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.