MURDEROUS MINDS: The Dexter Killer Pt. 2

Mark Twitchell called it a screenplay, but the police called it a confession. In Part 2, the investigation into “The Dexter Killer” heats up, as detectives uncover staged emails, a faked identity, and a journal detailing every move. What began as a slasher movie pitch became one of Canada’s most disturbing modern crimes. Killer Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Killer Minds! Instagram: @Crimehouse https://www.instagram.com/crimehouse/ TikTok: @Crimehouse https://www.tiktok.com/@crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios https://www.facebook.com/crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia https://x.com/crimehousemedia

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:01Vanessa Richardson?

  Hi, everyone. Before today's episode, there's another show I want to tell you about. It's called What the Fact with Connor Tomlinson from Netflix's Love on the Spectrum and Carter Roy. Every week, they take three unbelievable true facts from history and tell you the full story behind them. Plus, Connor's infectious energy that'll make you realize history is the most fascinating thing on earth. Follow What the Fact wherever you listen, or subscribe on YouTube at What the Fact Pod.

• 0:36Speaker 01

  This is Crime House.

• 0:41Vanessa Richardson?

  Entertainment can be transportive, whether it's a play, a book, or something else. Artistic expression has the ability to make us laugh, cry, gasp, or scream. But the thing is, most of these stories are just that: stories. That's something Mark Twichell could not understand. Mark was so inspired by a violent TV series about a killer that he felt compelled to enact its plot in real life. He wanted to imitate a character he thought was a hero. But instead, Mark became a monster.

• 1:31Vanessa Richardson?

  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 Minds, a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.

• 1:45Tristin Engels?

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

• 1:53Vanessa Richardson?

  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.

• 2:09Vanessa Richardson?

  A warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence and the dissection of human bodies. Listener discretion is advised. Today, we conclude 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 felt he had to commit murder himself.

• 2:47Tristin Engels?

  As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like why some killers feel the need to document their crimes, a difference between an active imagination and a pathological liar, and what prompts killers to finally confess.

• 3:03Vanessa Richardson?

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• 3:47Vanessa Richardson?

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• 5:03Vanessa Richardson?

  On October 10th, 2008, 29-year-old Mark Twitchell sat alone in the garage he'd rented on the outskirts of Edmonton, Canada. Originally, he'd used this space to film his short slasher movie, House of Cards. But once the movie wrapped, his intention for the space had changed. As Mark watched the cast of his movie act out a murder multiple times, he was bothered by how fake it all was. And that led him to realize he wanted to experience the real thing. Essentially, he wanted to actually commit the murder from his own movie.

• 5:40Tristin Engels?

  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. His fantasy world offered that safe space where he can express anger, frustration, and feel in control, except this became his only method of coping with his emotions. And over time, he began to experience emotional satisfaction or release from these fantasies. And the boundaries between fantasy and reality began to blur. The more he immersed himself in these violent fantasies, the emotional high or sense of dominance and control grew stronger. And every time he got a thrill from that, he was reinforced to continue the behavior. When desensitization or habituation begins to occur,

• 6:24Tristin Engels?

  especially when they are chasing control and gratification, escalation inevitably follows. And we saw that gradually happening with Mark, but in ways that seemed more discreet or innocuous than most. First with his skits as a child, next with the online psychological manipulation of others, and then recreating his fantasies in film. And then, of course, now he's actualizing his fantasy personally because covertly or indirectly engaging in the fantasy was no longer enough. The repeated desensitization in his fantasy world, combined with his blurred lines between real and fiction, as well as his need for domination and release, pushed him to move beyond creating a film to actually living out his violent fantasies in the real world.

• 7:10Vanessa Richardson?

  Mark's first attempt had been a failure. After convincing 33-year-old Gilles Tatro to meet him at the garage two days prior, Mark attacked him with a stun gun, but Gilles had fought back and eventually escaped. Gilles hadn't gone to the police yet, which left Mark free to try again, which is why he was at the garage that night. And this time, Mark had made some changes. He ditched the stun gun for something simpler, a large metal pipe. He also had a new unsuspecting victim. Mark had met 38-year-old John Bryan Altinger, the same way he'd met Gilles, on the dating site PlentyOfFish.com. Mark pretended to be a woman named Jen

• 7:53Vanessa Richardson?

  and invited John to the garage that evening, October 10. Mark had spent the hours leading up to this moment getting everything ready for his kill. He put up pieces of plastic sheeting, then set the metal pipes he'd bought against a table so it was ready to grab at a moment's notice. He'd even wrapped the entire thing with hockey tape to give it a better grip. Even though Mark thought he'd prepped for everything, he was totally thrown when he saw a pair of headlights shine through the windows of the garage. It was John, and he was 30 minutes early. Mark's stomach flipped, and his flustered confusion could be why he suddenly decided to change tactics. When John walked through the open side door of the garage,

• 8:38Vanessa Richardson?

