Tammy Gilden
Appearances
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
The deputies pulled in and parked.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Linda answered the door and invited them inside.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
The deputies told Michael to sit on the couch. This was after they searched between the cushions for any weapons.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Chief Deputy Rodriguez noticed how distraught Linda became when Michael said that he made the trip to see his ex-wife Jennifer.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
He said Linda left the room crying.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Back in the living room, Chief Deputy Rodriguez continued to press Michael for an answer about why he went to visit his ex-wife.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Outside on the deck, Sergeant Davis was getting new information from Skagit County.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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?
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
He drove right up next to their car before stepping on the gas and speeding away.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Chief Deputy Dave Rodriguez was inside with Linda when Sergeant Davis brought Michael back. So he walks in with Oakes.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Since he knew them well, he felt that he needed to reinforce to Michael that he was no longer a friend.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Tammy called the sheriff again.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
After he put Michael in the back of his car, Sergeant Davis walked out to grab whatever Michael had thrown down that embankment.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Skagit County deputies arrived later that night to search Michael's SUV, and Sergeant Davis gave them that unopened garbage bag.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
They gave the dispatcher the license plate number and a description of the trespasser's car.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
But when they searched Michael's vehicle, there was no bundle of blankets. investigators kept searching for Mark Stover's body.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
And as they gathered the evidence, Michael Oakes' story seemed more and more unbelievable.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
The deputy went up to the car window.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Deputy Duhaime asked the man, who was hiding his eyes, for an ID.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
The deputy explained that he pulled the driver over for trespassing.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
no one yet knew Mark was missing. The deputy took the driver's ID.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
It was to his ex-wife, Jennifer Thompson. She lived in Everett, Washington, about an hour south of Anacortes. We spoke in 2010.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Although they had been separated for about a year, Michael and Jennifer started talking again. She had emailed him just a few weeks earlier.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Before she started something new, Jennifer wanted to know if her marriage to Michael was really over.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
And what we've been told is they're deeply in love. He's telling you something else.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
So when Michael called her that October morning, Jennifer agreed to meet him at a Starbucks.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
They sat together at a table in the corner of the coffee shop.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
She suggested a beach they could go to.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Jennifer noticed that Michael parked far away from her and that his vehicle was caked in mud.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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?
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Then, when they finished their walk, she said they each decided to stop at the bathroom before they left.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Knowing that Michael could be over the top, Jennifer didn't know whether to take him seriously.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Then Michael said something even more unsettling.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
After that disturbing comment, Michael got out of her car into his and drove away.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Tammy noticed that the guy was at the back of the property, where no one should be parked.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Their reunion would prove short.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
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.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Sergeant Davis knew the name Mark Stover well. Months before, he had suggested Linda Updike get a protective order against Mark.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
One of those two vehicles was a white station wagon. The other was a black SUV.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Detective Myers then told Sergeant Davis that they had a lead concerning Mark Stover's disappearance.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
This is Dave Rodriguez. Back in 2010, he was a chief deputy with the Okanagan Sheriff's Office.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
What Tammy saw was both odd and disturbing. Whatever the object being transferred was, Tammy remembered it was large and covered in plastic.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Sergeant Davis and Deputy Rodriguez drove to Linda's place separately, unsure of what they were heading into.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
The Bundle in the Back
Instead of that usual warm welcome, the front door stayed closed.
Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard
Put Up or Shut Up
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.