Account
Jan 28, 2026
Jan 28, 2026
Besalynn
Mary James
62
62
5'2 inches
180 lbs
Native American
Female
Besalynn Mary James, a 62-year-old woman from the Lummi Nation, was last seen at her home on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation in Whatcom County, Washington, on the afternoon of January 20, 2025. A member of the Lummi Tribal Nation, Besalynn, also known as Bessy, was a grandmother and a beloved member of her community. She is described as a Native American female with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 5'2" and weighing 180 pounds. Distinguishing features include a scar on her right arm and a tattoo of the word "Bes" on one of her arms. She was officially reported missing to the Lummi Nation Police Department five days after she was last seen, on January 25, 2025. The circumstances surrounding Besalynn's disappearance have been described as suspicious. Her boyfriend at the time, Terry Bowman, told authorities that she left their residence for a walk at 2:00 a.m. on January 21, 2025, and never came back. However, this was the last reported sighting of her, and it was not corroborated by anyone else. Adding to the concern, Besalynn left behind all of her personal belongings, including her three dogs, which was highly uncharacteristic as she was known to never go anywhere without them. Furthermore, she did not have a vehicle and did not drive. Her sister discovered that the black jacket and white sneakers that Bowman claimed Besalynn was wearing when she left were actually still in her trailer. The residence also appeared to have been unusually clean, which was not typical for Besalynn. The investigation into Besalynn's disappearance is being handled by multiple agencies, including the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI. Terry Bowman has been named a person of interest in the case, and it is believed he may be in Idaho, although no charges have been filed in connection with her disappearance. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her case. Authorities have conducted extensive investigative efforts across several states, as Besalynn had connections to Boise and Nampa in Idaho, Nyssa in Oregon, and Sacramento, California. This case is a painful example of the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, and her family and community continue to hold out hope for answers. The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues to seek information from the public to determine what happened to Besalynn Mary James.
Jan 20, 2025
Bellingham
Washington
Bellingham
Federal Bureau of Investigation
206-622-0460
05/29/2026
