Tammy Gilden

The deputies pulled in and parked.

The deputies pulled in and parked.

Linda answered the door and invited them inside.

Linda answered the door and invited them inside.

The deputies told Michael to sit on the couch. This was after they searched between the cushions for any weapons.

The deputies told Michael to sit on the couch. This was after they searched between the cushions for any weapons.

Linda was in a chair nearby. Even though Michael wasn't under arrest, he was clearly a person of interest in this case, having been in Anacortes on the day Mark Stover disappeared. Sergeant Davis said they read Michael his Miranda rights, just in case he said something that could be admissible in court.

Linda was in a chair nearby. Even though Michael wasn't under arrest, he was clearly a person of interest in this case, having been in Anacortes on the day Mark Stover disappeared. Sergeant Davis said they read Michael his Miranda rights, just in case he said something that could be admissible in court.

Chief Deputy Rodriguez noticed how distraught Linda became when Michael said that he made the trip to see his ex-wife Jennifer.

Chief Deputy Rodriguez noticed how distraught Linda became when Michael said that he made the trip to see his ex-wife Jennifer.

As they sat in their car at the front of the property, Tammy and her mom waited for a deputy to arrive. Tammy said the stranger got into the black SUV, leaving the station wagon behind.

As they sat in their car at the front of the property, Tammy and her mom waited for a deputy to arrive. Tammy said the stranger got into the black SUV, leaving the station wagon behind.

He said Linda left the room crying.

He said Linda left the room crying.

Back in the living room, Chief Deputy Rodriguez continued to press Michael for an answer about why he went to visit his ex-wife.

Back in the living room, Chief Deputy Rodriguez continued to press Michael for an answer about why he went to visit his ex-wife.

Outside on the deck, Sergeant Davis was getting new information from Skagit County.

Outside on the deck, Sergeant Davis was getting new information from Skagit County.

When Sergeant Davis saw this happen, alarm bells started to go off in his mind. Why was Michael even outside? And what did he just remove from his car?

When Sergeant Davis saw this happen, alarm bells started to go off in his mind. Why was Michael even outside? And what did he just remove from his car?

He drove right up next to their car before stepping on the gas and speeding away.

He drove right up next to their car before stepping on the gas and speeding away.

Michael Oakes had just taken something out of his car. but the darkness and mist made it tough to see. Sergeant Gene Davis spotted Michael while outside talking on the phone.

Michael Oakes had just taken something out of his car. but the darkness and mist made it tough to see. Sergeant Gene Davis spotted Michael while outside talking on the phone.

Chief Deputy Dave Rodriguez was inside with Linda when Sergeant Davis brought Michael back. So he walks in with Oakes.

Chief Deputy Dave Rodriguez was inside with Linda when Sergeant Davis brought Michael back. So he walks in with Oakes.

Since he knew them well, he felt that he needed to reinforce to Michael that he was no longer a friend.

Since he knew them well, he felt that he needed to reinforce to Michael that he was no longer a friend.

Tammy called the sheriff again.

Tammy called the sheriff again.

After he put Michael in the back of his car, Sergeant Davis walked out to grab whatever Michael had thrown down that embankment.

After he put Michael in the back of his car, Sergeant Davis walked out to grab whatever Michael had thrown down that embankment.

He didn't open the bag. Sergeant Davis didn't want to risk spoiling the evidence, but he said that whatever was inside was heavy.

He didn't open the bag. Sergeant Davis didn't want to risk spoiling the evidence, but he said that whatever was inside was heavy.

Skagit County deputies arrived later that night to search Michael's SUV, and Sergeant Davis gave them that unopened garbage bag.

Skagit County deputies arrived later that night to search Michael's SUV, and Sergeant Davis gave them that unopened garbage bag.

They gave the dispatcher the license plate number and a description of the trespasser's car.

They gave the dispatcher the license plate number and a description of the trespasser's car.

But when they searched Michael's vehicle, there was no bundle of blankets. investigators kept searching for Mark Stover's body.

But when they searched Michael's vehicle, there was no bundle of blankets. investigators kept searching for Mark Stover's body.

And as they gathered the evidence, Michael Oakes' story seemed more and more unbelievable.

And as they gathered the evidence, Michael Oakes' story seemed more and more unbelievable.

Absolutely. From 48 Hours, this is Trained to Kill. The dog trainer, the heiress, and the bodyguard. Produced by Sony Music Entertainment. I'm your host, Peter Van Sant. Judy Tigard is the executive producer of 48 Hours. Original reporting by 48 Hours producers Ryan Smith and Liza Finley. Jamie Benson is the senior producer for Paramount Audio. and Maura Waltz is the senior story editor.

