Did The Doctor Kill The Doctor?

A 48 Hours Mystery Exclusive

(CBS)  This episode was originally broadcast Oct. 25, 2008. It was updated on June 13, 2009.

Dr. Linda Goudey was found murdered in her car in October 1993. At the time, she had been dating Dr. Timothy Stryker, who quickly became a suspect in the case.

Depending on whom you believe, Stryker is either a calculating murderer, or an innocent man, desperately trying to clear his name.

To look at him today at age 56, you'd never know Stryker has spent 15 years dogged by such terrible suspicions. "It makes me sad, you know, that people could think this way about me," he tells correspondent Richard Schlesinger.

He built a successful endocrinology practice, and a family, in a quiet Boston suburb.

Stryker's wife of 14 years, Micael, says her husband has never shown signs of violence. "He's not a guy who loses it or somehow has an altered persona that shows up."

And, she'd probably know what to look for - she’s a psychotherapist.

"He does present this very cool exterior…very flat, very unemotional, very in control," Schlesinger remarks. "Which makes you wonder what's going on behind the front, behind the façade? Do you think you know?"

"Yes, I absolutely know," Micael says. "I'm sure I know. I think it's very simple with him. I think he's just a very sincere, extremely gentle and even delicate person. He at all times looks to do good to the people around him."

That might be one reason he decided to become a doctor. "I just knew it from a very young age, that's what I wanted to do. It's my nature to want to help people."

It was one thing he had in common with Lin Goudey. By all accounts, she was driven - she earned top honors in high school, and eventually went to medical school while working as a medical technician. She was a successful OB/GYN, specializing in high-risk pregnancies.

Paula Dennett is a nutritionist who worked closely with Goudey. "She was new to the field, but you never thought she was just a rookie. You know, she knew what she was doing and I'd say she was one of the more respected physicians there in terms of if you're having a problem or a complex pregnancy, Dr. Goudey's the one to go to."

Lisa Zolot was one of Goudey's patients who noticed right away that there was something special about her. "Lynn was very good at sixth sense, knowing when things are wrong," she remembers.

On a routine visit, Goudey had a sense that Lisa’s unborn baby was in danger. "She decided that I should have the C-section right away because something was wrong. And after she made the incision there was bleeding everywhere. She just had a sixth sense that something was wrong. And she was right. Without her, my daughter wouldn't be here," Lisa says.

From that day forward, Lisa and Lin became good friends. "We just clicked. We just clicked. It was just one-a those things. We just became friends. It was easy, you know."

Goudey made a lot of friends around the hospital, including Dr. Timothy Stryker. "We met over lunches at the hospital, and we started to share patients, because I would refer patients to her as a gynecologist," he says.

Before long, their work relationship did evolve into something more. "We would sit and read together at night, and do movies, and she gotten me into skiing during the winter. And then I got her into scuba diving in the Caribbean trips that we took together," he says.

And they also both practiced transcendental meditation, a method of relaxation that followers say focuses the mind.

"It was just a lovely way to see how they interacted with each other, you know, that they would have fun together," remembers Tim's sister Jean Stryker, who used to work for Lin. "They would often share the cooking responsibilities and the clean up. But I always saw them interacting very positively toward each other."

By 1993, four years after they started dating, things really seemed to be going well for the couple. Goudey and Stryker were both at the peak of their careers, and their relationship seemed steady.

They kept spending time together and had even planned a vacation together to the Caribbean for some scuba diving.

Stryker says she was looking forward to the trip. "She was actually the one that made the reservations for the trip. And it was her idea. She was very happy about it."

But Goudey never took the trip, because just weeks before they were to leave she had a dream. "In this dream she had this vision of being in a car, I think it was on the side of a mountain, and driving around. Then seeing a plane go crash into the side of the mountain, and she took this as some possible bad omen that perhaps, you know, we might have a plane crash," Stryker says.

Lisa says Lin wasn't going to go on the vacation after that dream. "She had thought that it wasn't a good idea, and that she was not gonna go."

But that’s not what Stryker says: "She never said that she wasn't going."

Lin's dream, her plans and premonitions were about to become more important than anyone could have imagined.

[cheryllhorn]

Why did they even bother administering the polygraph? They sure didn't use the results. Also, I'm confused as to why the victim's family had to spend so many years begging in court for evidence-that open investigation excuse was lame. The persistance from the family & civil trial are the ONLY reasons this case might be solved.

