Killer’s Signature Hat Exposes Her in Gruesome Murder

It's a cool spring day in the Pacific Northwest, and Semiyamu Park is the perfect place to grab some fresh air and soak in the breathtaking scenery. But around 2 p.m., a morbid discovery shatters the serene atmosphere. Number one, this is a work for the city of Blaine. Blaine, Washington. I had a person out here at the park at a Semiyamu visiting with his family, riding bikes, and they came across a person in a bunch of sleeping bags, unresponsive land out here, it's kind of on a small path to the beach here. If you need a name. Maybe I would send a name for you, so we pretty sure that this person is deceased. When first responders reach the park, they find the victim, an older Caucasian male, lying on a gravel trail covered in bedding. He's got two bullet wounds to his chest and no pulse. It appears he's been dead for at least several hours. Homicides are extremely rare around here, so Blaine police officers contact the Watcom County Sheriff's Office for assistance. Detectives from the Sheriff's Office arrive and assume the lead. Right away they note the lack of blood evidence and the absence of any bullet casings. This signals that the victim was likely shot elsewhere and then dumped here. Detectives search the victim's body but there's no ID or cell phone on him, however they do turn up a potential clue, a paycheck stub from Hansen's building supply. The payee is listed as Tom Flood. They also spot a distinct cloth mask near his body. Could it have been left by the killer? As the evidence is logged and collected the victim is transported to the Medical Examiner's Office. Using fingerprint records he is identified as 67-year-old Thomas Flood. Detectives run Thomas's name through their system. It appears he had no fixed home address but vehicle registration records indicate he owned a 1994 White Ford Econoline van. Authorities issue a below for his van. Then they head to Hansen's building supply where managers confirmed that Thomas was employed as a contracted carpenter. Thomas's colleagues are stunned by the news of his murder. The last time they heard from him was yesterday around 3pm. Nothing seemed to miss. They describe him as quiet, gentle and hardworking, not the type of man who had enemies. But Thomas was also a bit of an enigma. He didn't talk much about his past and he issued most creature comforts, preferring to live in his van. However he did have a cell phone. Colleagues provide detectives with his number and they immediately obtain a warrant and request Thomas's cell phone records and data. The next morning the Medical Examiner performs Thomas's autopsy. Although he doesn't find any bullet fragments in his body, he narrows down the caliber of firearm that was used to kill him. And his findings suggest Thomas didn't die immediately. Later that morning detectives get their first big lead. Cellular data indicates Thomas's phone is at a church in Bellingham, 30 miles south of the crime scene. When detectives arrive at the church they find Thomas's van parked in the back. Inside the van police locate his cell phone and discover a large pool of dried blood on the rear floorboard. While detectives wait for the van to be towed back to the sheriff's office for processing, a woman approaches them. She tells them she lives nearby and yesterday around 4.30pm she witnessed something suspicious. An unidentified person parked the van at the church and then left on foot. She couldn't make out if it was a man or a woman, but she says the person was dressed in dark colored clothing and carried a large multi-colored bag. Unfortunately there are no security cameras in the church parking lot, so detectives contact surrounding businesses hoping they might have captured the suspect on tape. Detectives also speak with Thomas's family to see if they can provide any more leads. But they're at a total loss. According to his relatives Thomas was born and raised into coma, Washington. Growing up he was a bright soft-spoken boy who loved music and cars. As he got older his struggles with alcoholism led to a failed marriage and a lengthy astrangement from his family. In the early 90s Thomas left Tacoma and embraced a transient lifestyle along Washington's northern coast. He also became sober and in recent years he'd reconnected with his loved ones, which makes his death all the more heartbreaking. The following day one of Thomas's friends contacts detectives and reveals that for the past several years Thomas typically parked his van at a ferry terminal in Coupville and slept there overnight. Detectives head to the ferry terminal and search the area. Loan behold, they unearth a key piece of new evidence. With the discovery of the bullet casing detectives theorize how Thomas's murder unfolded. He was shot at the ferry terminal outside his van. Then as Thomas bled to death his killer put him into the back of the van and drove north to Semiamu Park to dump his body. Three days after they recover the bullet casing detectives catch a major break in the case. A gas station manager notifies police that on the morning of April 7th security cameras captured someone pull up to the station in Thomas's van. The person went inside and paid for gas, then filled up the tank and left. There's only one problem, the suspect is wearing a black hooded coat and his or her face is obscured by a mask. But detectives are convinced this person is tied to Thomas's murder so they release images of the suspect to the media and appeal to the public for help. Within hours multiple tips pour in and one name comes up repeatedly. Hi, how do I call in to give a tip on the murder that happened in Semiamu? What kind of tip do you want to provide? I know the person in the photo. Okay, what's that person's name? Her name is Alinda, L-Y-N-D-A, and her last name is Mercy, M-E-R-C-Y. Okay. How do you know her? She was, I used to live at Chukkinets Square in Bellingham, the fifth floor and apartment. And she lived down the hall and she's bipolar and she started to go on these ramps and you can see them on her Facebook page and did she go off her meds then, is that what you're thinking? Oh my God, yeah. She started to climb onto the