Killer Minds: MURDEROUS MINDS – The Dexter Killer Pt. 2

Podcast: Killer Minds: Inside the Minds of Serial Killers & Murderers
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Dr. Tristan Engels
Date: September 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This concluding episode of a two-part series dives deep into the chilling case of Mark Twitchell, the so-called "Dexter Killer." Hosts Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels reconstruct Twitchell’s descent from aspiring filmmaker to murderer obsessed with living out a serial killer’s fantasy. The episode expertly blends storytelling with psychological analysis, unpacking Twitchell’s motives, the escalation of his crimes, and the cognitive traits that set him apart from other killers. It also examines the aftermath of his crimes, the investigation that led to his arrest, and the psychological themes linking Twitchell to infamous murderers in history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Twitchell’s Descent Into Murder

• Obsession with Fantasy:

  • Mark Twitchell, initially a filmmaker, grew increasingly dissatisfied with fiction, ultimately striving to commit a real-life murder mirroring the plots of his own films and the TV series "Dexter."
  • His rented garage in Edmonton, first used as a movie set, became the scene for his crimes ([04:22]).

• Escalation of Behavior:

  • Dr. Engels: “His fantasy world offered that safe space...the boundaries between fantasy and reality began to blur...The repeated desensitization in his fantasy world, combined with his blurred lines between real and fiction…pushed him to move beyond creating a film to actually living out his violent fantasies.” ([04:59])

• Failed First Attempt:

  • Twitchell’s initial attack on Gilles Tetro using a stun gun failed, but Gilles did not go to the police ([06:29]).

• Murder of John Altinger:

  • Twitchell lured Altinger to his garage with a dating site ruse, ultimately killing and dismembering him ([06:29]–[09:22]).

Psychological Analysis of Twitchell’s Motives

• Dismemberment and Ritualization:

  • Dr. Engels: “Dismembering his first kill is very atypical...It's about control and ritualization...characteristic of someone who is completely detached, lacks empathy or remorse, is completely desensitized to violence.” ([09:22])

• Compulsive Documentation:

  • Twitchell journaled his crime in a digital diary entitled “SK Confessions,” which would later become critical evidence ([10:55]).
  • MEMORABLE QUOTE:
    • "'The cool thing about a seven month old is that you can openly tell them anything and they can’t rat you out.'" — Mark Twitchell, via Vanessa Richardson ([12:51])
  • Dr. Engels: “He’s not confessing out of remorse. It’s more about the need to boast...assert power and dominance...He wants to be remembered, immortalized for what he’s done." ([12:51])

• Relationship to Fiction and Lying:

  • Dr. Engels: “For Mark, both storytelling and lying serve the same purpose. They allow him to manipulate reality… He's not just crafting narratives for entertainment. He’s using them as a tool for control, power, and self-preservation.” ([23:25])

The Cover-Up and Investigation

• Impersonating the Victim:

  • After the murder, Twitchell impersonated Altinger via email and social media, attempting to convince friends he had gone to Costa Rica ([15:32]–[18:18]).
  • Dr. Engels: “His comfort with creating these alternate realities shows how reliant he is on manipulation and illusion. It’s a way for Mark to remain in control of both the victim's fate and the narrative surrounding it.” ([19:09])

• Friends Raise the Alarm:

  • John’s friend, Dale Smith, became suspicious and eventually convinced police to investigate after finding John’s passport, suitcase, and computer missing, but no other signs of a planned trip ([18:18]–[20:48]).

• Police Breakthrough:

  • Slip-ups: Twitchell left a hardware store receipt matching his credit card, triggering police suspicion ([23:58]).
  • Tried to smooth-talk and charm police during initial questioning, leaning heavily on his filmmaker persona ([26:43]).
  • Dr. Engels: “This is characteristic of superficial charm and glibness, as well as narcissism...He might feel this will not only help him avoid suspicion, but help him feel more superior in the interrogation room.” ([26:43])

• The Fake Investor Sting:

  • Police lured Twitchell out of his parents' house under the ruse of a business meeting, arresting him on Halloween ([33:04]).
  • Dr. Engels: “After years of pretending to be someone else online...that very same method was used to bring him to justice.” ([34:17])

The Trial and Aftermath

• Twitchell’s Defense and the Role of SK Confessions:

  • At trial, Twitchell claimed it was all an elaborate prank for a film project, but the evidence—including his confessions—contradicted this ([42:01]–[44:49]).
  • Dr. Engels: “If that’s the case, then why dismember him and not report it and then refuse to tell officers where the remains were for years?” ([44:49])

• Conviction:

  • Twitchell was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, parole possible in 25 years ([44:59]).

