Puppy Love

Summary

Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress, and the Bodyguard

Episode: Puppy Love
Host/Author: CBS News (48 Hours Correspondent Peter Van Sant)
Release Date: April 9, 2025

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Introduction to Anacortes and Mark Stover

Puppy Love opens by immersing listeners in the serene yet picturesque setting of Anacortes, Washington—an island community renowned for its natural beauty and proximity to the San Juan Islands. Peter Van Sant reflects on his personal connection to the area:

"Anacortes is the gateway to the San Juan Islands, where ferry boats depart to these wooded jewels. I go hiking, swimming and fishing for Dungeness crabs and have always considered the small harbor towns here my gateway into tranquility and peace."
[07:35]

At the heart of this community was Mark Stover, a charismatic and highly skilled dog trainer dubbed the "dog whisperer of the Pacific Northwest." Mark's reputation attracted a wealthy clientele, including celebrities and business moguls like Eddie Vedder, Howard Schultz, and Ichiro Suzuki.

---

Mark Stover's Early Life and Rise as a Canine Guru

Mark's journey to becoming a renowned dog trainer was shaped by a tumultuous childhood marked by multiple family tragedies and instability. His sister, Victoria Simmons, provides insight into their early life:

"We went through our family went through a series of losses early in our childhood. Just seemed to be one after another."
[10:32]

At a young age, Mark bonded with a German Shepherd puppy named Gunter, a gift from family friends after a series of familial deaths. This bond was pivotal, leading him to join the Washington State Search and Rescue Canine Unit and ultimately forging his path in dog training.

Mark's innovative approach to dog training was heavily influenced by B.F. Skinner's behavioral psychology. He meticulously applied principles of reward and punishment to condition dog behavior, setting him apart as an innovator in the field.

"He's told me that he was the first person to ever apply human psychology to dogs and to understanding the pack and how the pack works."
[13:17]

---

Meeting Linda Opdyke: The Beginning of an Ambitious Partnership

In the early 1990s, Mark's professional life took a significant turn when he met Linda Opdyke, the heiress to Washington State businessman Wally Opdyke's fortune. Their initial interaction was strictly professional, as Linda sought Mark's expertise to train her dog.

"I was looking to do some training with my dog and found him in the phone book."
[15:24]
"I saw he definitely did have a connection with dogs and I felt that he would be able to help us."
[16:03]

Despite a rocky start—Linda initially perceived Mark as arrogant and abrasive—mutual interests in nature, camping, and outdoor activities laid the foundation for their relationship both personally and professionally.

---

Building Island Dog Adventures: A Flourishing Business and Marriage

In 1992, Mark and Linda co-founded Island Dog Adventures on Kickit Island, leveraging Linda's entrepreneurial spirit and Mark's canine expertise. The business thrived, transforming into a million-dollar operation that catered to a high-end clientele. Their partnership extended into marriage in 2002, uniting their personal and professional lives.

"In 2002, Mark and Linda were married in a small wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas."
[24:30]
"They look like a happy couple here."
[25:15]

However, the demanding nature of their business—working seven days a week with 15-hour days—strained their relationship, leaving little room for personal connection.

---

Signs of Trouble: Mark's Dark Side Emerges

As their business grew, so did Mark's obsession with control and finances. Linda recounts instances where Mark's reaction to minor expenditures, like purchasing an avocado, was disproportionate and aggressive.

"He would be in a rage that I spent too much money and it was an inappropriate expenditure on things."
[21:53]

Additionally, Mark's aggressive demeanor extended beyond financial control. He became known for threatening locals and using his trained dogs, such as Ding, to intimidate trespassers.

"He was very unstable, and with that and his agitated state, and he had real highs and lows and rages that he dealt with."
[26:48]

These behavioral changes heightened Linda's concerns for her personal safety and the sustainability of their marriage.

---

The Breakup: Linda Attempts to Leave

After nearly 14 years together, including three years of marriage, Linda decided to end the relationship, recognizing her unhappiness and Mark's inability to provide a loving, personal partnership.

"I recognized that I was so unhappy, and I knew that I needed to leave the marriage and I got a separation."
[27:18]

Upon leaving their home on Kickit Island, Linda sought to start anew. However, Mark's obsessive nature manifested as stalking behavior, wherein he monitored her phone conversations, intruded into her new residence, and invaded her privacy by reading her diaries.