scaffolding and on her building. She used to threaten my neighbor. She used to say that he was a pedophile and that she hates cuts and that you've everybody needs to go on a man hunt to kill him, and so I thought it was him that got murdered. All right, all right, I'm going to have someone get me a phone call, okay? When police look into Linda Mercy, they discover the 62-year-old lives just three blocks from the church where Thomas's van was abandoned. They also learn that three years ago, Linda purchased a 40-calibre pistol. And as one of the tipsters indicated, her social media is littered with bizarre videos and disturbing photos, including several of her with what appears to be a large knife. As detectives study one photo after another, they come across a significant clue in a selfie she posted, Linda is wearing a gray stocking cap. When they compare it to the gas station security footage, it looks identical to the hat their suspect was wearing. Still detectives uncover nothing that personally links Linda to Thomas, or explains why she would have any reason to want him dead. But soon another tip comes in and it sends the investigation into overdrive. you're seeing a press release with the Suspects picture. a credit union employee contacts the Wattcom County Sheriff's Office. She tells them that around 3 p.m. on April 7th, their security cameras captured a female customer, matching the suspect's description, walking into the credit union and making a deposit. The customer's name isn't another than Linda Mercy, and the credit union is in the vicinity of her apartment and the church, where police believe she dumped Thomas's van a little over an hour later. Six days after Thomas was murdered, detectives set up surveillance outside Linda's apartment building. Around 11 a.m. Linda emerges from the building, police swoop in and arrest her without incident. When detectives search her bag, they discover a cloth mask identical to the one found near Thomas' body. They also find a wig and a change of clothing. Linda is transported to the Wattcom County Sheriff's Office for an interview. Linda, is that what you prefer to be called? Okay, Linda Mercy. Okay, I think it's okay. Take care of her. Okay. We just wanted to. I'm sorry. My name is Eric. I'm a detective at Sheriff's Office. Okay, and when you were out there on the street in the deputies' approach to you, they read you some. Right. You're right. Okay, you're aware of those rights. You're right. You're right. You're right. You're right. Are you aware of those rights? And you're okay with those rights. You acknowledge those rights. Are there any questions about those? Okay, with those in mind, Linda? Do I have a lawyer? I have a free lawyer. But I don't know. I don't know. No, I'm okay. Okay. Well, let's do this. Let's make sure we're on the same page here. Linda, we. I don't have it. Okay. Okay. We'd like to talk to you about what happened. But we want to make sure that we're all understanding each other. So you just mentioned the word lawyer. I don't know. Well, because they mentioned that's an array. I'm sorry. And that's an array. It is. And that would mean someone. I don't know. But you don't want to. I just. I'm just trying to understand and keep up with you all. Because you're way ahead of me. Okay. It's a good job with that. I mean, I don't say well planned about it. You know that and you were cool on the ground. I mean, I've been. Before, I heard myself more in my apartment. Okay. Carefully, it's a little treachery. Knowing Linda's reported history of mental health issues detectives proceed carefully. So, Linda, before we get started, I just wanted to give you an idea of what we want to talk to you about. Okay. All right. We've got some questions about where you were. Okay. And we've got some videotape. We've got some audio tape. We've got some things that have finally come together. We're hoping to get your side of the story and your explanation is what happened. Okay. All right. So, again, I want to make sure that we understand each other. You told me earlier you do not want a lawyer. No, I didn't. This is why I get it too, because I say something. I don't know what it means to say, I do too. And it's documented five times already. So you're way ahead of you, too, or see you. [Sighs] [Sighs] [Sighs] [Sighs] I could probably hear some flowing. But I don't know what that means. And I don't know. No. Sorry, sorry. Just get your staples. [Sighs] And I'll get back to. Yeah, you too. Yeah. Take your time. So would you like to sit down and explain to us what happened over the last couple of days? I have on Thursday. What's today? One day. Today is Tuesday. I got on last Thursday. Okay. Got the A's. I got on April 1st, which is a Thursday. Okay. When they didn't have to dance and they had money, I thought they had more but I didn't understand that either. So at the end of the court it was port towns and port for port towns. Yeah, it was cool, then I did really put in my money and got lost, so I just ended up getting right out to Everton Seattle and then back Thursday for my cat. How did you get there? You left, you set up first, you took a cat, okay. And then I got a ride and a ride and then a ride, and then I took a ferry. Do you remember the names of any of the people you got rides from? Yeah. Okay. Why was it that you went to that area again? Really? You could tell in a way, why? Do you want me to put more ice in with me? I mean, I've been really, really nice. Do you want my name and my concealed number again? Do you want my date of birth and all that again? Do you want me to start from that very beginning? Please What beginning of life? Okay, what I want to add a cord is I went to four towns and I went to port port port What what and then around and I got I'm a top card from Everdeen I don't remember the trip And then I got away And I'm giving you guys a benefit, but really, it even must be very specific with me, because I don't trust that you're nailed. I think the same question, that's a compliment. I'm sorry. I don't watch cop shows on TV, but it's just that I'm sorry. I'm just confused. No, I don't know how that I understand. Thanks for sharing that, because I'm confused with