Bellingham woman faces 1st-degree attempted murder charge after stabbing incident

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of Whitecap Road in Bellingham about 12:50am on Monday, March 13th, due to a report of an assault with a weapon.

Approximate location of the reported assault

WCSO Spokesperson Deb Slater told Whatcom News the victim had been stabbed and was bleeding heavily from a wound that appeared to have been caused by a knife. Deputies administered first aid until aid arrived. The victim was transported to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center. According to a probable cause affidavit filed by prosecutors in Whatcom County Superior Court, the victim underwent surgery due to the severity of the injury.

The victim was able to tell deputies that the assailant was female but was unsure where she fled.

Deputies found a driver’s license for a 51-year-old Bellingham woman while searching the residence for other occupants.

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According to the probable cause affidavit filed by prosecutors in Whatcom County Superior Court, a witness said the woman had been arrested before due to domestic violence situations involving the victim.

Slater said deputies were able to determine there was an active no contact order prohibiting the woman from being within 500 feet of the residence.

Deputies called for the woman to make her presence in the residence known to them. She did not.

The woman was eventually found inside a gun safe located in a closet and arrested without incident.

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The woman, identified as Shereen Heimer Dorsch, was booked into Whatcom County Jail. She has been charged with the following crimes.

1st-degree attempted murder
9 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm due to being in the gun safe with the guns while under an order prohibiting her from possessing firearms
violation of a no contact order (domestic violence)
1st-degree burglary
obstructing a police officer

Dorsch made a preliminary appearance in court on Monday where prosecutors asked for bail to be set at $500,000 and defense requested $100,000. The court set bail at $250,000 bond or $25,000 cash.

As of the morning of Tuesday, March 14th, Dorsch remained in custody and was scheduled to be arraigned on March 24th.