Sonia Sunger
01/11/2008 10:59:26 PM
Police allege a local film producer who has been charged with the first degree murder of an Edmonton man who went missing three weeks ago, carefully plotted the death and even made a movie about how he would do it.
Mark Andrew Twitchell, 29, was arrested on Friday Oct. 31 at his parent's north Edmonton residence and has been charged for the first degree murder of 38-year-old Johnny Brian Altinger who was last seen on Oct. 10.
Altinger's body has not been found, but detectives believe they have enough forensic evidence to lay first degree murder charges.
Friends of the 38-year-old victim say he met a girl online and agreed to meet with her, but police say that was all part of the murder plot.
Twitchell had apparently made a movie about a man who is lured from an internet dating site and then murdered, just days before Altinger went missing.
"The movie was about luring a male from a dating internet site and basically killing the male in the garage and chopping up the body parts and getting rid of the body," said Detective Mark Anstey.
Homicide detectives returned to the Twitchell residence on Saturday morning, along with the suspect, hoping he would lead them to Altinger's remains.
Police are also looking for another man who is believed to have been the original murder target.
"The victim was able to break free and run into the lane while being chased by the male in a hockey mask, at the same time a couple was walking by and saw the altercation," said Anstey.
Police say they found a hockey mask matching the description at Twitchell's home. It was the same hockey mask Twitchell used in his movie and police allege it was likely the same one used in Altinger's death.
Police do not believe Twithell knew Altinger.
The bizarre details are being met with anger and sadness by Altinger's friends who reported the man missing on Oct. 16.
"Why is anybody's intention to kill somebody for nothing?" said friend Hans-Wilhelm Adam.
While that question may remain unanswered, detectives are working to find Altinger and provide some closure for his loved ones.
