Dee takes Isla (and you, sexy listeners) deep into one of the most bizarre and tragic cases of the early internet age: the Mark and John case.

In 2003, two teenagers from Manchester – known only by the pseudonyms Mark (16) and John (14) – became caught in a web of online lies, fabricated personas, and manipulative storytelling that spiraled out of control. What began as a teenage flirtation in MSN chat rooms turned into a labyrinth of fake characters, wild plots, and ultimately, a shocking attempted murder.

Was it a case of catfishing gone too far, a desperate cry for help, or both?

This is a case where both victim and perpetrator blur together, and the line between fiction and reality becomes dangerously thin.

SOURCES:

Helen Carter, “Bizarre tale of boy who used internet to plot his own murder”, The Guardian, 29 May 2004

Manchester Crown Court Proceedings (comments, transcripts)

Crime and Investigation Channel – summary and coverage of the case

Judy Bachrach, “U want me 2 kill him? How a 14-year-old planned his own execution in MSN chat rooms”, Vanity Fair

Greater Manchester Police Statements

Sally Hogg, computer forensic analyst (her work reported in Vanity Fair and The Guardian)

Casefile: True Crime Podcast – episode on Mark and John