[hercule1122]

to Themasses003....
Which law school did you graduate from? Do not denigrate others who disagree with you. I assure you I have probably three more degrees than you, but you are welcome to your deluded opinion. You belong with the jurors on the OJ trial who did not have a clue.

[TheMasses0003]

It's scary all the assumptions made by you people on this man's guilt/innosence having no knowledge of the facts.
Nothing a good waterboarding session wouldn't cure though.
Carry on ....................

[csi-lover]

Here it is. I copied and pasted it from the comments found in the video portion on Dr. Stryker.

Dr. Stryker is a pschopath. His non-chalant demeaner and soft spoken voice is only a cover for his inner demons. Now in prison for perjury, perhaps the police and investigators will find enough evidence to put him away for murdering his girlfriend. How stupid can someone be to lie and make up a story about someone else committing the murder years later. He lied to everyone on tv about this. No evidence found clearly shows how a doctor knew what he was doing; he used surgical gloves to choke her. When someone says they don't want to go on a vacation, get the clue doctor. You can't force anyone to do what you want. With no more control left over her, he kills her and goes off on a vacation by himself anyway. This is what psychopaths are all about; no feelings or remorse for their actions. Did you see him cry on tv at all? Did you see him get mad and determined to find the "real" killer? No, instead we had to listen to his soft, calculating voice and listen to his lies. See how he turns things around during the interview; I didn't say that, they must have said it differently. Even a doctor can make stupid mistakes. But this guy won't be able to lie himself out of this one.

[csi-lover]

Please see my comments with the video portion on Dr. Stryker.

CSI-lover

[aChangeOfIdeas]

I don't believe the psychotherapist wife. I just watched the show where the psychologist got wrapped up in a relationship with a complete control-freak who separated her from her family, convinced her he was a spy and they were going to live in a spy-lighthouse, meanwhile swindling her of all her money and then trying to get her parents money. If a psychologist can be deluded like that, so can this psychotherapist.

[cepe10-2009]

The jury must have been completely brain dead to find him guilty with no evidence whatsoever. A really scary judicial system in the U.S. The guilty are easily convicted with corrupt judges and a jury of complete morons.

[casionova]

But come on, the guy doesnt blink! Surely thats all the proof people need to find him guilty... </sarcasm>

In response to an earlier comment about what kind of person would ask at a strangers car for a condom, a drunk and lusty 18 year old would.

[BriantheHound]

Is anyone else growing tired or rereading old cases posted on here? Come on, there are plenty of cases to write about. How about some FRESH material instead of the typical "this was originally aired/released on such and such a date" This used to be one of my favorite sites. It's boring now. This story is OLD and was already featured on here...........

[jabailo]

This story is repeated so often, it's painful.

The scenario is that of a high strung male, very controlling, who has to deal with a headstrong female. Initially, he may be in control, with his partner infatuated. But when that wears off, and his power over the other person dwindles, he may lash out in a violent and tragic way.

A few notes on forensics. When Dr. Stryker was apprehended, did the police look for marks on his hands or body indicating a struggle during the strangulation? Were there any drugs in the victim's system (such as an anethesic or something to keep her from struggling)?

There was no mention of relationships the woman may have had outside their relationship. That is the kind of trigger that would set off the male in a violent way.

Also, I didn't hear about Stryker's 'alibi'. Where was he on the night of the murder? Any witnesses?

Where did the carpet or material that the body was wrapped in come from? Was it something from Stryker's apartment as well..or something that could have been traced with recipients, or found in a local store?

I thought that the real tragedy may have been the chemistry between two headstrong "beaultiful people"...however, they mentioned that Stryker had a history of violence towards his partners.

[jmfromla]

My gut is wrenching over how smug and absolutely arrogant Dr. Stiker is, It just makes my skin crawl, as is he sat there on national tv and bold faced lied. So unemotional and calm. Tryin to justify going on vaction when his girlfriend was being laid to rest after a brutal murder.. cold cold cold!!! He is such a egotist, he actually believes he is smart enough to get away with murder!
Thank GOD family was persistent and won their civil case, if not he might have actually gotten away with it.
What a snake, just like OJ Simpson!! He had not one once of remorse and neither does this killer!! Nor any intention of paying the family one cent of his judgement. Lucky for the family his greed got the best of him and now he will go to jail! GREED IS EXPENSIVE!! I hope now that he was caught with his pants down, the prosecutor can put a solid case againest him for the murder. It's pretty obvious he killed her.
Did anyone notice how emotional his wife suddenly got when the lawyer was describing how Striker choked the life out of his girlfriend. That lawyer was great!! he was so descriptive and made it so real, that it woke up his wife to the REALITY that he did killed her, that was what made her so emotional and forced her into a emotional breakdown.. Finally she got her head out of the sand!! Now after he lost and won't have any money and of course getting caught trying to conspire and con his way out of paying, is pretty difficult for her to try sugar coat. finally she is divorcing him. WOW, she sure needed a bat to wake her up, jeeze woman..

