BLAINE, Wash. — An arrest was made Tuesday in the murder of Thomas Flood, a 67-year-old man from Whidbey Island.
The Whatcom Sheriff’s Office reported 62-year-old Lynda Clare Mercy of Bellingham was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Flood’s body was found with two gunshot wounds off a trail in Semiahmoo Park in Blaine near the Canadian border on April 7.
KIRO 7 talked to Flood’s family before deputies made the arrest.
Deputies made the arrest just one day after releasing surveillance that showed a person driving his vehicle in Bellingham, which was later abandoned in Fairhaven.
Flood’s niece, Kaeleen Lavin, said the family is in shock that he’s gone.
“He had nothing really of value. He had some tools, and he kept simple and kept a simple life,” Lavin said. “We would like to have some answers,” she said.
At around 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, someone at Semiahmoo Park in Blaine discovered Flood’s body.
“He was on a trail in the park there just off the side of the trail,” Undersheriff Doug Chadwick said. “It was fairly apparent the crime likely did not occur there,” he said.
Chadwick said investigators are looking into where the murder actually took place.
Flood died from two gunshot wounds.
His niece said he didn’t have children and liked to keep to himself but had a true talent for his work.
“He was a wonderful carpenter. He could build anything,” Lavin said. “He would do anything for anybody. He was well-known, and he was my uncle and my godfather,” she said.
She remembered him building a ramp after an old boyfriend got hurt and building a bedroom for her inside a house.
“He might complain, but he would do it,” she said, laughing.
“It’s very sad. Especially to be shot and killed like that and just be murdered for nothing,” Lavin said.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said they’re not looking for any more suspects but if anyone has information about the murder to call (360) 778-6663.