? What about that time I got lost in the Burmese giant jungle hunting the world's biggest meth lab? I'm Sean Williams. And I'm Danny Gold and we're the host of the Underworld podcast. We're journalists that have traveled all over reporting on dangerous people and places, and every week we'll be bringing you a new story about organized crime from all over the world, available wherever you get your podcasts. In October 2008, 29 year old Mark Twitchell had just wrapped shooting on his new short slasher film, House of Cards. It was his first time writing, directing and producing producing a movie himself, a process that both thrilled and inspired him. But unbeknownst to his cast and crew, Mark had also been bothered by the phoniness of the whole thing. So he came up with an idea to reenact the entire story himself. But in real life, he would play the murderer and scout out an actual victim to kill. Somehow he was convinced this would provide him with a whole new level of understanding when it came to his story and characters. Late one night, after his wife and daughter were asleep, Mark hunched over his computer. It was important to him to follow the plot of his own movie to a tee. And in House of Cards, the killer sought out his victims through dating sites. So that night, he went to plentyoffish.com and made a profile of a blonde named Sheena, using photos that he found from an account of a woman who lived in another city. While he waited for unsuspecting men to start messaging him, Mark also started writing on his computer. He wanted to document the reasoning behind what he was about to do and titled his manifesto SK Confessions. The first sentence read like this quote, this is the story of my progression into becoming a serial killer.

[B]

Okay, so Mark is technically classified as a serial killer, but he exhibits many traits commonly seen in serial killers. Many serial killers experience compulsions or recurring urges. These urges often manifest in meticulous planning rituals or even acts of violence, which provide a temporary emotional release from the psychological tension they're experiencing. And for Mark, it seems like his compulsion, at least for the time being, takes the form of writing. Writing serves as an emotional release for him, one that is private, again, socially acceptable and perceived as safe for him. By writing, he's able to covertly experience his violent fantasies, especially with his fictional writing. Writing gives him a temporary emotional release, but it also allows him to frame his actions in a way that is justified, controlled and rationalized in his own mind. And what you've described sounds like he's attempting in this manifesto to frame his violent impulses not as senseless acts, but as part of a logical progression which allows him to see himself as someone with a purpose, rather than just a perpetrator of violence once again, much like Dexter. And also remember that Mark has dreamed of being a famous director. He's been imagining himself in the spotlight or on the red carpet. So writing this manifesto could be connected to his desire for attention or immortality. Like many infamous killers, especially serial killers, Mark may want to leave behind a legacy of his actions. And a manifesto gives him the opportunity to cement his place in history in that way. And it provides a narrative that ensures he's remembered how he wants to be remembered, while also fulfilling his need for recognition and again, immortality.

[A]

As Mark continued to write down his thoughts in SK Confessions, he also monitored his fake Plenty of Fish account to see if he got any bites. Soon he had one 33 year old Gilles Tetrou. Gilles messaged Marc's fake profile and the two started flirting on the other side of the conversation. Marc was thrilled. It was exciting to him that this stranger had no idea what was happening or what was going to happen. On October 8, Gilles and Marc, writing as Sheena, agreed to meet up at 7pm at the garage Mark had rented for his shoot and still had access to. Mark gave the young man, step by step, directions full of visual markers. He explained that the garage door would be left partially open and that Gilles shouldn't worry about the neighbors thinking he was a burglar. After that, Marc hurried to the garage and quietly waited for Gilles. He was wearing the mask his actor had worn for the film shoot, a modified hockey cover that he'd painted gold and black. He held a stun gun in his hand, the weapon, he hoped, would be enough to incapacitate Gilles when he arrived. Soon, Mark heard the sound of a car approaching on the gravel driveway. Outside, it was showtime. He rushed toward the garage door, standing to the side so that Gilles wouldn't see his feet. He waited with anticipation as he heard footsteps approaching. And just as Marc saw the young man duck under the garage door, he lunged forward with the stun gun. With just a few hits to the chest, Marc sent Gillespie convulsing to the ground. Then Marc pulled out the prop gun he'd brought with him, pointed it at Gilles, and demanded he stay down. Gilles complied, and Marc placed a piece of duct tape over his victim's eyes. But in a burst of adrenaline, Gilles jumped up, snatching away the gun that Mark had been holding. Mark noted with terror and frustration that the young man could immediately tell the gun was a fake. Gilles dove onto Marc, and the two fought ferociously until Gilles broke free of his attacker and scrambled out of the garage, trying to get to his car. The only thing was, Gilles was still recovering from the electric shock of the stun gun and moved slowly, sort of in a crawl. Marc caught up with him easily and grabbed Gilles ankles, then dragged him back to the garage. Except when they got there, Mark realized he had a problem. The garage door wasn't lifted high enough for both men to fit underneath it at once. He tried to lift the door higher, but in his awkward attempt to hold onto his victim and get it open, Mark's grip loosened. It only took that one half second for Gilles to kick himself free and take off toward the main road. Marc followed swiftly, but as he closed the gap between himself and Gilles, he saw the young man had flagged down a couple on an evening stroll. All of a sudden, Mark must have felt extremely exposed. So he retreated back to the garage and let Gilles escape. In the immediate aftermath of this first failed murder, Marc rushed home and got on his computer. He typed furiously, sending a threatening message to Gilles from Sheena's fake Plenty of Fish account. But moments later, Marc decided to back off. Any kind of message was a paper trail. If Gilles told the police what had happened, these exchanges could lead straight to Mark. In a few clicks, he erased the entire online conversation. For good measure, he deleted Sheena's profile, too. The next day, October 9, the thought of getting caught plagued Mark constantly. He would wince at the sight of a police car or the sound of his phone ringing. But as the day wore on, his anxiety passed by. That afternoon, Mark had managed to talk himself out of worry. Sure, this first attempt hadn't gone as planned, but he knew what mistakes he had made. The stun gun was too awkward, and the prop gun wasn't real enough. He needed to change up his weaponry when he tried again.

