BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A former Western Washington University dance professor has been identified as the victim in a recent murder in Bellingham.
The university confirmed to MyBellinghamNow that 74-year-old Nolan Dennett was killed at a home on Old Samish Road on June 6.
Officers arrived to find Dennett suffering blunt force trauma injuries and medics declared him dead at the scene. The suspect, 36-year-old James Singleton, told dispatchers that he and Dennett had been taking drugs in the days prior and got into a physical fight.
Investigators later found a hammer believed to be connected to the assault on a trail to Arroyo Park.
Dennett is described as the “original architect” of the dance program at Western and won awards while choreographing over 30 major ballets. He retired as the director of the university’s dance program in 2021 after 32 years at WWU.
Meanwhile, Singleton is scheduled to be arraigned on the morning of Friday, June 14.
