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Mark Twitchell, Dexter Killer, In Prison Watching The Show That Inspired Him To Kill

What They Allow "Dexter Killer" To Do In His Prison Cell
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Mark Twitchell, a wannabe serial killer currently behind bars and serving life for murder, is still watching the TV show that inspired him to kill.

Twitchell's headline-grabbing trial heard how he had a fascination with the character, Dexter Morgan, who works by day as a police blood spatter analyst, but murders in the name of vigilante justice by night.

But the National Post is now reporting the convicted killer has purchased a flat screen TV, a cable package and now watches re-runs and new episodes of the popular crime show "Dexter."

Story continues after slideshow

Jeffrey Dahmer

Infamous Serial Killers

Staff Sergeant Bill Clark, co-head of Edmonton’s homicide unit, told the National Post he's baffled they would let Twitchell, who's known as the "Dexter Killer," watch Dexter, when he's supposed to be paying for his crime.

“He’s reliving his fantasy whenever he’s watching that show,” he said.

“It’s ridiculous to think that he would be allowed to do that. Maybe he’s refining his skills?”

Steve Lillebuen, the author of The Devil’s Cinema: The Untold Story Behind Mark Twitchell’s Kill Room, told The Edmonton Sun he's been in correspondence with Twitchell and that the wannabe serial killer spends most of his time watching TV - including a ready supply of Dexter.

“He’s still got this interest in watching fantasy, despite the reality of him serving a life sentence in prison,” he told the Sun.

During his trial, court heard how Twitchell, a film maker and TV and film buff, followed his own movie script in killing and dismembering Johnny Altinger.

Altinger thought he was going to meet a woman from the Internet when he showed up at a garage rented by the killer.

Twitchell wrote down everything in a diary, which he claimed in court was fiction.

But Altinger's death was not the only time Twitchell tried to play out his script.

Gilles Tetreault was also lured to the same garage but managed to fight off his attacker and escape.

Police examining Twitchell's computer in their course of the murder investigation found the script and it started with this:

“This story is based on true events. The names and events were altered slightly to protect the guilty. This is the story of my progression into becoming a serial killer.”

According to a follow-up by the National Post, prison officials would not say what, if anything, will be done about Twitchell's TV-watching habits.

Joseph Wamback, a victims’ rights advocate, told the National Post access to Dexter does not fit into his understanding of the principle of rehabilitation of prisoners.

“I don’t believe that any offender should have access to this type of media,” Mr. Wamback said.

“They’re reliving the previous committed crimes.”

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