"He told me that he was listening to phone conversations and that he had been in my house and read my diaries and just, it was, it was horrifying."
[27:45]

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Escalation: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mark Stover

The episode takes a dark turn with the mysterious events surrounding Mark's disappearance. In 2009, just days before Halloween, Stephanie Poor, Mark's neighbor and employee, notices unusual signs at Mark's home: bloodstains, bleach, and the presence of Ding, Mark's guard dog, acting erratically.

"I saw tire marks from the car and some spots of blood on the gravel. Stephanie assumed that the blood belonged to Ding, Mark's guard dog."
[03:11]

Stephanie's subsequent investigation reveals a troubling scene inside Mark's house, with locked doors and suspicious bloodstains. Despite reaching out, Mark fails to respond, triggering fears of foul play.

The next morning, Ding is found in a distressed state, prompting Stephanie to contact emergency services. Concurrently, Linda, fearing for her safety due to Mark's obsessive behavior, also involves the authorities.

"Mark's new girlfriend had also called the police after not hearing from him."
[04:49]

Detectives are drawn into a complex case riddled with ambiguity, where obsession blurs the lines between hunter and hunted.

"But who was the hunter and who was the hunted?"
[06:06]

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Unraveling the Mystery: Investigations and Theories

Detectives face a convoluted investigation with multiple facets:

1. The Crime Scene: The presence of blood and bleach suggests a violent confrontation. Initially, Stephanie speculates the blood might be from Ding's surgical wounds:

   "I could smell the bleach before I even opened the door."
   [03:36]

   However, this theory is quickly dismissed as more evidence points to murder.

   "It was a cold blooded murder."
   [05:32]

2. Linda's Involvement: Linda's estrangement from Mark and her subsequent actions add layers to the mystery. Her fear of Mark suggests a motive if she were involved, but evidence leans towards Mark's potential for violence.

   "I have a safe room in there. I have a plan A, a plan B, a plan C. I think Mark."
   [28:47]

3. Mark's Disappearance: The sudden vanishing of Mark amidst the chaotic scene leads to various theories, including foul play by an external party or Mark orchestrating his own disappearance.

Detectives navigate through a labyrinth of personal vendettas, obsession, and possible motives, making this case one of the most intricate in their careers.

"They were about to step into a hall of mirrors where nothing was as it seemed."
[05:36]

---

Character Insights and Key Quotes

Throughout the episode, key individuals provide critical insights:

• Stephanie Poor: Mark's neighbor and employee who discovers the initial signs of trouble. Her observations and actions are pivotal in escalating the investigation.

  "I just thought he was so incredibly interesting."
  [09:22]

  "I have a safe room in there. I have a plan A, a plan B, a plan C. I think Mark."
  [28:47]

• Linda Opdyke: The heiress whose relationship with Mark forms the crux of the narrative. Her perspective highlights Mark's unsettling behavior and the deterioration of their marriage.

  "I recognized that I was so unhappy, and I knew that I needed to leave the marriage and I got a separation."
  [27:18]

  "He showed an arrogance where he wanted to isolate Linda. All bad signs, and so it was noticed by me right away."
  [19:23]

• Victoria Simmons: Mark's sister, who offers background on Mark's early life and personality, shedding light on his complex character.

  "I believe he came to love all dogs and no pedigree or fabulous pedigree. It didn't matter to him."
  [07:57]

• Sheriff's Deputies: Their characterization of the scene reinforces the gravity of the situation.

  "It was a cold blooded murder."
  [05:32]

---

Conclusion: The Hunter vs. The Hunted

Puppy Love sets the stage for a gripping six-episode exploration into a dark love triangle where professional success masks personal turmoil. The intricate dynamics between Mark, Linda, and their entourages raise questions about obsession, control, and the lengths one might go to protect or reclaim love.

