Michelle Dessler

Michelle Dessler was a high ranking federal agent who worked for CTU and Division. She helped save American lives during the national crises of Days 2, 3, and 4. She was married to Tony Almeida and later divorced him; however, they reconciled during the events of Day 4. The couple decided to move away from CTU and start a new life, which they successfully had managed by Day 5, by which point Michelle was pregnant.

However, she was killed during the first hour of Day 5 by Christopher Henderson due to her knowledge of Jack Bauer's faked death in an attempt to frame him for the murder of David Palmer. Also involved in her death was President Charles Logan, Graem Bauer, and Alan Wilson, whom Tony tried to target during Day 7 to avenge her death.

Personal

 * Husband: Tony Almeida (divorced, then remarried)
 * Brother: Danny Dessler
 * Niece(s)/Nephew(s)
 * Son (unborn, and deceased)

Education

 * Bachelor of Science, Computer Science - University of California, Davis

Experience

 * CTU – Special Agent in Charge, Los Angeles Domestic Unit
 * CTU - Associate Special Agent in Charge, Division
 * CTU - Unknown position, Seattle Domestic Unit
 * CTU - Chief of Staff, Los Angeles Domestic Unit
 * CTU - Intelligence Agent/ 3rd in Command, Los Angeles Domestic Unit
 * CTU - Internet Protocol Manager, Los Angeles Domestic Unit
 * CTU - Intelligence Agent, Division
 * DARPA - High Confidence Systems Working Group
 * National Institute of Standards & Technology – Computer Security Division

Expertise

 * Many hours of Disaster Control Simulation
 * Built IPSec architecture
 * Attacks scripts, computer vulnerabilities, intrusion detection, penetration testing, operational security, viruses
 * Proficiency in Cerberus and PlutoPlus

Before Day 2
At some point before Day 2 Michelle worked at Washington DC and successfully helped to stop an anthrax outbreak there.

Before the events of Day 2, Michelle began to work as a intelligence agent at CTU Los Angeles. She was the third highest-ranking agent at CTU, below George Mason and Tony Almeida.

Day 2

 * Read more about Michelle Dessler on Day 2



Michelle helped gather intelligence and follow leads throughout Day 2. She was not severely harmed in the attack upon the building by Eddie Grant and his group. When former colleague Carrie Turner came to work at CTU the two had some issues, escalated by the fact that Michelle's brother Danny (who left his wife and children for Carrie who subsequently left him) turned up at the government building.

When Jack later found evidence proving that the Cyprus recording that was going to launch the US into war was forged, Michelle helped Jack in proving its illegitimacy. However, Tony (whom Michelle was close with) did not like her and Jack averting the law to prove the recording fake. He, along with Carrie, tried to stop her from proving its illegitimacy but eventually began to help her. At the end of the day the two agreed to go on a date.

After Day 2
At some point between Day 2 and 3, Michelle and Tony were married. Tony became the Special Agent in Charge of CTU, promoting Michelle to Chief of Staff.

The Game


During the events of The Game, Michelle worked at CTU Los Angeles as CTU Chief of Staff where she assisted Jack Bauer with the threat. Throughout the day, Michelle helped give logistical information to field agents as well as help to re-boot the CTU computer after the attack.

When CTU was attacked by Peter Madsen and his men, Dessler and Kim Bauer were in Tech 1. They were two of a few CTU agents not captured or killed during the attack. Michelle helped get Kim to the safe room M3 although she herself was captured. Sean Walker was killed during the attack, an intern of Michelle's.

Day 3

 * Read more about Michelle Dessler on Day 3

Michelle once again assisted with the threats that CTU faced, this time dealing with an attack of a virus. The virus was released at Chandler Plaza Hotel whilst Michelle was present, but she soon found out that she was in fact immune to the virus, unlike her unfortunate colleague, Gael Ortega who died.

Later, Michelle was captured and used as bait by Stephen Saunders to coerce Tony into allowing him to walk free. Tony went through with the deal but also managed to capture Saunders in the process. Tony and Michelle were reunited, but before long Tony was taken away to prison.

After Day 3


Both President Palmer and Jack Bauer testified on behalf of Tony during his trial, but he was still sentenced to a maximum security prison. After Tony served seven months, he was released under a Presidential pardon. Tony lost his position at CTU and he remained unemployed. Due to the stress he suffered while in prison and his unemployment situation, Tony turned to alcohol and this ultimately caused him to push Michelle away. Michelle filed for divorce and Tony began to live with a female bartender, Jen Slater.

Michelle was temporarily posted at the Seattle branch of the Counter Terrorist Unit. There she met Bill Buchanan and they became close. Both of them shared feelings for each other and started a relationship. However, Bill realized that Michelle was still in love with Tony and they decided to end it before it got too serious. Michelle then earned a position as the Associate Special Agent in Charge of Division in Los Angeles. Bill was also transferred there as the Regional Director, the former position of Ryan Chappelle.

Day 4

 * Read more about Michelle Dessler on Day 4



After Maya Driscoll committed suicide at CTU Los Angeles, Erin Driscoll wasn't able to focus on her work and Secretary of Defense James Heller advised her to step down. Tony Almeida, who was reinstated several hours earlier, held the position of Special Agent in Charge until the replacement from Division arrived. Tony was shocked when he learned that Michelle was the replacement.

The two managed to work together, but Tony found things difficult for a while when he found out about her and Buchanan's relationship. They later rekindled their love for one another in a situation that arose from an old foe. They both assisted in faking Jack's death to ensure that he would not be killed by a US operative to prevent him from being imprisoned or tortured by the Chinese.

After Day 4
After Michelle helped David Palmer, Chloe O'Brian, and Tony Almeida stage the death of Jack Bauer, she left CTU Los Angeles and Division with Tony. Eventually the two re-married and they started their own private security technology company. Michelle was pregnant with the couple's first child at the onset of Day 5.

Day 5
Tony and Michelle were preparing for an anticipated meeting when they learned that David Palmer was assassinated in his brother's apartment. Since the assassination took place in Los Angeles, Michelle knew that CTU-LA would lead the investigation. She wanted to go back to CTU and help. Tony insisted that CTU could handle it, but Michelle insisted, saying they had more experience.

Michelle left to go to her car as Tony made a phone call. Tony decided to go back to CTU with Michelle, but before he could leave, he heard an explosion. He rushed outside and discovered that Michelle's car had blown up. He grabbed her body, checking her neck for a pulse, but another explosion went off. Though Tony managed to survive the blast and was transported to CTU medical for surgery, Michelle died from her injuries.



She had massive contusions to the chest and face, with third degree burns over 93 percent of her body.

After Tony awoke, Bill Buchanan told Tony that Michelle didn't die, as Doctor Besson felt that any emotional trauma would endanger Tony's heart health. Eventually Tony learned the truth and that Christopher Henderson ordered her murder. This led to Tony's apparent death as Tony tried to kill him, relented, but was himself attacked by Henderson and almost died.

President Charles Logan was complicit in the murder of Michelle as well as Palmer and the attempts on Almeida and O'Brian. Graem Bauer also had a pivotal role in the assassinations, having paid the killers and set the timetable to lure Jack out of hiding. The true mastermind of the conspiracy that led to Michelle's death was private military executive Alan Wilson.

After Day 2

 * The Game
 * Stories