• Post-Arrest Obsessions:

  • From prison, Twitchell continues to pursue creative projects, hoping to release old footage.
  • Dr. Engels: “People like Mark often crave recognition and admiration... For Mark, ...movies might be one of the few ways he can still control how people will remember him.” ([46:09])

Broader Psychological Context

• Narcissism and Parallels to Other Killers:

  • Twitchell’s narcissistic and psychopathic traits echo figures like Ted Bundy, using infamy and public intrigue to feed their egos ([47:13]).
  • Dr. Engels: “Their desire to be remembered, even if it’s for the wrong reasons, speaks to a deep rooted need for immortality and control.” ([47:18])

• Fantasy vs. Reality:

  • “Mark always had trouble separating fiction from reality, and even now those lines remain blurred for him.” — Vanessa Richardson ([48:08])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It sadly was a matter of time for Mark to escalate to the point of actualization. It's a very typical pattern that occurs with fantasy driven killers.”

  • Dr. Tristan Engels ([04:59])

• “Dismembering his first kill is very atypical…This murder wasn't just about violence. It was about control and ritualization. Typically, this is characteristic of someone who is completely detached, lacks empathy or remorse...calloused.”

  • Dr. Tristan Engels ([09:22])

• “He’s not confessing because he’s struggling with a guilty conscience. It’s...the need to boast. This is like another way for him to assert power and dominance.”

  • Dr. Tristan Engels ([12:51])

• On confessing to his infant daughter:

  • “By choosing to confess to his daughter, Mark may see it as a way of finally letting his family know his true self, albeit in the safest way possible.”
    • Dr. Tristan Engels ([14:29])

• “His comfort with creating these alternate realities shows how reliant he is on manipulation and illusion...It's a way for Mark to remain in control...”

  • Dr. Tristan Engels ([19:09])

• “For Mark, both storytelling and lying serve the same purpose…They allow him to manipulate reality in a way that benefits him.”

  • Dr. Tristan Engels ([23:25])

• On being caught through police deception:

  • “After years of pretending to be someone else online...that very same method was used to bring him to justice.”
    • Dr. Tristan Engels ([34:17])

• Twitchell’s egotism:

  • “It wasn't because he was naive, but because he was living in a fantasy world where he was inherently superior. His sense of self-importance allowed him to completely avoid confronting anything that could shatter that fantasy.”
    • Dr. Tristan Engels ([34:57])

• On similarities to Bundy & other infamous killers:

  • “Their desire to be remembered, even if it’s for the wrong reasons, speaks to a deep rooted need for immortality and control.”
    • Dr. Tristan Engels ([47:18])

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• The Crime Scene and First Murder: [04:22] – [09:22]
• Dismemberment and the Psychology of Ritual: [09:22] – [10:55]
• SK Confessions and Boasting: [10:55] – [14:29]
• Impersonating the Victim/Online Deception: [15:32] – [19:50]
• Police Investigation and Arrest: [23:58] – [34:17]
• Trial, Aftermath, and Legacy: [36:21] – [48:08]
• Psychological Context & Comparison to Bundy: [47:13] – [48:08]

Conclusion

The episode closes with reflections on Twitchell’s inability to distinguish fiction from reality, his continuing search for validation, and the consequences of his actions. Through psychological insight and a gripping narrative, "Killer Minds" paints a portrait of a man driven by ego, fantasy, and a chilling lack of empathy—a would-be serial killer who wanted to be both the director and star of his own deadly movie, but ended up in prison instead of Hollywood.