  Mark didn't attack. Instead, he said hello and that he was a friend of Jen's. When John looked around the garage at the nefarious plastic sheeting, Mark tried to explain he was dressing up the room for a film set. Then he told John that Jen was out, but she'd be back in about a half hour. Dejected, John decided to leave. Once he was gone, Mark opened his laptop and pulled up PlentyOfFish.com. He waited until it was closer to 7:00 PM, the agreed-upon meeting time. Then he wrote to John as Jen, saying, "Sorry for the mix-up, but she was now home, and John could come back if he wanted." John was confused by the whole situation.

• 9:20Vanessa Richardson?

  On his drive home, he even called a good friend of his, a man named Dale Smith, telling him about the garage and the strange encounter he just had. But after John got home and read Jen's message, he decided to give the date another chance. Before leaving, he sent another note to his friend Dale, telling him he was going for it. Then John got back in his car and drove to the garage. This time, when he walked in, Mark was ready to attack. We don't know exactly what happened after this, but we do know that Mark managed to kill John, then proceeded to dismember the remains and store them in several large bags.

• 10:03Tristin Engels?

  So obviously, this is a very significant escalation. Dismembering his first kill is very atypical. We don't generally see this with first-time killings. Of course, there are exceptions, like Daniel Wozniak, whom we also covered. But usually, this is something you see with more experienced or seasoned serial killers. And this is significant in understanding Mark's mental state and overall emotional health. First, it's worth noting that Mark was likely influenced by Dexter's ritualistic behavior, and he was following a script that he himself wrote. But even if the script called for dismemberment, Mark was still capable of carrying that out without any obvious hesitation,

• 10:46Tristin Engels?

  which brings me into his mental state. Dismembering is done for a few common reasons. It's done to conceal the identity of the individual, destroying evidence, making disposal easier, and psychologically, it's a form of control and domination. 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, is completely desensitized to violence, calloused, and just overall has traits of psychopathy or tendencies. Mark has moved into a state of psychological disintegration where he sees violence not as something morally wrong, but as an acceptable, even perhaps necessary,

• 11:31Tristin Engels?

  means of fulfilling his emotional and psychological needs.

• 11:36Vanessa Richardson?

  Well then Mark burned John's clothes, glasses, and some of his remains in a large oil drum. But the fire generated a surprising amount of smoke, and Mark got worried it would attract attention, so he took the additional garbage bags containing John's remains and put them in a storm drain. Getting rid of the car was the next step, but Mark decided to do that later. First, he wanted to go home and wash the blood off his hands and clothes. It was well after 10pm when Mark got to his house that night. His wife Jess was asleep, having put their infant daughter to bed hours prior. At this point in the couple's marriage, the pair were not on good terms, so Jess slept in a different room,

• 12:19Vanessa Richardson?

  which meant that Mark could sneak in without disturbing her. He crept through the home, covered in blood, tiptoeing around the baby toys strewn across the floor as he headed towards the shower. After he washed up, he tossed his shirt, hoodie, pants, and even his shoes into the washing machine. Then he went to sleep.

• 12:41Vanessa Richardson?

  Mark's brutal crime didn't seem to affect his ability to live his life as normal. The weekend following the murder, he and Jess went out for dinner, attended a comedy show, and celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with Mark's parents. No one who knew him had any idea that he'd just killed someone. That didn't mean Mark was keeping his crime to himself, though. In his digital journal, titled "SK Confessions", Mark documented the details of this first murder, including cutting up the body, dumping it in a storm drain, and burning up whatever evidence was left. He even alluded to confessing his crimes to his infant daughter, writing that, "The cool thing about a seven-month-old

• 13:26Vanessa Richardson?

  is that you can openly tell them anything, and they can't rat you out."

• 13:32Tristin Engels?

