FBI offering reward for information on missing Bellingham woman with ties to Nyssa
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BELLINGHAM, WA – (Release from the the FBI-Oregon) The FBI Seattle Field Office, Lummi Nation Police Department, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Bellingham Police Department, and other law enforcement partners are investigating the disappearance of tribal member Besalynn Mary James, who was last seen on January 20, 2025, at 1:16 p.m. at her residence in Bellingham, Washington, on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation. James was reported missing to the Lummi Nation Police Department on January 25, 2025.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the individual(s) involved in the disappearance of Besalynn Mary James.
“FBI Seattle’s missing persons cases are a high priority as we and our partners seek to uncover the answers that led to these painful disappearances,” said Jerald Burkin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “In Ms. James’s case, over the past year, law enforcement has conducted multiple investigative actions across several states to try to discover what happened and her whereabouts. We will continue to diligently investigate this case, no matter how long it takes. We encourage anyone with information relating to Ms. James’s disappearance to contact law enforcement immediately.”
James has ties to Boise and Nampa, Idaho; Nyssa, Oregon; and Sacramento, California. She is believed to have been wearing a black jacket at the time of her disappearance. The rest of her belongings were left behind when she went missing, and she also did not drive. James was never
known to go anywhere without her dogs, and they were left behind as well. Please view
additional demographic and descriptive information on the poster.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-
800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the FBI’s Seattle Field Office at (206) 622-0460. You may
also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can
submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
FBI Seattle is one of the 56 FBI field offices located in the United States. The mission of the FBI
is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. For more information, visit www.fbi.gov or www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/seattle.
