Bellingham woman arrested on suspicion of murder after man’s body found last week
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Bellingham woman Tuesday on suspicion of murder after a man was found shot to death last week in a park on Semiahmoo Spit.
Lynda Clare Mercy, 62, was booked into Whatcom County Jail at 12:09 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Deputies arrested Mercy without incident earlier Tuesday, according to a sheriff’s office news release on the arrest.
Mercy is expected to make her first appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court at 3 p.m. Wednesday, according to court officials.
“This case is an excellent example of law enforcement and community members working together to identify and take the suspect in this case into custody,” Undersheriff Doug Chadwick said in the release. “Our investigators have worked day and night to piece together this case and follow up on tips provided by multiple citizens in response to our request for information.”
The body of Thomas Flood, a 67-year-old man who lived in Island County, was found Wednesday, April 7, in the Semiahmoo area of Blaine, according to a news release from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Monday, April 12.
The Monday news release included photos of Mercy, who exited a white Ford Econoline van and made a purchase at the AM/PM convenience store at Airport and Bennett drives in Bellingham, the release stated.
The van, which was owned by Flood, was later found early Thursday, April 8, in Fairhaven and remains in possession of the sheriff’s office.
Mercy last lived in the Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, records show, but she also lived in Blaine, Spokane, Arizona and California.
She appeared in Blaine Municipal Court in May of 2020, according to Washington state court records. She pleaded guilty to hit and run of an attended vehicle and had a DUI charge reduced to first-degree negligent driving, court officials told The Bellingham Herald, adding that the case is still active on probation.
Mercy was the respondent in an anti-harassment petition filed in Whatcom County District Court in January of 2013, court records show. A hearing was granted, but neither Mercy nor the complainant appeared for it, court officials told The Herald, and the case was dismissed.
Mercy also appeared in Snohomish County Cascade Division District Court in 2006 and pleaded guilty to a charge of no valid permit, paid a fine and the case was dismissed, court officials told The Herald.
The sheriff’s office is not seeking any further suspects at this time, according to Monday’s release, though the investigation remains active. Any information on the case can be submitted to the sheriff’s office tip line at 360-778-6663.
“We appreciate the assistance of both the Blaine and Bellingham police departments, who provided critical information that leads to the suspect’s arrest,” Chadwick said in the release. “As we continue to investigate, our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends as we seek justice for Thomas Flood.”
Last week local law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff’s office, asked for the public’s help after a man was found shot to death Wednesday in a park on the Semiahmoo Spit.
The person was identified as a 67-year-old man from South Whidbey Island, according to a Friday news release from the sheriff’s office, but his name was not released at the time while next of kin was notified, according to the release.
Flood suffered multiple gunshot wounds and the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled his death a homicide, the release stated.
Blaine police were called around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, for the report of a dead person on the Semiahmoo Spit, according to a Wednesday evening news release from Blaine police.
Staff writer Denver Pratt (dpratt@bhamherald.com) contributed to this story.
This story was originally published April 13, 2021 at 2:11 PM.