Absolutely. From 48 Hours, this is Trained to Kill. The dog trainer, the heiress, and the bodyguard. Produced by Sony Music Entertainment. I'm your host, Peter Van Sant. Judy Tigard is the executive producer of 48 Hours. Original reporting by 48 Hours producers Ryan Smith and Liza Finley. Jamie Benson is the senior producer for Paramount Audio. and Maura Waltz is the senior story editor.

Recording assistance from Alan Pang and Reginald Bazile. Special thanks to Paramount Podcast Vice President, Megan Marcus. It is written and produced by Alex Schumann. Stephanie Serrano is our editor. Our executive producer is Shira Morris. Our associate producer is Zoe Culkin. Theme and original music composed by Hansdale Shee. Cedric Wilson is our sound designer and mixed the episodes.

Recording assistance from Alan Pang and Reginald Bazile. Special thanks to Paramount Podcast Vice President, Megan Marcus. It is written and produced by Alex Schumann. Stephanie Serrano is our editor. Our executive producer is Shira Morris. Our associate producer is Zoe Culkin. Theme and original music composed by Hansdale Shee. Cedric Wilson is our sound designer and mixed the episodes.

We also use music from APM and Epidemic Sounds. Fendall Fulton is our fact checker. Our production manager is Tamika Balance-Kolasny. I'm Peter Van Sant. If you're enjoying the show, be sure to rate and review. It helps more people find it and hear our reporting. You can listen to Train to Kill early and ad-free right now by subscribing to 48 Hours Plus on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening.

We also use music from APM and Epidemic Sounds. Fendall Fulton is our fact checker. Our production manager is Tamika Balance-Kolasny. I'm Peter Van Sant. If you're enjoying the show, be sure to rate and review. It helps more people find it and hear our reporting. You can listen to Train to Kill early and ad-free right now by subscribing to 48 Hours Plus on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening.

He was driving toward downtown Anacortes. Minutes later, Skagit County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Duhame arrived and checked out the station wagon and then went looking for the black SUV. It didn't take long.

He was driving toward downtown Anacortes. Minutes later, Skagit County Sheriff's Deputy Rick Duhame arrived and checked out the station wagon and then went looking for the black SUV. It didn't take long.

The deputy went up to the car window.

The deputy went up to the car window.

Deputy Duhaime asked the man, who was hiding his eyes, for an ID.

Deputy Duhaime asked the man, who was hiding his eyes, for an ID.

The deputy explained that he pulled the driver over for trespassing.

The deputy explained that he pulled the driver over for trespassing.

During the conversation, the deputy noticed that the driver had some dog hair on his clothing. And he noticed a big bundle of blankets in the back of the SUV. He didn't think much of it. This just so happened to be the same morning that Mark Stover's employees reported seeing their boss tear out of his driveway in his white Chevy station wagon. And this traffic stop was just a few hours later.

During the conversation, the deputy noticed that the driver had some dog hair on his clothing. And he noticed a big bundle of blankets in the back of the SUV. He didn't think much of it. This just so happened to be the same morning that Mark Stover's employees reported seeing their boss tear out of his driveway in his white Chevy station wagon. And this traffic stop was just a few hours later.

no one yet knew Mark was missing. The deputy took the driver's ID.

no one yet knew Mark was missing. The deputy took the driver's ID.

And the bundle of blankets in the back? Only later would he learn that was Mark's dead body. The whole case took off. I'm Peter Van Sant. From 48 Hours, this is Trained to Kill. The dog trainer, the heiress, and the bodyguard. Episode 4, The Bundle in the Back.

And the bundle of blankets in the back? Only later would he learn that was Mark's dead body. The whole case took off. I'm Peter Van Sant. From 48 Hours, this is Trained to Kill. The dog trainer, the heiress, and the bodyguard. Episode 4, The Bundle in the Back.

After the sheriff's deputy let Michael Oakes drive away with just a warning, Michael made a phone call, but not to his girlfriend, Linda Updike.

After the sheriff's deputy let Michael Oakes drive away with just a warning, Michael made a phone call, but not to his girlfriend, Linda Updike.

It was to his ex-wife, Jennifer Thompson. She lived in Everett, Washington, about an hour south of Anacortes. We spoke in 2010.

It was to his ex-wife, Jennifer Thompson. She lived in Everett, Washington, about an hour south of Anacortes. We spoke in 2010.

Although they had been separated for about a year, Michael and Jennifer started talking again. She had emailed him just a few weeks earlier.

Although they had been separated for about a year, Michael and Jennifer started talking again. She had emailed him just a few weeks earlier.

Before she started something new, Jennifer wanted to know if her marriage to Michael was really over.

