Account
Dec 17, 2014
May 26, 2023
Theodore
Stover
72
57
69 inches
180 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On October 29, 2009, 57-year-old Theodore "Mark" Stover, a well-known dog trainer in Anacortes, Washington, was reported missing. His fiancée grew concerned when he failed to return home. Upon visiting his residence, an employee discovered Stover's dog, Dingo, had been shot in the face. Inside the home, investigators found blood smears in a downstairs bedroom and hallway, and the strong smell of bleach lingered in the air, suggesting an attempt to clean up a crime scene. Stover's car was later located at the Northern Lights Casino with bloody finger smears on the exterior. These discoveries immediately pointed to foul play, launching a complex investigation into the disappearance of a man known for training the dogs of celebrities like Howard Schultz and Ichiro Suzuki. The investigation quickly focused on Michiel Oakes, the boyfriend of Stover's ex-wife, Linda Opdycke. The day of Stover's disappearance, a neighbor had reported suspicious activity at a grange hall near Stover's home, where they saw a man moving a large object wrapped in plastic between two cars, one of which was Stover's. An officer who responded to the call spoke with Oakes, who was at the scene. Oakes was later arrested at the home of Opdycke. When police arrived to question them, Oakes attempted to discard a plastic bag containing a pistol. A search of Oakes' vehicle revealed traces of Stover's blood and a bullet-proof vest with a spent bullet in it. At his trial, Oakes admitted to shooting Stover but claimed it was in self-defense. He alleged that Stover had become increasingly threatening and had lured him to his home, where a confrontation ensued. Oakes claimed Stover shot him first and that he survived because he was wearing a bullet-proof vest. He then stated he disposed of Stover's body in the Swinomish Channel. The prosecution, however, argued that Oakes had meticulously planned the murder, purchasing supplies for the killing and the disposal of the body beforehand. They presented a theory that Oakes had shot the vest himself to create a false self-defense narrative. In October 2010, a jury convicted Michiel Oakes of first-degree murder, and he was subsequently sentenced to 26 years in prison. Despite the conviction, Theodore Stover's body has never been recovered. The case remains a haunting story of a respected professional whose life ended tragically, leaving his family and friends without the closure of laying him to rest. The investigation uncovered a history of acrimony following Stover's divorce from Linda Opdycke, which included a stalking conviction against Stover. Friends of Stover maintained that he had moved on from the divorce and was engaged to be married at the time of his death.
Oct 29, 2009
Anacortes
Washington
Skagit County
98221
No
16093
Skagit County Sheriff's Office
Mount Vernon
Washington
Skagit County
98273
Duane Neufeld
Detective
600 South 3rd Street Suite 100, Washington
3604161911
County
Law Enforcement
09-15549
2009-10-29
Skagit County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Brown
Brown
06/21/2026
