Logan Melchert was already in custody at the Clark County Jail after being booked on other charges
On Monday (Oct. 9), Logan Melchert was booked for the additional crime of Murder in the Second Degree in the death of Khalid Al-Hassan, whose remains were previously found in a burned vehicle at a Hazel Dell residence. Melchert was already in custody at the Clark County Jail.
On Aug. 26, Melchert was booked by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit for additional charges of Arson in the Second Degree and Unlawful Disposal of Human Remains related to this investigation. Melchert was already in Clark County Jail after being arrested by CCSO deputies on Aug. 21 for unrelated arrest warrants.
On Aug. 31, detectives with the CCSO, with assistance from detectives with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant at a rural property on Oak Point Rd. in Cowlitz County. This property is owned by the estate of Mark Melchert, Logan Melchert’s deceased father.
A fire had been reported on the property on July 26. During the search of the property, suspected human remains were located in the area where the fire had occurred. They were collected by the Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office and sent to the Washington State Forensic Anthropologist for comparison with the human remains collected in Clark County.
Detectives later learned a forensic anthropologist determined the human remains from the Cowlitz County property matched the previously collected human remains from the burnt vehicle at the Overlook Dr. address. A Forensic Odontologist then identified the human remains as Khalid Al-Hassan by using dental records.
Khalid Al-Hassan had not been in contact with family and friends since approximately July 24. He was reported as a missing person on Aug. 8. Khalid had been living at the location where his remains were discovered, 7204 NW Overlook Dr., in Vancouver. Also residing there were Lindsey Melchert and Logan Melchert. Lindsey and Khalid were not married. Lindsey was out of the area at the time of Khalid’s disappearance.
The investigation thus far has shown that Logan Melchert is responsible for igniting a Kia Soul on fire which contained the human remains of Khalid. The Kia Soul is owned by the estate of Logan’s deceased father.
Information provided by Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Also read:
- A week after raucous WA GOP convention, gubernatorial candidates share thoughtsThere were dramatically different takes from the two Republican candidates for governor on how last weekend’s state party convention in Spokane went down.
- Opinion: As more states enact learning choice programs that benefit children, nearly one million families have applied to participateLiv Finne of the Washington Policy Center reports that an exciting opportunity has emerged from the damage inflicted on students from the extended COVID public school shutdowns and school curriculum controversies.
- GoFundMe spotlight: An opportunity to help pay medical bill for Napoleon the AlpacaMountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas, based in Ridgefield, is raising funds to help pay the medical bills for Napoleon the Alpaca, who suffered a neurological event.
- Ridgefield High School claims national title in Knowledge BowlThe brilliant Ridgefield Spudders Knowledge Bowl Team shook off a tough round in the state competition, then won the national championship.
- County treasurer offers drive-through tax payment drop-off, April 29-30Clark County Treasurer Alishia Topper will be reopening the drive-through tax payment drop-off window for the last two days of the tax season.
- Vancouver gears up for busy season of paving and preserving streetsThe city of Vancouver is preparing to pave and preserve streets across 20 neighborhoods this summer.
- Volcanoes return home Saturday, April 27, in The Basketball LeagueThe Vancouver Volcanoes look to improve to 4-0 against the Great Falls Electric this season, with a home game Saturday, April 27, at Hudson’s Bay High School.