Former WWU professor identified as victim in recent Bellingham murder

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A former dance instructor at Western Washington University has been identified as the victim of a recent murder in Bellingham.

The university confirmed to MyBellinghamNow that Nolan Dennett, 74, was killed at a home on Old Samish Road on June 6.

Officers arrived to find Dennett suffering from blunt force trauma and medics pronounced him dead at the scene. The suspect, James Singleton, 36, told dispatchers that he and Dennett had taken drugs over the previous days and had gotten into a physical fight.

Investigators later found a hammer believed to be linked to the assault on a trail leading to Arroyo Park.

Dennett is described as the “original architect” of Western's dance program and has won awards choreographing more than 30 major ballets. He retired as director of the university's dance program in 2021 after 32 years at WWU.

Meanwhile, Singleton is expected to be arraigned in court on the morning of Friday, June 14.