Police investigate suspicious death after woman's body found in basement apartment

BELLINGHAM -- Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 59-year-old woman after her body was found in her basement apartment.

According to the Bellingham Police Department, patrol officers were called to an apartment in the 600 block of 12th Street shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday with report of a body found.

Police said the body was discovered by the woman's co-worker, who went to check on her after she failed to show up for work.

The woman's name was not yet released and the cause of death is not yet known.

Few details are available, but police canvased the area following the discovery in an effort to piece together the events in the days and hours leading up to the the discovery of her body. Police would not indicate why they believed the death to be suspicious.

Anyone with information on the death or who witnessed suspicious circumstances in the area recently should call the Bellingham Police Tip Line at 360-778-8611.