ANACORTES, Wash. -- Police in Anacortes said they suspect a well known dog trainer was murdered, but the man's body has not been found, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

Investigators spent the day searching an Anacortes home for evidence Tuesday after Mark Stover disappeared last Wednesday.

Animal Control Officer Marie Padovan said Stover was a well known, well liked dog trainer with customers that reportedly included Starbuck's founder Howard Schultz and Mariner Ichiro Suzuki.

Many locals are puzzled, wondering who would want to kill Stover.

Skagit County sheriff's deputies said they got their first clue the night before Stover was reported missing.

"There was a report of two suspicious cars in the area of Thompson Road. The deputy went out and dealt with the issue, but at that time there was really nothing to act on," said Deputy Will Reichardt.

Police said the two cars were spotted parked at the Summit Park Grange, a half-mile from Stover's house. One of them was Stover's station wagon, the other, according to court documents, a Suzuki being driven by Michael Oakes of Kennewick.

"(Oakes) is who we believe to be the boyfriend of (Stover's) ex-wife," said Reichardt.

Oakes is in jail, accused of second-degree murder. Deputies believe he dumped Stover's body somewhere and then parked Stover's Chevrolet at Northern Lights Casino with what appeared to be bloody finger smears on the rear of the wagon.

The search for Stover has been suspended.