Prosecutors charge two in Whatcom County human trafficking investigation
Whatcom County prosecutors have officially charged a pair of suspects as part of an investigation into the trafficking of a teenage girl.
Annie Malm, 42, of Bellingham was arrested Monday. A warrant was signed Thursday in Whatcom County Superior Court for the arrest of her boyfriend, Brandon Edwards. As of Friday afternoon, Edwards was not in police custody.
Court records allege that Malm and Edwards rented hotel rooms on three occasions for 46-year-old Kyle Strode of Bellingham to sexually assault a teenage girl. Strode was arrested Oct. 24, 2024.
Strode gave Malm a “substantial amount” of methamphetamine, according to court documents, and also provided the drug to the girl he assaulted and her friends.
Prosecutors charged both Edwards and Malm with second-degree trafficking. Malm also was charged with two counts of third-degree rape of a child. She pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held in Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail.
Malm’s trial is scheduled for March 23.
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.