  So Mark's behavior here really isn't surprising when we consider his pattern of behavior. He's continued to express violent fantasies in ways that come with no real consequence. And what stands out about this is how compulsive his need is to express these desires. His need to release emotions and gain validation is his way of justifying his actions while denying himself the consequences of what he's doing. However, I don't believe Mark is confessing because he's struggling with a guilty conscience. It's not about remorse. It's more about, what appears to me, the need to boast. This is like another way for him to assert power and dominance. He's reinforcing his identity as someone

• 14:17Tristin Engels?

  capable of such heinous acts, and he's telling himself and others not only that he can do it, but that he's someone who holds control over life and death. And for Mark, this isn't just a personal transformation, it's a claim to recognition, notoriety, and infamy. That's why he wrote his manifesto about his progression into becoming a serial killer. It wasn't just a confession, it was a way for him to document and own his violent journey, framing them in the way that he wants, and seeking attention and validation. For Mark, it's about wanting to be known, remembered, and immortalized for what he's done. And that's another reason that I believe that he was so attracted to this film industry, because

• 14:59Tristin Engels?

  once your work is out there, it's out there forever, even after he is long gone.

• 15:04Vanessa Richardson?

  So many parts of this are chilling, but what does it say about him that he's confessing to his child?

• 15:10Tristin Engels?

  Yeah, Mark knows, I mean, he said it himself. He knows that confessing to his daughter is safe, but more importantly, it really truly highlights his fear of confrontation. He's aware, as he's even written himself, that if friends and family knew the real him, those relationships would be irreparably damaged. This is why you wouldn't find him boasting to his wife, or anyone who could truly hold him accountable, or threaten the fantasy he lives in. So 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, but in his mind, this is kind of like a breakthrough, maybe. He's shared his truth, and even though it's with someone who can't understand,

• 15:54Tristin Engels?

  let alone react or even tell on him, he perceives it maybe in his way as validation. And it reinforces his internal narrative that his true self and his actions are acceptable. It's allowing him to maintain a sense of control and self justification without the risk of rejection, or judgment, or consequence.

• 16:14Vanessa Richardson?

  Mark might have been carrying on as usual, but across town, John Altinger's friend, Dale, knew something was wrong. The last time the two had spoken was the evening of John's internet date, and Dale hadn't heard anything from him since. Dale had tried calling him multiple times over the weekend with no luck. Then when John failed to show up to plans the two men had made for that Sunday, Dale got scared. He started calling around to John's other friends and realized no one else had heard from him either. And when Dale told them about the strange date John had described on October 10th, these friends also got worried. On Monday, October 13th, Dale and a few other people decided to stop by John's house to check on him.

• 16:57Vanessa Richardson?

  They knocked on the door, but when there was no answer, they checked the garage. It was empty. As far as anyone knew, John should have been at home. The post-holiday work week was about to begin, and John hadn't made any plans to be out of town. As they left the house, Dale and his friends were more worried than ever. But then, on Tuesday, John showed up online. At some point that morning, he sent out a canned email to his friends detailing his love affair and how he was running off with Jen to Costa Rica, the woman he'd met that past Friday. He said he'd be back in a couple months, on December 10th. Dale was one of the people who received this email, and it made him feel much worse,

• 17:42Vanessa Richardson?

  because the wording didn't sound like John at all. Which meant, someone was pretending to be his friend, and that John could be in danger.

• 18:01Speaker 04

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• 18:30Speaker 05

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• 19:00Speaker 06

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• 19:31Vanessa Richardson?

  By October 15, 2008, Dale Smith was convinced that something terrible had happened to his friend, John Altinger. He went to the police, but when they saw the email that John had sent out to his friends, they brushed Dale off. To the cops, the idea of a young man running off with a new girlfriend wasn't worth investigating. So Dale had to return home and watch helplessly as things got worse. Throughout the following week, John continued to post online. He changed his Facebook status to "in a relationship" and wrote updates about how much fun he was having in Costa Rica with Jen. But his posts were all one-sided. If anyone tried to respond to him or ask questions about his trip,

• 20:16Vanessa Richardson?

  he usually didn't reply.

• 20:18Tristin Engels?

  Mark's ease with adopting false identities and manipulating others is something we've seen in his earlier behaviors, like creating fake profiles on dating sites to taunt unsuspecting men and then to lure Gilles and John. This isn't new for him. It's part of a pattern of behavior where Mark uses deception as a tool to achieve his goals. 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. And just like he did online, he's using an altered version of reality to conceal the truth and control how others perceive the situation.

• 21:00Vanessa Richardson?

  Do you think Mark is doing this just to conceal his murder? Or is he getting something out of pretending to be John? Do you think he enjoys this kind of identity theft that he seems to keep doing?

• 21:09Tristin Engels?