As Detective Van Sant narrates:

"But who was the hunter and who was the hunted?"
[06:06]

This central mystery propels listeners into a deep dive of psychological suspense, leaving them eager for subsequent episodes to unravel the true nature of Mark Stover’s disappearance and the dark secrets that bind these intertwined lives.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephanie Poor:

  "I could smell the bleach before I even opened the door."
  [03:36]

  "I saw him becoming more aggressive with people, for example, on the property that were trespassing, pulling guns on people and threatening them."
  [26:24]

• Linda Opdyke:

  "He told me that he was listening to phone conversations and that he had been in my house and read my diaries and just, it was, it was horrifying."
  [27:45]

  "Things were fine for about four months after the marriage, and then it really started going south."
  [25:43]

• Victoria Simmons:

  "I remember Mark rejecting what he could not control."
  [13:29]

---

Final Thoughts

Puppy Love masterfully intertwines personal narratives with investigative intrigue, presenting a multifaceted story of love, ambition, and darkness. With its rich storytelling and compelling quotes, the episode provides a comprehensive foundation for listeners to engage deeply with the unfolding mystery of Mark Stover, Linda Opdyke, and the enigmatic bodyguard, Michiel Oakes.

---

This summary is based on the transcript provided and is structured to highlight the key elements and quotes from the episode.

Transcript

[Stephanie Poor]

I've been working with a Nourish dietitian for the last six months and it's been life changing. I've lost weight, healed my relationship with food, and have way more energy. Working with a dietitian online to create a personalized nutrition plan was so easy. Thanks to Nourish. The best part, I pay $0 out of pocket. Because Nourish accepts hundreds of insurance plans, 94% of patients pay $0 out of pocket. Find your [e-mail] that's usenourish.com I've never felt like this before. It's like you just get me. I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous. Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me. I mean, you can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at your DSW store or dsw.com I remember being woken up early in the morning by a hellacious barking.

[Peter van Sant]

It was 2009, three days before Halloween, a time when the boundaries between the living and the dead become blurred. Stephanie Poor said the dogs next door.

[Stephanie Poor]

Were going crazy and they were upset and it was loud.

[Peter van Sant]

What'd you think to yourself when you were lying in bed listening to that?

[Stephanie Poor]

Um, something was going on over there and I wanted to get some more sleep and I was going to have words with Mark.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark was Mark Stover, Stephanie's next door neighbor and her boss. Stephanie was a dog trainer at Mark's facility in Anacortes, Washington, an island community of about 80 miles north of Seattle. He had built a successful business working with the dogs of the rich and famous and had earned the nickname the dog whisperer of the Pacific Northwest. That morning, Stephanie made her short commute to work. She assumed Mark had already left to meet a client in Seattle.

[Stephanie Poor]

And I'm on the phone leaving a message with him and he's in the driveway. The car is in the driveway parked up by the house. I'm thinking, wow, that's weird because he really, he's probably going to be, you know, a little antsy because he would have rather been gone by now.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark had a reputation as a bit of a pit bull, intimidating and impatient.

[Stephanie Poor]

I saw who I thought was Mark going into the house, coming out of the house, putting stuff in the back of the hatch.

[Peter van Sant]

What made you think it was Mark?

[Stephanie Poor]

Because it was his hat and his jacket. He opened the the door to the car, looked at the front windshield, grabbed something off the front and then just tore, like literally tore down the driveway.

[Peter van Sant]

Then Stephanie went up to the house to the bathroom. As she walked up the driveway, she saw tire marks from the car and some spots of blood on the gravel. Stephanie assumed that the blood belonged to Ding, Mark's guard dog. Ding recently had surgery.

[Stephanie Poor]

I explained in a way that Ding must have ripped her stitches out.

[Peter van Sant]

Out here, the blood wasn't the only sign something was wrong.

[Stephanie Poor]

I could smell the bleach before I even opened the door.

[Peter van Sant]

Stephanie stepped inside. She noticed a bedroom door that was usually never shut was closed. And as she went into the house, Stephanie saw three big spots on the floor. Did they have a color?

[Stephanie Poor]

It was blood. It was red. Dark, dark red.

[Peter van Sant]

Stephanie was worried. She kept calling Mark, but he never answered. Stephanie hoped the blood was from Ding's surgical wounds. She was doing her best to avoid imagining the worst. But the next morning when she came back to work, she was startled to see Ding sitting by the back door.

[Stephanie Poor]

She was on all fours and she was growling. Something had happened to her. Maybe she had had a stroke. It was obvious. One eye was in a horrible mess. We couldn't find Mark. I was calling him. I left a mess. We're really concerned. Where are you? You know, why is Ding here?

[Peter van Sant]

An unsettling feeling hit Stephanie.

[Stephanie Poor]

I can only describe it as evil. Something horrible, something terrible. I knew something bad had taken place.

