Whatcom County Superior Court was busy in 2024. Between January and November, more than 1,300 criminal cases were filed. That doesn’t include the number of cases from 2023 that are still making their way through the justice system.
Court delays are common as the criminal justice system continues to clear out a backlog of cases from the COVID-19 pandemic. Complex cases, like homicide, also require more time as defense attorneys and prosecutors conduct their own investigations and prepare their arguments. Because of that, trial dates tend to get moved constantly.
Cascadia Daily News has compiled a list of the top five court stories we’ll be following in 2025, plus two more we’re awaiting news on. These are some of the most high-profile cases, from murder to child abuse.
1. Tana Perkins Reneau
While Reneau, 53, was running for a Blaine School Board position, she was arrested in June 2023 and pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including rape of a child in the first degree and three counts of incest.
Court documents allege Reneau physically and sexually abused four children in her care over three years.
Reneau has been out of custody since her arrest after posting a $500,000 bond and must receive court permission to leave the county.
While Reneau, a former teacher and business owner, has not been teaching since her arrest, she still holds an active teaching certificate in Washington, according to public records. She previously ran twice for Blaine School Board, each time unsuccessfully.
Reneau is scheduled for a status hearing on her case on Feb. 12 in Whatcom Superior Court.
2. Austin Case
Former Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputy Case was arrested in July 2023 following an investigation by the Skagit Island County Multi Agency Response Team. An anonymous report had been made about Case’s conduct with women.
Allegedly, two women said they had been held against their will and raped by Case between September 2022 and July 2023.
A third woman came forward in March 2024 and additional felonies were filed against Case, including rape in the third degree and indecent liberties.
Recently, Case, 24, had a hearing on the status of his case. His trial is tentatively set for Jan. 13, but that date could move. Case remains out of custody.
3. Elijah Belmont
The 23-year-old Marysville man is accused of murdering Henry “Hank” King of Bellingham in March 2023. However, Belmont was not arrested until nearly nine months after King’s killing.
Police used cell phone data to place Belmont at the time and area of the murder and obtained a search warrant for the murder weapon.
King, who was homeless, could be frequently found at the bench near the boardwalk at Boulevard Park. He liked to chat with passersby, showing off his sports trading cards and he couldn’t pass up the chance to pet dogs.
Recently, Belmont’s case has been set for a status hearing in the middle of March. He remains incarcerated at Whatcom County Jail.
4. James Singleton
Singleton, 36, is accused of killing Nolan Dennett, 74, at Dennett’s home on Old Samish Road in early June. The two, who were in a physical relationship, had met online in May, and Dennett had invited Singleton of Dallas to move in with him.
According to court documents, Singleton and Dennett had been smoking methamphetamine together when Dennett became “overly aggressive and dominant” and gave Singleton a deadline to move out of the residence. Singleton took a hammer into his room. He later allegedly hit Dennett over the head several times before discarding the weapon in Arroyo Park.
Singleton was arrested on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Singleton remains incarcerated at the Whatcom County Jail. His next court appearance is in February.
Dennett was a former Western Washington University professor and was considered the “architect” of the school’s dance program.
5. Amy Siniscarco
Between 2017 and 2022, Siniscarco, a former assistant manager at Bellingham’s Hardware Sales, allegedly embezzled more than $1.4 million from the business. She was arrested in January 2023 after a four-month investigation by the Bellingham Police Department.
Siniscarco, 46, of Sedro-Woolley, used forged checks, mortgage direct payments, credit card fraud, petty cash theft and more to make more than 190 transactions totaling at least $1.42 million.
She faces multiple counts of theft in the first degree, identity theft and forgery.
Siniscarco has a status hearing on her case on Jan. 15 in Whatcom County Superior Court. She remains out of custody.
One sentencing we’re awaiting: Brian Drake
Drake, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree rape of a child, one count of first-degree incest and one count of second-degree child molestation in August 2024 in front of a Whatcom County Superior Court judge.
Drake was originally arrested more than a year ago and faced 22 charges relating to the abuse of two victims who were related to him, according to court documents.
In exchange for his guilty plea, an amended information document was filed stating the abuse occurred between 2004 and 2009. The rape charge and child molestation charge occurred between 2004 and 2009 with one of the victims. The incest charge related to the second victim, who said the abuse happened between 2005 and 2009.
Drake’s older brother Aaron, who also faces similar charges in the same case, was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison in Montana related to a weapons assault charge. It’s unclear when Aaron Drake will be extradited to Whatcom County.
Holding up Drake’s sentencing is the completion of a pre-sentencing investigation report. The document includes victim impact statements, a criminal history report and recommendations on the offender’s chance to commit another crime as well as community safety issues.
Drake’s sentencing is tentatively set for Jan. 9 in Whatcom County Superior Court.
One unresolved case: Triple murder in Concrete
Jason Birman, 50, disappeared after allegedly killing his wife, stepson and the stepson’s girlfriend in August 2024 in their Concrete home, which then burned in a fire.
The bodies were recovered in the wreckage of the house and the Skagit County Coroner’s Office determined gunshot wounds had contributed to the deaths of Erin Birman, 52, Taylor Dawson, 19, and Jillian Whitney Van Boven, 18.
Erin Birman was described by her four remaining children as “a force of nature, a woman who faced life’s challenges head-on with a spirit that could never be broken.” She had 11 grandchildren.
Taylor and Jillian shared a deep love of the outdoors and both enjoyed hiking barefoot in the mountains.
Jillian loved forensics and animal veterinary sciences. Taylor worked at Howard Miller Steelhead Park, near the confluence of the Sauk and Skagit rivers.
Birman and his truck, a blue 1994 Chevrolet Pickup Truck GMT400 with Washington plates, registration C67636L, have not been seen since Aug. 9.
Despite a $15,000 reward being offered by federal authorities, and the U.S. Marshal Service Western District of Washington releasing video and recent photos of Birman, no new information has come out.
Anyone who has had contact with Birman or has any information about his whereabouts is urged to call the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-926-8332, submit a tip using USMS Tips or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). If seen, call 911 and do not approach.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