[B]

So this reminds me a little bit of Jeffrey Dahmer, our very first episodes. And the reason I say this is because, I mean, they're not similar in motive or method or anything like that. But Dahmer became obsessed with a male jogger he had seen regularly near his home when he was a teenager. And he fantasized about attacking this jogger for a while, until one day, he took a baseball bat to a stakeout spot to carry out his fantasy. Except the jogger didn't go running that day, and this left Dahmer enraged. Now, similarly, Mark has been fantasizing about this moment for some time. He started that fantasy and that obsession when he started writing the script, and then he built the kill room, and then he acted it out through filming, and that wasn't satisfying for him. So he escalated into doing it himself, emulating the character, and his plan failed. That was an emotionally charged moment for him. Mark lost control. And in his fantasy or his fictional world, that never happens. Because in his fantasy world, everything happens as it's detailed and as he writes it. He doesn't leave room for mistakes or consequences there. And so why would he in real life? Unfortunately, though, this just reinforced his urge to kill, because even though he failed, he still proved to himself he's capable of carrying it out. Now all he has to do is refine his approach, which is something we see happen often with serial offenders. Again, I know Mark is not technically a serial killer, but nevertheless, I think he was well on his way to become one.

[A]

Well, by the end of the day, Mark was ready to try again. But he needed new supplies to replace his stun gun. So he stopped by the local hardware store and bought two large pipes heavy enough to be able to knock someone out with a few strong blows.

[B]

And this is his attempt at refining his approach.

[A]

Definitely. And he also needed a new fake dating profile. So that night, tucked away in his basement, Mark went back to plentyoffish.com ready to start over with a different account. Like before, he stole photos from a random woman he found online, using them to create a profile. This time, he chose to be a brunette woman named Jen. In her phony bio, Mark wrote that Jen was looking for an intimate encounter with a man as soon as possible. By the next day, Mark had found a new victim. John Brian Altinger was 38 years old and very interested in Jen. They talked for a little while, sharing their interests, Speaking through the fake profile, Mark made sure to be very impressed that John was such a car guy and that he had a sporty Mazda. Their messages grew flirtier, and soon the pair started talking about meeting up that evening. Writing as Jen, Mark gave John the same directions he'd given Gilles, directing him to the detached garage on the edge of town. He explained to John John that since it was their first meeting, it would be safer to go to a neutral location rather than a personal address. Sitting at his computer, Mark hoped that this lie would be enough to convince John. And sure enough, he was right. John said yes, agreeing to meet at the garage at 7pm that night, October 10th. Sitting in front of his laptop, Mark could feel a familiar thrill creep through his entire body. That last failed attempt was nothing more than a dress rehearsal, a rough draft, but tonight would be his masterpiece. Thanks so much for listening. Join us next time as we conclude our deep dive into Mark Twitchell Killer.

[B]

Minds Is a Crime House Original Powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on Instagram Illerminds and don't forget to rate, review and follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference difference.

[A]

And to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Killer Minds ad free along with early access to each thrilling two part series and exciting Crime House bonus content. Killer Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Killer Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benidon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pertowski, Sarah Camp, Kate Murdoch, Georgia Hampton, Sarah Tardif and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening and Doug Limu and I always tell you to customize your car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. But now we want you feel it. Cue the emu music. Limu Save yourself money today. Increase your wealth. Customize and save. We say that may have been too much feeling.

[B]

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[A]

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