[Peter van Sant]

Stephanie called 911. Mark's new girlfriend had also called the police after not hearing from him. Soon after, sheriff's deputies arrived on scene. Investigators believed the bleach, the blood, and Mark's vanishing act all added up to one inescapable conclusion.

[Stephanie Poor]

It was a cold blooded murder.

[Peter van Sant]

But detectives had no idea. They were about to step into a hall of mirrors where nothing was as it seemed. I've never seen in my career a case that has as many twists and turns and mysteries as this case with Mark Stover. They soon discovered a story tangled in obsession.

[Stephanie Poor]

We don't have the truth yet. We have some of the truth, but we don't have all of it.

[Peter van Sant]

But who was the hunter and who was the hunted? I'm Peter van Sant from 48 Hours. This is trained to kill the Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard Episode one Puppy Love the coastline of Washington state just north of Seattle is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Back in the 1800s, my ancestors were homesteaders on an island not far from Anacortes, Washington. It's gone now, but One of my great greats even had a small apple orchard on Orcas Island. Anacortes is the gateway to the San Juan Islands, where ferry boats depart to these wooded jewels. I go hiking, swimming and fishing for Dungeness crabs and have always considered the small harbor towns here my gateway into tranquility and peace. That's why I was stunned when 48 Hours first got word about this murder. And then I learned that at the center of it all was a celebrity dog trainer.

[Stephanie Poor]

Mark was known as the dog whisperer of Anacortes and the dog trainer to the stars.

[Peter van Sant]

That's Victoria Simmons, Mark Stover's younger sister. She said some of Mark's clients included Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, longtime Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and Seattle Mariner Eddie Ichiro Suzuki.

[Stephanie Poor]

I believe he came to love all dogs and no pedigree or fabulous pedigree. It didn't matter to him. He saw value in all of them and potential in all of them.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark offered private training lessons. He could teach basic obedience, but his wealthiest clients wanted him to train their pets to become protection dogs. This is audio from a video of Mark training a dog. He's standing in what looks like a gravel driveway, wearing a dark raincoat and his trademark brown hat with a round brim.

[Stephanie Poor]

Show me the motion again with the stick. Well, this is the barrage.

[Peter van Sant]

A handler releases the dog. The dog sprints and bites hard enough to lock onto Mark's leg, which is covered in padding. And a tug of war ensues between the growling dog and Mark. Mark commands the dog to stand down. Right away. The dog lays on the ground looking straight ahead and awaits the next command.

[Stephanie Poor]

I just thought he was so incredibly interesting.

[Peter van Sant]

His niece Julia, Victoria's daughter, said Mark sometimes expressed his love for dogs in eccentric ways.

[Stephanie Poor]

You know, he has this beautiful Porsche 911 and a BMW. And then he has this car called the dog a lack the Cadillac. And I swear, half the textile of the carpeting in that car was just dog hair that had woven itself into it.

[Peter van Sant]

She said it smelled horrible. But one day they went for a.

[Stephanie Poor]

Drive, and instead of taking the Porsche or the BMW, he takes me in the dog alone. And he said he didn't want his neighbors to know how rich he was.

[Peter van Sant]

But Mark didn't start out rich at all. In fact, just the opposite. And his upbringing was far from easy.

[Stephanie Poor]

We went through our family went through a series of losses early in our childhood. Just seemed to be one after another.

[Peter van Sant]

This is Victoria again, Mark's sister. They grew up in the Seattle area. In the 1950s and 1960s.

[Stephanie Poor]

My father died when I was six months old, and Mark was 18 months old. Then shortly after that, a half brother was killed in a car wreck that was caused by my other half brother, which was sad. And then mother remarried, and shortly after she remarried, my sister died of pneumonia. She was nine.

[Peter van Sant]

Their mother's second marriage also then fell apart.

[Stephanie Poor]

And so she remarried again. And he was an alcoholic. Life at home was tough.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark struggled in school. According to Victoria, the family didn't know how to help him.

[Stephanie Poor]

He got kicked out of high school for smoking dope. I think he was 16. Yeah, he was on a bad path.

[Peter van Sant]

And then their mother's third husband died of cancer.

[Stephanie Poor]

We were broke. Our family was broke. And there was a funeral and at the wake. And family friends brought a German shepherd puppy for a gift at Awake, which is such an odd choice.