  So that's a good question because it serves many purposes, actually. Firstly, it helps him to conceal the murder, right? Or at least delay any kind of investigation or suspicion. But it also gives him psychological gratification. And in a way, it's like a version of reliving the event, which is something also very typical of fantasy-driven killers. Also, people with psychopathic traits or antisocial behavior often get pleasure from outsmarting others or tricking them. It's like a game to them, where they feel like they are better or smarter than those around them. This kind of deception likely feels really rewarding for him, like a rush of power or validation, reinforcing his belief that he's in control of everything around him. And certainly, it's worth considering

• 21:52Tristin Engels?

  if there might be some sadistic qualities to this as well.

• 21:57Vanessa Richardson?

  Frustrated by the lack of support from the police, Dale and some of John's friends went back to John's house to look around. After searching the place, several things stood out to the group. If John had really left on a whirlwind vacation, he'd packed light. He hadn't even taken his suitcase with him, or his passport. But one thing was missing: John's computer. To Dale, this was clear proof that someone else was pretending to be his friend. And when he brought this information to the police, they finally agreed to open an investigation. Meanwhile, Mark Twitchell was also keeping busy. It isn't clear when he stole John Altinger's laptop, but he'd been posting as his victim for days.

• 22:42Vanessa Richardson?

  He'd also returned to the garage to clean it, scrubbing away whatever traces of blood he could find. The last thing he had to do was get rid of John's car, a red Mazda that was still parked next to the garage. To do this, he called up his friend Joss, explaining he'd met a stranger at a gas station who was trying to sell off a ton of stuff at low prices. Mark said he'd bought the stranger's car for only $40 and was now willing to part with it for the same price. Joss was shocked by how cheap the offer was, and when he drove over to the rented garage to check it out, he was even more amazed. The car was only three years old and had been well taken care of. When he pressed Mark about why he'd want to part with such an amazing steal,

• 23:27Vanessa Richardson?

  Mark explained it was a stick shift, and he couldn't drive it.

• 23:31Tristin Engels?

  So we already know that Mark is pretty good at deception. That's pretty clear. He's been deceiving the people in his immediate circle for years, and then now this. But there is more to it than that. There's also a creative side to his deception. In Mark's case, this isn't just about telling a simple lie. It's about constructing another fictional reality that serves his goal and allows him to avoid suspicion. His ability to improvise and adapt his lies to fit the conversation really speaks to a quality that is often seen in skilled manipulators. But to add to that skill is someone who works in the film industry, at least adjacent. Not only has he himself acted out scenarios since he was a child, he's observed actors, professionals at work.

• 24:15Tristin Engels?

  And this would give him a unique understanding and skill regarding performance. It certainly helped him to master the art of deception. And when you consider his personality structure, it kind of like really makes him much more dangerous.

• 24:28Vanessa Richardson?

  Does Mark genuinely not understand the difference between storytelling fiction and outright lies?

• 24:35Tristin Engels?

  Based on his pattern so far, I think he does understand the difference, or he wouldn't be living in this duality and hiding this side of himself from others. But the boundary between them is very blurred, which happened over time. For Mark, both storytelling and lying serve the same purpose. They allow him to manipulate reality in a way that benefits him. He's not just crafting narratives for entertainment. He's using them as a tool for control, power, and self-preservation, making the distinction between truth and fiction just less important to him in the process.

• 25:08Vanessa Richardson?

  Even though Mark's friend could tell the deal was too good to be true, he decided to take it. Moments later, Mark watched Joss drive off in the Mazda, relieved he had one less thing to worry about. As far as he was concerned, everything was going according to plan. So he was shocked when he got a call from the police. On October 18th, eight days after killing John, Mark found himself on the phone with Constable Chris Maxwell. The officer wanted to confirm that Mark was the person who was renting a garage on the edge of town. His name was on the leasing paperwork. When Mark said yes, Maxwell asked if he and another officer could take a look around the structure later that day. Not wanting to seem suspicious, Mark agreed.

• 25:54Vanessa Richardson?

  He met the officers at the garage and tried to play it cool as Maxwell and his colleague walked around the room. Mark told them he hadn't been at the property since October 10th, the day of the murder. It's not clear why he'd admit to that, but it didn't really seem to matter. The officers weren't listening. That's possibly because Maxwell had noticed something Mark had completely overlooked in the midst of all his cleaning: a thin piece of paper lying on a table. It was a receipt dated October 15th from a local hardware store. The items on it instantly stood out: rubber gloves, plastic sheets, paper towels, and heavy-duty cleaner.

• 26:36Vanessa Richardson?

