Ep 1. Taxi Driver

In the season 2 premiere of CopyCat Killers, viewers are taken inside the twisted mind of a man who was inspired to take the life of a young woman by one of the most iconic movies of all time- Taxi Driver.

The episode begins with a brief overview of the movie itself and the main character Travis Bickle, a disturbed loner who becomes obsessed with a young prostitute named Iris. His attempts to save her from her life on the streets lead him down a dangerous path of violence and chaos.

As the story shifts to reality, viewers are introduced to 34-year-old Michael Bernard, who became fixated on the movie Taxi Driver after watching it repeatedly. He became particularly fascinated with the character of Travis Bickle, finding himself drawn to his sense of isolation, anger, and desire for vengeance against those he deemed immoral.

Michael's obsession with Taxi Driver began to consume him, leading him to believe that he too could become a vigilante like Travis Bickle and rid the world of those he saw as corrupt. In his mind, Michael was a hero, fighting for justice in a world that had become polluted with evil.

One night, Michael's delusions took a deadly turn when he spotted 21-year-old Mara Shepard walking home alone from her job as a bartender. Mara, who had recently moved to LA to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress, was just a few steps away from her apartment when Michael pulled up beside her in his car.

He coerced Mara into getting into his vehicle, claiming that he had a gun and would use it if she tried to escape. When she tried to fight back, Michael beat her into submission, then drove her to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted and murdered her.

In the aftermath of Mara's death, police launched a massive manhunt to find her killer. While they had no leads initially, they eventually discovered that Michael had been driving a yellow taxi around the area on the night of the murder.

Through the use of forensic evidence and witness testimony, detectives were able to link Michael to the crime scene and arrest him for Mara's murder. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

As the episode comes to a close, viewers are left to ponder the disturbing nature of Michael's obsession with Taxi Driver and the tragic consequences that resulted from his delusions. The show serves as a chilling reminder of the power that movies and media can have over vulnerable individuals, and the need to be vigilant and aware of the messages we consume.