Woman faces attempted homicide charge following fire that destroyed Lummi Nation home
A Lummi Nation woman facing multiple charges, including arson and attempted homicide, is in custody at the Whatcom County Jail in the wake of a suspected arson March 19 on the reservation.
In an interview Tuesday, March 26, Lummi Police Chief Jay Martin told The Herald the fire was started when Chardelle Lynn George Rosario, 44, attempted to burn an individual alive using a flammable liquid, which she then set on fire. While the person was able to escape without major injuries, a trailer in the driveway caught fire, which spread to the main residence.
The fire was reported around 4 a.m. March 19 at 2925 Kinley Way. Bellingham and Ferndale fire crews responded, according to Will Anderson with the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office. It occurred the same night another Lummi Nation home was destroyed by fire. However, the fires are completely unrelated, Martin said.
Bellingham police arrested Rosario March 21 at Zuanich Point Park along downtown Bellingham’s waterfront when officers identified a vehicle that matched a description they were given , Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department told The Herald. Bellingham police had been alerted that the Lummi Nation Police Department had warrants out for Rosario’s arrest.
Rosario reportedly attempted to elude police by driving through a closed gate and speeding away in an unsafe manner, according to Peters. An officer was able to perform a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, which caused Rosario’s vehicle to go off the roadway. A PIT maneuver is a tactic used by a pursuing vehicle to force another vehicle to turn sharply, causing the driver to stop.
Police say Rosario refused officer commands and began to dig around inside the vehicle. Officers used a less-than-lethal weapon called a pepperball to subdue Rosario inside the vehicle. Rosario was then taken to Whatcom County Jail, where she remains in custody.
Rosario’s brother-in-law, Mathew Hewett, told The Herald the fire happened while his uncle, aunt, cousin and two of the cousin’s children were in the home. Hewett said no serious injuries occurred during the fire but the family lost all of their possessions. Authorities have not identified the person who Rosario reportedly attempted to set on fire.
Although the fire was out within 30 minutes of crews responding, it did significant damage to the residence, and the trailer parked next to the structure was a complete loss. Anderson said the fire started in the trailer, then moved to the house, where it burned away a significant portion of the building.
Hewett established a GoFundMe account with an initial goal of $30,000 to help pay for the damage done to the family’s home.
The Lummi Police Department established probable cause to arrest Rosario on suspicion of attempted homicide, first-degree arson, reckless endangerment, residential burglary and third-degree theft.
The Bellingham Police Department developed probable cause to arrest her on suspicion of attempting to elude a police vehicle, second-degree malicious mischief and resisting arrest.
Lummi police could not be reached for comment, other than to confirm they were investigating the fire. No explanation for the homicide and attempted murder charges has been provided.
This story was originally published March 26, 2024 at 12:00 PM.
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