  Noting the last four digits of the MasterCard used to buy all these items, Maxwell called Mark over and asked for his credit card. Mark could see what the officer was holding, and at first tried to show Maxwell a few other cards, but Maxwell wasn't deterred and specifically asked to see Mark's MasterCard. With growing dread, Mark complied, pulling out the credit card that matched the one on the receipt. It was enough to land Mark in the interrogation room of the local police precinct. But once the questioning started, Mark was suddenly back to his old self. Any anxiety or stress he'd felt in the garage was gone. Suddenly, he had an answer for everything.

• 27:20Vanessa Richardson?

  Chatting with the detective as if they were old friends, he quickly brushed aside questions about John Altinger, saying that he had never heard that name before, and had also never heard of a woman named Jen. Then Mark started telling them about his work as a filmmaker. He talked at length about the slasher film he'd just finished shooting in the garage, his long search for investors, and his plans for future movies with A-list celebrities. He even told the detective the right mixture of corn syrup and food coloring to make fake blood.

• 27:53Tristin Engels?

  So I've never met nor evaluated Mark. So this is educational only and it's not any kind of formal clinical diagnosis or opinion. But this is behavior that is characteristic of something known as superficial charm and glibness, as well as traits of narcissism. Mark could be consciously or unconsciously trying to distract the investigators, reduce their suspicion, or make them view him as a creative, an interesting individual, someone who isn't a suspect. By discussing high-profile topics like his plans for celebrity collaborations, he could be trying to position himself as someone who's also high-profile and therefore trustworthy. He might feel this will not only help him avoid suspicion, but to help him feel more

• 28:37Tristin Engels?

  superior in the interrogation room, which shifts the power dynamic away from the officers and back onto him. We know that Mark loves control, after all, and it wouldn't be surprising if he tried to regain that during a missing persons investigation. At the same time, Mark talking about his recent movie and filming could also be his way of, once again, blending truth with storytelling to justify and explain the contents of that receipt and potentially address any third-party information that might already be in the hands of the investigators. Because if we remember, John, his victim, had already seen the contents of the garage and left before he returned again. He even told his friend Dale about the encounter. So it's possible that Mark realized this possibility and, in an attempt to control

• 29:22Tristin Engels?

  the narrative, was preemptively explaining what the garage looks like and why. By linking the garage to his filmmaking activities, he might have been trying to offer a plausible explanation for any suspicious details the investigators might have uncovered. But essentially, he's in self-preservation mode and he's relying on his charm, deception, and manipulation to get through it.

• 29:45Vanessa Richardson?

  Unfortunately for Mark, the detectives weren't distracted by the young man's chatter. They had not forgotten the fact that he was renting the same garage that John Altinger had apparently been going to on the night of his disappearance. And they certainly couldn't ignore the ominous receipt from the hardware store showing a list of strange items that Mark had purchased. Mark was allowed to leave, but within the next 24 hours, his entire life was put under a magnifying glass. The police confiscated his car, the garage, and even began to search through his house. Shocked by the sudden police activity, Mark's wife Jess demanded that he explain what was going on.

• 30:27Vanessa Richardson?

  Mark wasn't about to tell her what had happened to John Altinger, so possibly as a distraction, Mark decided to own up to the other lies he'd been telling his wife. He explained that he hadn't been employed for a long time, and that his film career had fizzled out. As a result, he had no money to support her or their child. In a mix of shock and disgust, Jess left Mark, taking their daughter with her. As for Mark, he didn't want to live in a home that was crawling with cops, so he retreated to his parents' house. Over the next few days, Mark was in a state of constant panic. His marriage had disintegrated, and the ongoing investigation had uprooted his life.

• 31:10Vanessa Richardson?

  And since he seemed unable to talk himself out of trouble, he did his best to do some damage control. He hastily sent out emails to the cast and crew of his films, urging them not to talk to the police. It doesn't seem like he got any significant responses, until one night toward the end of October. That's when a businessman emailed him, saying he'd heard about Mark's Star Wars fan movie and was interested in investing money in future projects. Amazed by his luck, Mark and the businessman exchanged a few emails before agreeing to meet in person on Halloween. All of a sudden, any thoughts about the investigation and his ruined marriage left Mark's mind.

• 31:53Vanessa Richardson?

  He spent the week leading up to that meeting awash with ideas, sending email after email to his potential investor and making a string of promises about their future success. The businessman responded with enthusiasm, saying he was thrilled to discuss everything when they met up. On Halloween, Mark got dressed early. The last few weeks had been overwhelming, to say the least, but he was sure that this was the break he'd been waiting for. He stepped out of his parents' house, feeling like his life was about to change. He had no idea how right he was.

