Peter Van Sant

Michael said he then drove the station wagon about two miles to the nearby Swinomish Casino parking lot. Michael then walked back to his own car, where Mark's body was covered up in the back. You leave it there? Yep. Michael told the courtroom he then decided to dispose of the body because he didn't think investigators would believe his story.

Michael said he then drove down to a dock at the far end of that casino's vast parking lot.

Michael said he then drove down to a dock at the far end of that casino's vast parking lot.

According to Michael, he then dropped Mark's body into the Swinomish Channel, which flows into the Padilla Bay near Anacortes.

According to Michael, he then dropped Mark's body into the Swinomish Channel, which flows into the Padilla Bay near Anacortes.

He then headed to Linda's home in Winthrop.

He then headed to Linda's home in Winthrop.

I was exhausted. But when the prosecution cross-examined Michael, they zeroed in on some inconsistencies in his story. Here's Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weirich.

I was exhausted. But when the prosecution cross-examined Michael, they zeroed in on some inconsistencies in his story. Here's Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weirich.

Detectives searched the waters behind the casino with a submersible camera and found nothing. While court was in recess, I asked Michael if he was telling the truth. Police have searched that area. They have not found a gun. They have found no skeletal remains. Is that really where you dropped the body?

Detectives searched the waters behind the casino with a submersible camera and found nothing. While court was in recess, I asked Michael if he was telling the truth. Police have searched that area. They have not found a gun. They have found no skeletal remains. Is that really where you dropped the body?

No matter where he may have disposed the body, I pressed him more. What do you say to those who suspect that you disposed of the body because you wanted to dispose of the evidence? That if people could see Mark Stover's body, maybe there's a bullet hole in the back of the head. Maybe they would have seen that he was shot in the back, not in the front. Maybe you were trying to cover up a murder.

No matter where he may have disposed the body, I pressed him more. What do you say to those who suspect that you disposed of the body because you wanted to dispose of the evidence? That if people could see Mark Stover's body, maybe there's a bullet hole in the back of the head. Maybe they would have seen that he was shot in the back, not in the front. Maybe you were trying to cover up a murder.

After he was cross-examined, Michael watched the woman he loved, the heiress, the person at the center of Mark Stover's rage, Linda Updike, raise her hand.

After he was cross-examined, Michael watched the woman he loved, the heiress, the person at the center of Mark Stover's rage, Linda Updike, raise her hand.

But Linda wasn't there just to defend Michael. She told me she also wanted to defend herself and her father.

But Linda wasn't there just to defend Michael. She told me she also wanted to defend herself and her father.

Here's Skagit County Prosecutor Rosemary Cajolacula questioning Linda.

Here's Skagit County Prosecutor Rosemary Cajolacula questioning Linda.

She asked about what help Linda provided Michael after his arrest.