Mark Twitchell is shown in courtroom sketch in 2011. He is serving a life sentence for the internet luring, murder and dismemberment of 38-year-old Johnny Altinger.Amanda McRoberts/The Canadian Press
Jailed amateur filmmaker Mark Twitchell, who murdered a man in a crime that closely resembled the plot of a horror script he’d written, admitted Thursday he killed the man for the thrill of it.
Mr. Twitchell, who has always insisted he killed Johnny Altinger in Edmonton in October, 2008, in an act of self defence, was appearing in front of a parole board panel, hoping to gain permission for two short, escorted visits to his parents.
“I truly began to wonder about the mysteries of what the experience of killing would be like,” said Mr. Twitchell, who has spent 18 years behind bars for crimes linked to the Dexter television series.
“I questioned what such a thing would feel like, how it might affect me, change me, inform me, the not knowing part of it planted a seed in my psyche that wanted answers.”
Mr. Twitchell, 46, appeared at the hearing through a video link at Bowden Institution where he was with his mother. He told parole board members he is ashamed and disgusted by his crimes.
“I don’t think I deserve to be forgiven for any of this stuff, but I’d really like a shot at redeeming myself for it,” he said.
“My attitude toward violence in general is just that it’s weakness. It’s a sign of weakness to give in to it, to go after it, and it’s an empty experience anyway.”
The two members of the parole board denied his request.
Mr. Twitchell is serving a life sentence for the internet luring, murder, and dismemberment of Mr. Altinger, 38, who drove to meet an online date. Mr. Altinger was beaten to death by Mr. Twitchell, who was wearing a hockey mask and lying in wait.
Mr. Altinger was Mr. Twitchell’s second intended victim. Another man, Gilles Tetreault, was lured on the same promise of a Friday night date with a woman he met online. However, when Mr. Tetreault was attacked by Mr. Twitchell, he fought back and escaped.
Mr. Twitchell’s high-profile murder trial heard the case closely mirrored a film he’d written. Both involved luring a man off an online dating site, killing and dismemberment, and using the victim’s personal information to convince everyone that he was still alive.
When Mr. Altinger went missing, friends received emails and social-media posts which were actually sent by Mr. Twitchell, impersonating Mr. Altinger in a bid to cover up his crimes.
Mr. Twitchell’s crimes were also linked with the Dexter television series, about a blood spatter expert who had a secret life as a psychopathic killer.
Court heard Mr. Twitchell assumed Dexter’s identity online, writing a so-called diary explaining his fascination with the character, and building a “kill room” like Dexter to dispose of his victims.
In rejecting Mr. Twitchell’s request for the visits, the two members of the parole board noted he already had the ability to have private visits with his family while in prison, which he had not taken up.
“We must also remain cognizant of the possible psychological impacts on the victims from you visiting the city,” explained board member Lisa Graham in denying his application.
The hearing was told Mr. Twitchell made significant efforts and changes through self-reflection, counselling and programming in recent years.
But the board also heard several psychological assessments found Mr. Twitchell exhibits elevated traits of psychopathy.
Correctional officers described him as a “highly narcissistic individual,” and they found journal entries early in his sentence where he described detailed fantasies of killing again.
Gary Altinger, the victim’s brother, said he was relieved the parole board denied the application.
“There should be no reason at all to ever let him out,” he said in a phone interview.
“He cannot be rehabilitated. I think he’s just jumping through hoops to try and do everything he can to get out.”
Mr. Twitchell told the parole board he’s changed, especially after he got married for the third time while in prison. That’s helped him overhaul his “entire character from the ground up,” he said.
He also disputed his links with the Dexter series.
“I know the media at the time liked to make a huge deal over Dexter being an influence, but they massively overstated that,” he said.
He is currently being held in Bowden Institution, a medium-security prison in central Alberta, after starting his life sentence in maximum-security in Prince Albert, Sask. He will be eligible to apply for full parole in 2033.