• 32:34Vanessa Richardson?

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  Ryan's style is really gunning it in gold.

• 34:58Speaker 07

  And in less than a minute, it slipped away. But he continued to chase the high.

• 35:03Speaker 09

  Ryan James Wedding. He controls one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in this world.

• 35:13Speaker 07

  I'm Michelle Shepherd, and from CBC Podcasts and The Toronto Star, The Most Wanted Olympian. Available now. On October 31, 2008, 29-year-old Mark Twitchell was at the center of an investigation into the disappearance of John Altinger. But he didn't care about that at the moment because Mark was on his way to meet with a potential investor about bringing his future projects to life.

• 35:41Vanessa Richardson?

  As he left his parents' house and walked down the street, he noticed a van speeding in his direction. He didn't think much of it until it screeched to a halt right in front of him. In a flash, the door opened and a horde of armed police officers rushed out. Before he understood what was happening, Mark was surrounded. He was forced to the ground and handcuffed. In the midst of the chaos, a detective stooped down to tell Mark that he was being arrested for first-degree murder. The business meeting had been a complete setup. There was no investor. It had all been a ploy to get Mark to leave his parents' house without suspecting foul play. That way, the police would have a better chance of gathering evidence

• 36:25Vanessa Richardson?

  that hadn't been tampered with. And it worked.

• 36:30Tristin Engels?

  Well, isn't that poetic justice? After years of pretending to be someone else online to deceive others, even luring them to their death, that very same method was used to bring him to justice, and he's now on the receiving end. And for someone like Mark, who had been in control for so long, being outmaneuvered with his own methods likely caused a mixture of shock, humiliation, frustration, or rage.

• 36:56Vanessa Richardson?

  Why was Mark so willing to believe this fantasy business deal? Was he just so naive to think his problems were just completely behind him? And again, I have to point out how narcissistic this feels. Is it fair to characterize Mark as a narcissist?

• 37:10Tristin Engels?

  Yes, it certainly is. Arrogance and narcissism seem to have been recurring traits in Mark's behavior for a long time. Looking back at his decisions, especially as a father and husband, everything he did was self-serving. He aspired to grandiose dreams of fame, walking the red carpet, becoming successful and collaborating with A-list celebrities. When the opportunity arose, he didn't hesitate to boast about his creative abilities and inflated his self-worth to attract investors for his projects and even to disarm law enforcement. Mark consistently put his own needs and desires first, showing little to no ability to consider other perspectives or even consequences. Only Mark

• 37:51Tristin Engels?

  And this is why he was so willing, I think, to believe in this fantasy business deal. 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. And over time, Mark has misled himself, avoiding reality and reinforcing his own delusions. This is a classic example of self-deception, where he has convinced himself that everything in his life would work out because in his mind and his fantasy, he was entitled to success and he was immune from consequences of his actions.

• 38:34Vanessa Richardson?

  Instead of heading to this life-changing meeting, Mark spent the rest of the day sitting across from a detective, being interrogated. The outfit he'd put on that morning had been seized, so he was in a random set of clothes that the police had provided him. Investigators had put together a PowerPoint presentation of all the evidence that had been gathered against Mark. This included information they'd just learned that morning when retrieving his laptop from his parents' house. It hadn't taken them long to find SK Confessions, which was basically a detailed timeline of what Mark had done to John. Mark had changed all the names in the document and claimed it was a screenplay, but many of the things he wrote about overlapped with the details in John's case, including the

• 39:19Vanessa Richardson?

  decision to target men on dating websites. And since Mark had also waxed poetic about actually carrying out a murder, police were fairly sure that John Altinger wasn't just missing, he was dead. In addition to SK Confessions, the authorities had also found John's laptop in Mark's parents' house, essentially proving that Mark had been the one posting from John's account for the last few weeks. Finally, they found traces of blood in Mark's car and on his shoes. Both of them were matched to John.

• 39:54Vanessa Richardson?