[Peter van Sant]

The German shepherd puppy was named Gunter. While maybe odd, the gift would be a godsend.

[Stephanie Poor]

I've never been able to talk to them and ask them what prompted them to do such an odd thing. But Mark and that dog bonded. That very day.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark got in touch with the family's old vet. He encouraged Mark to join the Washington State Search and Rescue Canine Unit.

[Stephanie Poor]

They trained him and taught him how to train Gunter, and he loved it. He was flown all over the country to look for lost people as far as the Everglades. And it gave meaning to his life, gave purpose to his life. That dog saved him.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark eventually started to train dogs in private sessions where he'd go to people's homes. In a News article from 1981, Mark is described as a disciple of the famous behavioral psychologist B.F. skinner. Skinner studied how rewards and punishment can condition behavior in humans. Mark applied that to dogs by training them with punishment and reward.

[Stephanie Poor]

He's told me that he was the first person to ever apply human psychology to dogs and to understanding the pack and how the pack works.

[Peter van Sant]

Was your brother an innovator in the dog world?

[Stephanie Poor]

I believe he was.

[Peter van Sant]

As for cats, Mark was once quoted saying that he didn't like cats because he wants something he can control. He added, dogs are easy to change. It's people that are hard to change. See, I can't put a choke chain around them.

[Stephanie Poor]

Lowe's knows how to help pros save.

[Peter van Sant]

That's why the new Milos Pro rewards program lets you unlock exclusive member deals on the things you need every day on the job. Plus, Milo's Pro Rewards members can get volume discounts on eligible orders through a quote of $2,000 or more. Join for free today.

[Stephanie Poor]

Lowe's we help you save exclusions.

[Peter van Sant]

More terms and restrictions apply. Program subject to terms conditions. [e-mail] Terms subject to change. Spring is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parmesan delivered. A cabana that's a no, a but a banana that's a yes.

[Linda Updike]

A nice tan?

[Peter van Sant]

Sorry, nope. But a box fan? Happily, yes. A day of sunshine?

[Stephanie Poor]

No.

[Peter van Sant]

A box of fine wines? Yes. Uber Eats can definitely get you that.

[Stephanie Poor]

Get almost.

[Peter van Sant]

Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by Regency app for details. Mark started training dogs in the 1970s and by the 1980s was a well established canine guru. Mark never married during that time. Then in the early 90s, when Mark was nearing 40, a wealthy potential client called.

[Linda Updike]

I was looking to do some training with my dog and found him in the phone book.

[Peter van Sant]

Linda Updike was the daughter of Wally Updike, one of the wealthiest businessmen in in the state of Washington.

[Linda Updike]

I remember speaking with him on the phone and very I felt he was very arrogant, actually rubbed me the wrong way initially. Name dropped a lot of people and had quite a bit of an attitude. But yet he seemed also to know a fair amount about dogs. So I thought, let's try this out.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark and Linda met regularly to train her dog. A bond was starting to form.

[Linda Updike]

I saw he definitely did have a connection with dogs and I felt that he would be able to help us.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark definitely had a way with dogs and at times he could be charismatic with people.

[Linda Updike]

He was very bright and witty and charming.

[Peter van Sant]

After eight or nine months, their relationship evolved. And even though Linda was 12 years younger than Mark, his sister says Linda was his type.

[Stephanie Poor]

She was tall, slender, beautiful. He seemed to like the girls from these wealthy families, which I always wondered about. Just right down his alley.

[Peter van Sant]

For one of their first dates, Mark asked her to go fishing.

[Linda Updike]

So I drove over and met him and did a day of fishing. And that began when we started dating shortly thereafter.

[Peter van Sant]

So what was the attraction?

[Linda Updike]

You know, he was incredibly bright, eccentric, had a lot of similar interests that I did.

[Peter van Sant]

Linda grew up camping, fishing and hunting. They connected over a love for nature and the open air. What started purely as business turned personal and they set out to build a relationship and a successful company at the same time. They were coming together despite being from two different worlds. While Mark's family Had struggled. Linda Updike was the daughter of a millionaire.

[Linda Updike]

I grew up with my family doing a lot of camping on Whidbey Island. We have a small beach cabin up there. And I grew up saltwater fishing, salmon fishing. I was born in California and then moved when I was very young to Bellevue, Washington. I went to junior high and high school there. Was very involved in horseback riding and competed doing grand prix jumping. And that was really my passion and where I spent my time in my youth.

