WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham woman facing a manslaughter charge is back behind bars following a separate investigation.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater says 62-year-old Kim Ribble was arrested on Thursday, Oct. 15, in connection to an investigation into a regional drug network.
The investigation began in early 2025 and involves the Whatcom Regional Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies. Specifics of the investigation haven’t been released, though investigators found probable cause to arrest Ribble for drug dealing and maintaining a drug house.
My Bellingham Now previously reported that Ribble is one of three people who were linked to the overdose death of 31-year-old Ferndale resident Evan Parberry in August 2020.
Ribble is accused of facilitating the purchase of the fentanyl-laced pills that killed Parberry. She’s facing manslaughter and controlled substance homicide charges in that case.
Two other people implicated in Parberry’s death were already convicted and sentenced, while Ribble pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 9.
She was released from jail in May 2025 after a judge granted her pretrial release, but now remains back at the jail without bail while facing the separate charges for drug dealing.