  Even with all the evidence against him, Mark refused to confess. Actually, he wouldn't speak at all. During the whole first day of interrogations, Mark barely responded to any of the interviewing detective's comments or questions. The following day brought more of the same. Authorities tried to barter with Mark and offer him a lesser charge if he agreed to show the police where he had put the body. But Mark wouldn't cooperate. So the police decided to take another approach. In S.K.'s confessions, Mark alluded to the fact that he had tried and failed to kill another victim. There hadn't been a police report filed about the incident,

• 40:35Vanessa Richardson?

  so the authorities decided to hold a press conference to tell the public about the case. They hoped that in doing so, Mark's first victim would see it and come forward. The press conference generated a media frenzy. As more publications reported on the story, that attention soon spread through online channels, too. Mark had an avid internet presence, and it wasn't hard for the media to find his posts talking voraciously about Dexter Morgan, the fictional serial killer Mark was trying to emulate. Soon, that became the headline, "The Case of the Dexter-Obsessed Killer." International reporters started pouring into Mark's hometown of Edmonton. A host of other media organizations sent reporters to the city,

• 41:20Vanessa Richardson?

  hoping to catch a scoop. Many others drove out to see the rented garage, with some even leaving mementos for John Altinger. Thanks to the swell of media around the case, the police finally got the attention of the person they were looking for. A man called the station, saying that he knew the name of the surviving victim, Gilles Tetro. The police immediately reached out to Gilles, hoping he'd share his experience. Lucky for them, Gilles was ready to talk.

• 41:51Tristin Engels?

  I'm sure a lot of people are probably wondering why Gilles didn't go to the police and file a police report after this happened. So let's talk about the many reasons why someone might not report a crime to police. One common reason is the shock and the trauma of the incident itself. Victims of violent crimes often experience emotional paralysis where the trauma of what happened just overwhelms them. It's also common for victims to minimize the event or under-report incidents out of a desire to avoid confrontation or prolonged trauma. He might have been trying to move on from the experience, maybe feeling too vulnerable to engage with law enforcement, or feeling shame for what happened to begin with.

• 42:34Tristin Engels?

  Gilles might have been blaming himself for being deceived, or for putting himself in a compromising position in his mind. But clearly, the only person to blame here is Mark. So now, why is Gilles willing to speak up? Hearing about other victims and the public exposure of Mark's actions may have helped him realize that he was not alone, and that what happened to him was in fact real, and more serious than he might have believed it to be, and that Mark was truly a danger to others. There could also be a desire for justice, or a sense of moral responsibility, now that he knows Mark has hurt someone else. Coming forward, in his mind, could help protect future potential victims.

• 43:15Tristin Engels?

  And lastly, the bravery it takes to speak out in a case like this can't be overstated. The publicity surrounding Mark's arrest and the press conference would have made this an incredibly challenging decision for Gilles. It takes immense courage to step forward and talk about such a personal traumatic event, especially when doing so could invite public attention or judgment. But it is also important just to remind everyone out there listening, and anyone who has been victimized in the past and did not report it, that just because a crime wasn't reported doesn't mean it didn't happen. Victims may choose not to come forward for a variety of reasons, which I already outlined, and there is no shame or blame for not reporting something.

• 43:57Tristin Engels?

  And everyone's journey in processing and dealing with a traumatic event is different. The decision to speak out, when or if it comes, is a personal one, and no one should feel judged for taking the time they need, or for the decision that they ultimately make.

• 44:14Vanessa Richardson?

  When Gilles told the police what happened, they were amazed by how closely his experience matched the description that Marc had written in SK Confessions. To them, this further confirmed that the document wasn't a work of fiction at all, but a play-by-play of Marc's murderous actions. After this, SK Confessions became the linchpin for the investigation. A growing team of detectives was tasked with determining how truthful it was, and with each new confirmation, the police added an item to the growing stack of evidence against Marc. There was still one thing the police couldn't find, though: John Altinger's remains. Marc had written in SK Confessions that he'd disposed of the body in a sewer,

• 44:59Vanessa Richardson?

  so police scoured the city, checking virtually every drain near Marc's home, but they couldn't find anything. Over the next year, the police searched for John's body while Marc sat in federal custody, waiting for his court date. During this time, the police visited him, brandishing maps and demanding that Marc point out the spot where he'd put John, but he refused to comply. That is, until June 3, 2010, a little under two years after he'd been arrested. That day, Marc's lawyer called the homicide department to tell them that his client was finally ready to give them what they wanted. It isn't clear why Marc finally decided to tell the authorities where John Altinger's remains were,

• 45:43Vanessa Richardson?

  but his information was accurate, and when the police rushed to the sewer that Marc had directed them to, they found a few floating garbage bags that contained what was left of John. It's possible that Marc finally gave away this information because at this point, he didn't seem to care that the police knew he'd killed John. Actually, that fact became the whole basis for his defense.

• 46:12Vanessa Richardson?

