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Murder mystery in Skagit County

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by ROB PIERCY / KING 5 News

Posted on November 3, 2009 at 6:48 PM

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ANACORTES, Wash. - A police helicopter searched the woods surrounding the home and business of Mark Stover.

The only dogs we saw Tuesday belonged to police looking for clues.

People who know Stover say the break-up with his ex-wife was ugly.

Investigators were led to Winthrop and the home of Stover's ex-wife. There they arrested her boyfriend, Michiel Oakes for murder, but they have not found Stover's body.

Stover used to run his business on a private island owned by her family, but when they divorced he was kicked off.

We're told the family has been in talks to sell the island, and because of work he did on the property when he lived there, Stover wanted a cut and threatened to sue if he didn't get it.

Thursday, Stover's employees reported him missing.

When detectives went inside his home they found blood everywhere.

He was known as the "Anacortes Dog Whisperer" - a popular dog trainer whose clients included Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz and Mariners' slugger Ichiro Suzuki.

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