Before she started something new, Jennifer wanted to know if her marriage to Michael was really over.

And what we've been told is they're deeply in love. He's telling you something else.

And what we've been told is they're deeply in love. He's telling you something else.

This is Tammy Gilden in Anacortes, Washington. She called 911 sometime before 1150, the morning of October 28, 2009, when she and her mother noticed a man trespassing behind the Grange Hall. It's an event facility about half a mile from Mark Stover's house.

This is Tammy Gilden in Anacortes, Washington. She called 911 sometime before 1150, the morning of October 28, 2009, when she and her mother noticed a man trespassing behind the Grange Hall. It's an event facility about half a mile from Mark Stover's house.

So when Michael called her that October morning, Jennifer agreed to meet him at a Starbucks.

So when Michael called her that October morning, Jennifer agreed to meet him at a Starbucks.

They sat together at a table in the corner of the coffee shop.

They sat together at a table in the corner of the coffee shop.

She suggested a beach they could go to.

She suggested a beach they could go to.

Jennifer noticed that Michael parked far away from her and that his vehicle was caked in mud.

Jennifer noticed that Michael parked far away from her and that his vehicle was caked in mud.

She said when they arrived at the beach, she watched him fumble with things in his car. Michael suggested the two of them go for a walk. Did he seem nervous?

She said when they arrived at the beach, she watched him fumble with things in his car. Michael suggested the two of them go for a walk. Did he seem nervous?

Then, when they finished their walk, she said they each decided to stop at the bathroom before they left.

Then, when they finished their walk, she said they each decided to stop at the bathroom before they left.

Knowing that Michael could be over the top, Jennifer didn't know whether to take him seriously.

Knowing that Michael could be over the top, Jennifer didn't know whether to take him seriously.

Then Michael said something even more unsettling.

Then Michael said something even more unsettling.

After that disturbing comment, Michael got out of her car into his and drove away.

After that disturbing comment, Michael got out of her car into his and drove away.

Michael left Jennifer. He drove back up to Anacortes, then drove more than 250 miles, crossing the Cascade Mountain Range for a second time in the same day. That night, he returned to Linda Updike's house. From Linda's home surveillance camera, you can see Michael arrive just after 11.30 p.m. On a different camera, you can see Linda in a bathrobe come out to welcome him home.

Michael left Jennifer. He drove back up to Anacortes, then drove more than 250 miles, crossing the Cascade Mountain Range for a second time in the same day. That night, he returned to Linda Updike's house. From Linda's home surveillance camera, you can see Michael arrive just after 11.30 p.m. On a different camera, you can see Linda in a bathrobe come out to welcome him home.

Tammy noticed that the guy was at the back of the property, where no one should be parked.

Tammy noticed that the guy was at the back of the property, where no one should be parked.

Their reunion would prove short.

Their reunion would prove short.

On the evening of October 29th, 2009, the day after Mark Stover went missing, Sergeant Gene Davis with the Okanagan Sheriff's Office got a call. We talked in 2010.

On the evening of October 29th, 2009, the day after Mark Stover went missing, Sergeant Gene Davis with the Okanagan Sheriff's Office got a call. We talked in 2010.

Sergeant Davis knew the name Mark Stover well. Months before, he had suggested Linda Updike get a protective order against Mark.

Sergeant Davis knew the name Mark Stover well. Months before, he had suggested Linda Updike get a protective order against Mark.

One of those two vehicles was a white station wagon. The other was a black SUV.

One of those two vehicles was a white station wagon. The other was a black SUV.

Detective Myers then told Sergeant Davis that they had a lead concerning Mark Stover's disappearance.

Detective Myers then told Sergeant Davis that they had a lead concerning Mark Stover's disappearance.

This is Dave Rodriguez. Back in 2010, he was a chief deputy with the Okanagan Sheriff's Office.

This is Dave Rodriguez. Back in 2010, he was a chief deputy with the Okanagan Sheriff's Office.

What Tammy saw was both odd and disturbing. Whatever the object being transferred was, Tammy remembered it was large and covered in plastic.

What Tammy saw was both odd and disturbing. Whatever the object being transferred was, Tammy remembered it was large and covered in plastic.

Sergeant Davis and Deputy Rodriguez drove to Linda's place separately, unsure of what they were heading into.

Sergeant Davis and Deputy Rodriguez drove to Linda's place separately, unsure of what they were heading into.

Instead of that usual warm welcome, the front door stayed closed.

Instead of that usual warm welcome, the front door stayed closed.

9-1-1, what's your emergency? It's not an emergency, but I need a sheriff to come out here to Summit Park Range.

9-1-1, what's your emergency? It's not an emergency, but I need a sheriff to come out here to Summit Park Range.