[jmfromla]

OMG!!! this man is a iceberg!! I have never seen such a cold human being.
He is a liar and of course he murdered his girlfriend. obviously he lost is cool and strangled her. who else would want to? he is a true sociopath, he has the emotion of a fish. Finally he getting his just deserve. I was glad to see he lost his medical license, what a hideous person and too bad his second wife had children with him, she must be one very desperate stupid woman, but it's difficult to put your hed in the sand when the truth i blaring right at you, talk about denial. she is just lucky she did't **** him off..

[hercule1122]

I think the case is absolutely clear and don't understand why so many years were taken to pursue it. The creep flunked the lie detector exam, and then would no longer cooperate. Why is law inforcement so incompetent? It took the family to take him to court to obtain a judgment. Then some scumbag comes forwrad to say , yeah, he saw them 15 years earlier? This so-called doctor is really stupid to set up this scenario. He deserves to rot in jail and be someones bf there for the rest of his life. Small justice...

[carolcape]

This man is a cold blooded killer. I have seen this show previously. He comes along as Mr. Perfect, so articulate, cold and calculating. He did not even blink when telling all these lies. I wonder if there is some medication he took before this interview, like something to keep his eyes from blinking. I never saw anybody in my life that talked as long as he did without blinking. There was just a murder in Kentucky, my cousin was murdered by her husband Dr. Stephen Hall and that was just two weeks ago Friday. His wife had a horrible death. Of course, her mom and dad are devastated and just can't believe that Mr. Hall killed her intentionally. There were witnesses that said he deliberately ran over her with a boat. He pushed her off it and ran over her, he gunned the boat towards her and killed her. It is so very sad for eveyone. Domestic violence is the silent killer and there is so much of it. If you don't feel safe in your relationship, get out, and don't try to put on a good show that everything is just peachy. If you have an abusive man or woman, get out, get a fresh start, life is short enough without living in fear in your own home. He is guilty, Dr. Stryker. There are more Dr. Jekyl's out there then we think.

[Sicariu]

Anyone remember the classic Dr.Murder case? It was a well known book by Thomas? Thompson. The Dr''s name was "Hill"-he was a plastic surgeon who killed his socialite wife and got away with it, until his father in law had him killed. The father in law also got away with murder. (I wonder if he is still alive).
This physician reminded me of Hill.

[belle02474]

The Dr is guilty as sin. It''s too bad you did not up date your story a little more. He and his wife are no longer together. She left him! He has a new girfriend. This creep will stop at nothing to save his butt. He has recked more than one family!!

[calicocat6]

Message for roecoezzz: They were never married.

[roscoezzz]

I can''t believe the good doctor went on that vacation instead of attending his own wife''s funeral. I thought he loved and cared for her so deeply. I guess not.

He won me over. I didn''t think he killed his wife. That is until the end of 48 Hrs. How stupid of him to even think of hiring anyone to lie for him. It shows how manipulative he really is.

His new wife is as blind as a bat too. Who knows what kind of Love it is huh?

[hennighg]

Heck, I''m not even that smart and I can tell where to point the finger. That guy is CREEPY. That soft spoken voice and open eyed eye contact scares me to death. The stuff the victim had with her THAT NIGHT and the sudden witness who wasn''t a witness after all. Shoot me.

[erasmus81]

"And things started to get hot and heavy between him and this girl he picked up. And he walked over to their car to actually ask for a condom..."

And like who is going to believe that?

Who is going to walk up to some strangers car and ask for a condom???

[winnywinny1]

I''m glad I wasn''t the only one to notice that Dr. Stryker rarely blinked during his answers in this interview. That, taken with the tone and cadence of his voice, made me feel as though he was almost assuming another personality to deal with this situation, either by force of personality or through some other means (perhaps medicinal). Something just isn''t right at all.