Police search for missing Vancouver mother, daughter; boyfriend named person of interest

VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - The Vancouver Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing mother and daughter.

The mother, 27-year-old Meshay Melendez, and her 8-year-old daughter, Layla Stewart, were last seen on March 12, early in the morning. Their last known location was in the 7700 block of Vancouver Mall Drive. A car that police believe belonged to Melendez was found a short distance from there on March 19.

Melendez is 5 feet 9 inches and 185 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Stewart is about 4 feet tall and 50 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

On March 19, police arrested Kirkland Warren, a person of interest in their disappearance, on charges of tampering with a witness, violation of domestic violence orders and possession of a firearm. Police believe Warren was the last person Melendez and Stewart were with before they disappeared.

Police are asking anyone in the area to check their surveillance cameras between March 11 and March 18 for these cars:

• 2021 maroon Dodge Charger license OR plate 812MWM
• 1999 white Chevrolet Lumina WA license plate 3A68206
• 2011 white Chrysler 200 WA license plate

Anyone with information about their location is asked to please contact Detective Givens robert.givens@cityofvancouver.us, Detective Nolan chadd.nolan@cityofvancouver.us, or call 911.

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