‘She was this incredibly strong woman’ parent says at vigil for Sunnyland principal
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Lynn Heimsoth murder
Sunnyland Elementary School Principal Lynn Heimsoth, her therapy dog Sukha and the family cat were shot to death Dec. 26, 2019, at her home west of Bellingham. Kevin Heimsoth, her husband who reportedly attempted to kill himself after her death, has been charged with murder and animal cruelty.
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In the two years she was principal at Sunnyland Elementary School, Lynn Heimsoth and her therapy dog, Sukha, showed the students, parents and community unconditional love and support.
On Friday night, more than 200 children and adults gathered on the elementary school playground for a candlelight vigil in their honor after they were both fatally shot in their home Thursday, Dec. 26.
“We wondered about a candlelight vigil on the playground where Lynn and Sukha greeted all the children every day at the beginning and end of the day and just made them feel welcome and safe and respected, so we thought this was the perfect place to do that to continue that sentiment in her honor and just lift each other up,” said Kami Westhoff, a member of the Sunnyland Elementary PTA and organizer of the event.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office found 58-year-old Lynn Heimsoth dead in her home in the 900 block of Marine Drive Thursday, Dec. 26, from an apparent gunshot wound. Whatcom County Medical Examiner Dr. Gary Goldfogel said Heimsoth died of a gunshot wound to the head from a handgun and ruled her death a homicide Friday, Dec. 27.
Heimsoth’s therapy dog, Sukha, and a cat were also found fatally shot.
Heimsoth’s 56-year-old husband, Kevin, is the suspected shooter, the sheriff’s office said. He suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was in critical condition Friday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, according to a hospital spokesperson. He is under sheriff’s office guard pending formal criminal charges. An update on his condition was not immediately available Saturday, Dec. 28.
Kevin Heimsoth may have admitted to killing his family on a Twitter account that appears to be associated with him in replies to the National Rifle Association, President Donald Trump and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo said he could not comment Friday, Dec 27, on the Twitter account.
Westhoff, whose younger daughter is a fourth-grader at Sunnyland and whose older daughter also previously attended the school, said when she received an email from Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker Thursday announcing Heimsoth’s death she wasn’t sure how to tell her daughters. She said with the kids being on Christmas break, the family felt isolated. After reaching out to a few people, they decided to hold the vigil.
“She came to the school and taught them how to be just better in every way and lifted and supported the students. Specifically with Sukha, it gave so many students the opportunity to connect in a way that verbally maybe they can’t,” Westhoff said. “She was this incredibly strong woman for all of our students to see being strong and respected, but available emotionally.”
More than 200 people gathered at the back of the school on the playground Friday night. They held candles, lit a menorah, and placed red and purple flowers on a table that had a large, black memorial board with pictures of Heimsoth and Sukha on it. The group led several prayers and a few children spoke, while soft, sad music played in the background. Many hugged each other and cried.
Westhoff said Heimsoth and Sukha’s deaths were a huge loss for the district and community.
“I’m not sure where we go. I don’t know how you begin to replace somebody as amazing and unifying and inspiring as Lynn, and her sweet pup. Just how we can move on, I’m not sure. But I know that we will because we’re a really strong community,” Westhoff said.
After a little more than an hour, a group of a dozen parents and children took the memorial board, flowers, notes and candles to the front steps of the elementary school and placed them on display. Nearby at the base of the flag pole was another memorial, complete with handwritten notes from students and a small, ceramic golden dog.
Tammi Latham, who was one of the last people to leave, said she came to the vigil with her daughter, who is a fifth-grader. Latham, who also volunteers in the school, said the news of Heimsoth’s and Sukha’s deaths has been extremely hard for her daughter. She said the pair tried to stay busy Friday so that her daughter wouldn’t think about it as often.
“They were there every morning greeting you, and then when you left for the day they were right there. So she was a big presence in all the kids,” Latham said. “She was very caring.”
But it wasn’t just at school that Heimsoth and Sukha were noticed. Latham said in late October when the school held their harvest carnival over a weekend, Heimsoth and Sukha — dressed in a costume — were there. Latham said it was common for Heimsoth to attend all the school’s events.
Latham said she was glad the vigil was held so that her family could address Heimsoth’s and Sukha’s deaths before returning to school.
“Being able to talk to other people is really good, it’s really good to have this,” Latham said.
Heimsoth was the principal at Sunnyland Elementary since July 2017. She previously served as the principal at Shoultes Elementary in Marysville for four years. She also worked for Bremerton, North Kitsap and South Kitsap school districts as an elementary teacher and instructional leader, the Thursday statement from Baker, the district superintendent, said.
“We are heartbroken by this news. Her death is a profound loss to our Sunnyland community, our school district and to our extended community,” Baker’s statement said. “Lynn was a passionate, equity-driven instructional leader. She loved kids to the core and always kept students’ needs at the center of her work.”
Members of the school district’s counseling and support team will be available for students at Sunnyland Elementary on Jan. 6 when the students return from winter break, Baker’s statement said.
The district also provided resources for families to speak with their children about the tragedy, which help deal with death and grief.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org.
This story was originally published December 28, 2019 at 12:35 PM with the headline "‘She was this incredibly strong woman’ parent says at vigil for Sunnyland principal."
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