Bellingham transient allegedly enters sleeping woman’s tent and sexually assaults her
A homeless man is suspected of entering a woman’s tent in downtown Bellingham and watching her while she slept, choking her and sexually assaulting her last week.
Bellingham police booked Forrest Konrad Miller, 25, into Whatcom County Jail Friday, March 20, on suspicion of second-degree assault with sexual motivation, indent liberties, voyeurism, first-degree burglary and unlawful imprisonment, and jail records show he’s being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.
At 5:06 p.m. Friday, officers spoke to a victim who wanted to report a sexual assault, Murphy wrote, and the victim told police:
▪ That she was asleep near sunrise on Thursday when she woke because she was unable to breathe.
▪ She found a masked man — later identified as Miller — in her tent with his hand around her throat, squeezing and preventing her from breathing.
▪ She tried to get away, but Miller was able to overpower her.
▪ Miller pulled the victim’s pants down and forced her to touch him.
▪ The victim was able to struggle free and demanded Miller leave the tent, at which point Miller released his grip on her throat and pulled the mask down.
The victim, who knew Miller, identified him in a lineup, Murphy reported.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show Miller has previous felony convictions for controlled substance possession, burglary and theft since 2016 in Whatcom and Island counties.
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/.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