  When his trial began in the spring of 2011, Mark explained to the jury that luring John Altinger to the garage was part of a publicity stunt for a new horror film experience called Maple. This stood for Multi-Angle Psychosis Layering Entertainment. The idea was that he would scare unsuspecting strangers into thinking they were about to get murdered. Mark said he hoped that these people would then blog about what happened to them, fostering a larger online conversation and maybe even generating an urban legend about the experience. Mark claimed that when John entered the garage and realized he was part of a prank, he became furious and attacked Mark.

• 46:54Vanessa Richardson?

  The pair fought, and Mark said that he had no choice but to kill John in order to save his own life. It was self-defense.

• 47:03Tristin Engels?

  Well, 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?

• 47:12Vanessa Richardson?

  Well, yeah, the jury did not buy it. After a three-week-long trial, they found Mark guilty of first-degree murder, and a judge sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years. To John Altinger's friends and family, this verdict felt like a brutal chapter finally ending. John couldn't be brought back to life, but this was some semblance of justice. Mark is still in prison and won't be eligible for parole until 2036. But being behind bars hasn't stopped him from trying to make his filmmaking dreams a reality. Since his trial ended, Mark has been vocal about his creative endeavors.

• 47:54Vanessa Richardson?

  His goal is to revive his former production company, Express Entertainment. He wants to regain control over the footage he filmed for his previous projects and publish it for public viewing. That includes the fan-made Star Wars prequel, the promotional footage for his comedy Day Players, and House of Cards, the slasher movie that he shot shortly before John Altinger's murder. As of this recording, none of the footage has been released.

• 48:22Tristin Engels?

  All right, so Mark, who appears to have narcissistic and psychopathic traits, likely sees filmmaking as the way to immortalize himself. People like Mark often crave recognition and admiration, and for Mark specifically, whose crimes have defined his public image now, his movies might be one of the few ways he can control, still, how people will remember him. He's also had a pattern of fantasy escapism, which we've outlined, and that has been his coping mechanism and outlet since he was a child. So he's absolutely going to continue that while incarcerated, where there are far less outlets at his disposal. But more importantly, he probably sees his incarceration and his crime

• 49:05Tristin Engels?

  as an opportunity to garner more interest and attention, and he wouldn't be wrong. Many notorious killers and serial killers have generated income and admiration after their incarceration, with book deals, interviews, selling their artwork, movies that were adapted after them, or people who write them out of fascination.

• 49:26Vanessa Richardson?

  How does Mark relate to other killers who've loved the spotlight? Like Ted Bundy?

• 49:32Tristin Engels?

  And again, I know Mark isn't a serial killer because he was caught before he could continue, but he very much fits the profile of a budding serial killer, and his behavior since his incarceration is no different than other ones, like you mentioned Ted Bundy. Both killers, and certainly many others, have used their crimes and the public's fascination with them as a means to fuel their ego, to justify their behavior and maintain an image of superiority, whether it's through media attention, or a trial spectacle like Bundy, or creative output. Their desire to be remembered, even if it's for the wrong reasons, speaks to a deep-rooted need for immortality and control, and that's a fundamental trait seen in many serial killers,

• 50:15Tristin Engels?

  especially those with psychopathic tendencies and narcissistic traits.

• 50:21Vanessa Richardson?

  Well, Mark always had trouble separating fiction from reality. And even now, those lines remain blurred for him. In prison, Mark still imagines himself as a director, waiting for his big break. But he can't pitch his way out of his current circumstances. His despicable crime was real and had very tangible consequences. He may have gotten the infamy he wanted, but instead of living out his days in Hollywood, he'll have to make do in a prison cell.

• 51:03Vanessa Richardson?

  Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time for a deep dive into the mind of another murderer.

• 51:09Tristin Engels?

  Killer 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 social media at @CrimeHouse. And don't forget to rate, review, and follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference.

• 51:30Vanessa Richardson?

  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 bonus content.

• 51:46Vanessa Richardson?

  Killer Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and Dr. Tristin 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 Benedon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pritzowski, Kate Murdock, Sarah Camp, Georgia Hampton, Sarah Tardif, and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening.

• 52:17Speaker 10

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• 53:02Speaker 10

  It's hydrated, glowy, and supported, without feeling like I'm using harsh products to get results. If you're looking for skincare that helps your skin age beautifully while supporting long-term skin health, definitely check out Primally Pure's Plumping Collection.

• 53:18Vanessa Richardson?

  If you're looking for your next podcast, check out What the Fact with Connor Tomlinson from Netflix's Love on the Spectrum and Carter Roy. Every week, they take three unbelievable true facts from history and tell you the full story behind them. Follow What the Fact wherever you listen or subscribe on YouTube at What the Fact Pod.