myself. We've got some video that shows you back in this area prior to the hate. Okay. Um, so can we go through that? I don't know what you're all talking about, but, um, Okay, so. I don't, I don't, I. Okay, well I. You're gonna tell me anything! So how long did you, how long were you in Port Townsend? Sorry for it? Did you have to cross the ferry? No, I'm talking about the ferry boat. You didn't talk about the ferry boat? Do you remember the ferry boat? Do you remember the ferry terminal and the ride to Port Townsend? Do you remember the cab? Do you remember the ride? Do you remember the casino? Do you remember the hotel? Do you remember the ferry terminal? And you remember the ferry terminal from nowhere to Port Townsend city? Right, yeah. Yeah, I remember that there. And I remember that there. And now I'm going to take a point. Get in the boat because I don't get it down. Hey! I just, I don't know, I really, I'm really, lawyer man, please, please lawyer me out, because I don't, I don't know, I don't know, please spare! Yep, that's okay, that's okay, it's your job. No, well uh, I know, and you're not being mean at all, but you're confused? Oh, yeah, right? What's your status? Socialeability wise, age wise, Well, Linda, at this point you added for a lawyer, so we're going to have to suspend the legal case. Yeah, because I don't know where you're going or what the f***ing, I don't know. Okay. Because right now it's the same question, right? It's not entirely. And I'm about to get angry, and that does not serve any of us well. Okay. There's nothing personal. That's why I stopped it before. Brenda's interview doesn't provide detectives with any further clarity. The evidence speaks for itself. Here's the scenario. Okay. We know that you murdered this man. Okay. You're going to be booked into jail. Well, if you know, then the. I don't know if you know, then the. Well right now that's part of the investigation has led us to. You know, you know, you know, so yeah, I do need a lawyer, because I don't know. God, that thing, but you know everything, so thank you. Linda Mercy is handcuffed and transported to the Wattcom County jail for holding. And a search of her apartment uncovers more in criminating evidence, including the clothing she was seen wearing and the multicolored bag she was carrying in the security videos. However, there's no sign of the suspected murder weapon, Linda's 40-caliber pistol. But later that day, as news of Linda's arrest makes headlines, one of her friends reaches out to police. Hi, my name is. and I need to turn over a weapon that was given to me by a person of interest in shooting. And when did you get this weapon? It was given to me on Sunday, ostensibly. The person is a dance student of mine. Her name is Linda Claire Mercy. And I believe she's in custody. Yes. She had actually asked me to take it from her for safe keeping, which I did, and I was going to return it to the pawn shop where she had it. I didn't know anything was going on. I just found out what was going on. A friend of mine texted me while I was at the rock climbing gym tonight, so I just got home and I was like, "Whoa." The information is turned over to detectives. When they meet with Linda's friend, she explains how Linda's gun fell into her hands. She acquired the gun for protection, and as far as I know, never have the part of the gun. So the other night, when I went, I went to check her conference Sunday. She knew I was coming, so she had what kind of normal for her to have little gifts ready to give to whoever's coming over. So she had like a little bucket pull of things, which I turned over, because I didn't know if I should or not, so I just did, but she also wanted to give me the gun. She said that she wanted me to take it away from her because she shouldn't have it. She didn't want to possibly hurt somebody, and I said, "Okay, I respect that decision, and I just took it. She had it in a bag, like, ready to get to me, and oh, and she said that she had some extra hammer. She's like, "Oh, here there's ammo for us," and she put that in the bag, too. The woman says she didn't give it much thought until she learned about Linda's arrest. I mean, I was told about the news article by a friend. That's the reason why I knew about it. I got a text from a friend when it was not climbing. And I thought probably that I should, you know, as soon as I found out that I should get this weapon out of my possession to, you know, the investigation as soon as possible, which is why I called 911 because there's no other option after a certain power. She expresses shock over the allegations because she says the Linda she knows isn't a cold-blooded killer. I don't know the list of mental diagnoses that she has specifically. I know she has PTSD. I know that she has used the phrase cognitive impairment. She has a cognitive impairment. So she has some developmental disability stuff going on. I know just from interacting with her that she doesn't have very good executive function. And we talked about that. She and I have talked about that. I mean, she's gotten care for her mental health issues. I'm sure for years. And she needs care for that. Like she's going to get triggered and not be able to communicate, you know, which is probably already happened. She has a hard time. She trusts it very easily and we worry that she could be manipulated by folks who don't have her best interests apart. So I am personally worried that that's what has happened in this situation. Detectives find no evidence to suggest anyone else coerced Linda into killing Thomas. DNA found on the steering wheel of Thomas's van points solely to her. And ballistics testing links the bullet casing to Linda's 40 caliber pistol. With no obvious motive, detectives are left to surmise that Linda impulsively shot Thomas so she could steal his van. Linda Mercy pleads not guilty to second degree murder, but in February of 2026, she is found guilty and sentenced to 23 years in prison. At her sentencing, Thomas Flood's sister conveys the devastating pain that his murder has left behind. Saying, quote, "He was honest and good and Mercy murdered him in cold blood. He leaves a void in many lives, especially mine." [Music]