[Peter van Sant]

How good were you at this horse jumping?

[Linda Updike]

Well, it probably depends on who you'd ask.

[Peter van Sant]

And tell me also about your father. He's a famous man in the state of Washington. Very successful man in the state of Washington.

[Linda Updike]

Washington, yes. He started with, came from very middle class background and went to University of Washington and then really became involved in a lot of different businesses. One of them being Chateau St. Michel, developing that.

[Peter van Sant]

That's a very famous winery in Washington. Sold all over the world.

[Linda Updike]

Yes, it is. I'm very proud of his accomplishments that way. He was also involved in K2 Ski Company and JanSport Sporting goods and different businesses throughout his career.

[Peter van Sant]

Linda is her parents only daughter.

[Linda Updike]

She's a very good friend of mine.

[Stephanie Poor]

At an adult age. Yes, we're mother daughter, but we're very good friends.

[Peter van Sant]

That's Nancy Corbin, Linda's mother. She admits that she wasn't entirely thrilled when Mark and Linda started dating.

[Stephanie Poor]

Mark is not a choice I would have made for Linda. From the beginning, Mark showed an arrogance where he wanted to isolate Linda. All bad signs, and so it was noticed by me right away.

[Peter van Sant]

Nancy let her daughter make her own choices and was even supportive when Mark and Linda decided to go into business together. Linda said she'd been interested in opening a dog boarding business. In 1992, Linda and Mark opened Island Dog Adventures. Linda ran the boarding part of the company and Mark handled the dog training. You essentially were the CEO, right?

[Linda Updike]

Yes, I was. All of my. What we developed there was my business idea, my development, my money. I did capitalize it to go in.

[Peter van Sant]

Linda thought Mark's reputation in the industry helped and her parents leased Linda the perfect place to set up shop.

[Linda Updike]

Beautiful piece of property that my family has owned, no longer owns, but did purchase in the 80s.

[Peter van Sant]

Kickit island and the surrounding area once belonged to the Swinomish tribe. Besides a clearing for some buildings, the island is a thick forest with tall Douglas firs and western red cedars.

[Linda Updike]

I don't think there's probably many places like that. Whether dogs live on there or people live on there. It's just a terrific place.

[Peter van Sant]

Their house was at the end of a long, narrow driveway that felt like you were almost entering Jurassic Park. The sprawling property, filled with wildflowers, hills and beaches, made it seem otherworldly. Business started booming. Over time, Island Dog adventures turned into a million dollar operation. Linda said that despite their success, Mark started to become obsessed with money, tightly controlling her spending.

[Linda Updike]

For example, an avocado that was too much money really upset him. I remember another time I was, excuse.

[Peter van Sant]

Me, you guys have a million dollar business. He's upset that you bought an avocado.

[Linda Updike]

Yes. Yes.

[Stephanie Poor]

Are you serious?

[Linda Updike]

I'm absolutely serious, yes. He would be in a rage that I spent too much money and it was an inappropriate expenditure on things.

[Peter van Sant]

Most of their attention was going to the business and not each other.

[Linda Updike]

And we were working, you know, seven days a week, 15 hour days, and there was really not any time for personal relationships.

[Peter van Sant]

Despite her concerns, Linda was committed to making things work.

[Linda Updike]

I just kept thinking that if I could reduce our workload, if we could make some changes and try to get more personal time, that the relationship could be salvageable and work. So we went through some counseling and at that point in time, Mark did want to get married. And I again, because of the commitment that said, okay.

[Stephanie Poor]

The missing child is Lucia Blix, 9 years old.

[Linda Updike]

Please let her come back home safely.

[Stephanie Poor]

April 16th. The kidnappers plumbed it meticulously.

[Peter van Sant]

If money is what it takes to.

[Stephanie Poor]

Get her back, we're going to pay it. The secrets they hide.

[Peter van Sant]

You can't talk about this.

[Stephanie Poor]

You can't write about it. Are the clues. The mother's hiding something. I know it. To find her, tell me where she is. The Stolen girl series premiere April 16 on Freeform and stream on Hulu.

[Peter van Sant]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying.

[Linda Updike]

It's not just for celebrities.

[Peter van Sant]

So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail].

