Bellingham woman arrested on suspicion of human trafficking
A 42-year-old Bellingham woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of multiple felonies, including human trafficking.
Bellingham Police Department Lt. Claudia Murphy said the woman procured hotel rooms on three separate occasions for a man to sexually assault a teenager in exchange for methamphetamine.
The man, identified as 46-year-old Kyle Strode of Bellingham, was arrested Oct. 24, 2024. Court records show that Strode was in a “relationship” with a 14-year-old girl, who was also known to the 42-year-old woman.
Strode and the girl met in hotel rooms three times in the weeks leading up to his arrest, according to court documents. He sexually assaulted her twice and attempted to do so a third time, and provided her with methamphetamine at least once. A second teenage girl was also present at the hotel and given methamphetamine the last time they met, according to court documents.
Strode was charged with third-degree rape of a child, commercial sex abuse of a minor, communicating with a minor for immoral purposes and two counts of distribution of controlled substances to a minor. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial is scheduled for March 2 in Whatcom County Superior Court.
The 42-year-old woman was aware of the sexual assault and drug use in the hotel rooms she booked, Murphy said. She also attempted to contact Strode in Whatcom County Jail through another inmate following his arrest.
Murphy said the woman faces four felony charges: one count of second-degree human trafficking and three counts of conspiracy to commit rape of a child in the third degree. Prosecutors have yet to formally charge her. She is being held at Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bond.
Resources
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org. Brigid Collins Family Support Center professionals are on call between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday to answer questions about children, families, abuse prevention or treatment at (360) 734-4616.
▪ Child Protective Services: Washington state hot line for reporting child abuse and neglect, 866-829-2153.
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime: 360-325-3310 or nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/tlils-taaaltha-victims-of-crime-program
▪ 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 February 3, 2026 at 11:44 AM.