A jury found a Bellingham woman guilty of unpremeditated murder, wrapping up nearly a month-long trial to determine whether she was responsible for the death of Thomas Flood, a 67-year-old Whidbey Island man who was found dead on Semiahmoo Spit in April 2021.
Lynda Clare Mercy, 67, of Bellingham, was convicted of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement on Feb. 23 in Whatcom County Superior Court. A sentencing hearing will be held at a future date.
The trial started with opening arguments from both the defense and state on Jan. 26. Prosecutors said Mercy had just taken the Port Townsend ferry to Coupeville on April 6, 2021, when she was seen on surveillance footage heading to where Flood’s van was typically parked near the terminal. Flood was described during the trial as a carpenter who kept to himself and lived out of his van.
A partially crushed bullet casing was discovered near Flood’s van that matched a .40-caliber gun registered to Mercy, prosecutors said. Stains that appeared to be blood were also found in the van, though defense said they were never tested. Prosecutors said Flood was shot twice, though both shots would not have been enough to kill him had he received medical attention.
Mercy appeared in Blaine Municipal Court the next day, on April 7, according to court records, and two teenagers discovered Flood’s body that morning near the Semiahmoo Park parking lot.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office detectives followed Flood’s cell phone data, which led them to his phone and van in Fairhaven. The data also showed them the route Mercy drove Flood’s van from Semiahmoo to Fairhaven, including a stop Mercy took at a Bellingham gas station. WCSO used surveillance footage of Mercy at the gas station to seek the public’s help in identifying her. Once identified, Mercy’s friend reported to police that Mercy gifted them a gun shortly after.
Defense told the jury not enough evidence existed beyond a reasonable doubt to convict Mercy. They said prosecutors didn’t have witnesses to Flood being shot, leaving a hole in who pulled the trigger, when Flood was shot and where Flood died.
Mercy has remained in Whatcom County Jail since her arrest in April 2021.