[Stephanie Poor]

Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only. Then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by Lifelock. It's tax season and we're all a.

[Peter van Sant]

Bit tired of numbers. But here's one you need to hear. $16.5 billion.

[Stephanie Poor]

That's how much the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Now here's a good number. 100 million. That's how many data points LifeLock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed. Save up to 40% your first [e-mail] podcast terms apply.

[Peter van Sant]

On May 17, 2002, Mark and Linda were married in a small wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. She was 38. He was 50.

[Stephanie Poor]

This is a picture from the wedding in Las Vegas. And this is Linda Opdyke. This is her mother, Nancy Corbin.

[Peter van Sant]

Victoria, Mark's sister, showed me photos from the wedding.

[Stephanie Poor]

At this picture, he thinks he's at the beginning of a very happy phase in his life, and he's the beginning of a nightmare. But he doesn't know that yet.

[Peter van Sant]

Mark has on a dark suit, and Linda is wearing a black dress, holding a white bouquet of flowers. They look like a happy couple here.

[Stephanie Poor]

They do, they do.

[Peter van Sant]

And your brother thought this is the one. After all those years, he married her and that this was going to be his partner for life.

[Stephanie Poor]

He adored this woman.

[Peter van Sant]

But Mark seemed different to Linda after the wedding.

[Linda Updike]

Things were fine for about four months after the marriage, and then it really started going south.

[Peter van Sant]

What happened? What went wrong?

[Linda Updike]

I think my desires for a personal, truly a personal, loving marriage and relationship was something that he did not want to provide and could not provide.

[Peter van Sant]

Linda wanted to move off the island, but she said Mark dug in his heels. He wanted to stay.

[Linda Updike]

Hickett island meant a lot to Mark because it had quite a prestige to it.

[Peter van Sant]

Linda said she watched Mark's whole demeanor intensify.

[Linda Updike]

I saw him becoming more aggressive with people, for example, on the property that were trespassing, pulling guns on people and threatening them, being verbally aggressive and very threatening.

[Peter van Sant]

According to Linda, Mark developed a reputation for threatening locals. He would even use his dogs to. To intimidate people.

[Linda Updike]

My experience with him was he was very unstable, and with that and his agitated state, and he had real highs and lows and rages that he dealt with. It was very concerning to me and what his reaction would be to something, how that would affect my safety.

[Peter van Sant]

After nearly 14 years together, including three years of marriage, Linda decided that she couldn't do this anymore.

[Linda Updike]

I recognized that I was so unhappy, and I knew that I needed to leave the marriage and I got a separation.

[Peter van Sant]

She moved out of their home. Linda left the island that was owned by her family to start anew, set off on a new path alone. But she said Mark followed.

[Linda Updike]

He told me that he was listening to phone conversations and that he had been in my house and read my diaries and just, it was, it was horrifying. It was chilling to me every single moment. You're wondering when you walk out the door, is he going to be there? I know how he operated and his stalking abilities and hunting abilities.

[Peter van Sant]

The fallout from their collapsed marriage started a nasty back and forth that would culminate in that bloody scene at Mark's house.

[Linda Updike]

This is war.

[Peter van Sant]

This is goddamn long. You've worked my life enough.

[Linda Updike]

I really did feel that my life was in danger.

[Peter van Sant]

Coming up on Trained to Kill, the Dog Trainer, the Heiress and the Bodyguard. I remember at that time thinking, this can't be real because no woman alone could go through this amount of harassment.

[Linda Updike]

My first thought was, oh, a body. I have a safe room in there. I have a plan A, a plan B, a plan C. I think Mark.

[Stephanie Poor]

Had a very real fear of what Linda was capable of doing to him. He told me that he was capable of killing without remorse.

[Peter van Sant]

This is not a case of self defense. This is a case of cold blooded murder. 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 Tygart 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 Peng and Reginald Bazile. Special thanks to Paramount Podcast Vice President, Meghan Markus. It is written and produced by Alex Schuman. Stephanie Serrano is our editor. Our executive producer is Shira Morris. Our associate producer is Zoe Kulkin. Theme and original music composed by Hansdale Shih. Cedric Wilson is our sound designer and mixed the episodes. We also use music from APM and Epidemic Sounds. Fendel Fulton is our fact checker. Our production manager is Tamika Balance Kolasny. I'm Peter Van Sant. If you're enjoying this 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.