Bellingham, WA police seek public's help in 16-year-old cold case murder
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Bellingham Police Department (BPD) is bringing a murder case back into the spotlight 16 years after it went cold and is asking for the public’s help.
(Bellingham Police Department)
The BPD posted the 2009 unsolved murder case of Bryan L. Marriott on social media Monday morning, noting that this month marks 16 years since his death. Detectives are still looking for any information that may lead to an arrest in the case.
The backstory:
On Nov. 20, 2009, at around 11:11 p.m., 43-year-old Marriott was found shot to death next to his car on East Ivy at North Garden Street in Bellingham.
One witness reported hearing an argument just before the shooting and seeing a dark-colored passenger speeding down North Garden Street towards downtown.
Detectives say before the shooting, Marriott was in Fairhaven, South Bellingham, at a place called the Fairhaven Pub and Martini Bar. Just prior to that, he was at a place called The Black Cat.
It was just before 11 p.m. when he pulled up to a stop sign just a block from his house. It was pouring rain, but for some reason he got out of his car.
The car was found facing uphill and still running with the driver's door open and the windshield wipers on. The emergency brake was set as if he'd gotten out of his car for some reason shortly before he was shot.
Detectives said this shooting took place in a heavily populated area, and police believe there must be witnesses who saw something who haven't come forward.
What they're saying:
"For the past 16 years, this case has remained open with little to no new information," wrote the BPD on social media. "Detectives investigating the case hope someone seeing this post or watching the video will remember some details which will aid in solving the crime. Or, after all these years, the person involved may feel more willing to come forward and help provide answers and closure for Mr. Marriott’s family."
Link to video: City of Bellingham Cold Cases
Anyone with information is asked to contact the BPD using the following methods:
- Email: wee.cob.org/tips
- Phone: 260-778-8611
- Detective Welsh: 360-778-8690
The Source: Information in this story comes from the Bellingham Police Department.
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