Clinton murder suspect to appear in court today

The Clinton resident arrested Thursday in the killing of a Bellingham woman has been released from Harborview Medical Center and will make her first appearance in court today at 3 p.m. in Bellingham.

The Clinton resident arrested Thursday in the killing of a Bellingham woman has been released from Harborview Medical Center and will make her first appearance in court today at 3 p.m. in Bellingham.

The Bellingham Police Department booked Kara Jo Buchanan, 40, into the Whatcom County Jail Saturday afternoon under investigation of first degree murder, according to the jail’s records.

Buchanan was arrested Thursday evening near Double Bluff after she allegedly admitted to killing Kriston Dunya, 32, in Bellingham last weekend. Buchanan was airlifted to Harborview after an apparent suicide attempt.

Dunya was found dead in her apartment July 5 by a co-worker who went to check on her after she didn’t show up for work.

A shotgun was recovered from Buchanan’s home and may have been used in the murder, according to Lt. Rick Sucee of the Bellingham Police Department.