<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3gkwwy_0lWK9LUH00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3gkwwy_0lWK9LUH00" width="1320" height="743" ></figure>VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Vancouver community came together for a vigil on Sunday, honoring the lives of Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart.CONTINUING COVERAGE | Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart disappearancePolice recovered the bodies of the mother and daughter on Wednesday, more than a week after they went missing.During the vigil, people shed tears and left behind flowers for Melendez and Stewart. Loved ones also shared what they'll miss the most."Meshay’s laugh and her non-judgement. She was my best friend. Just her in general she was my best friend, I don’t know," Makayla Jeter said.Jeter said Meshay was a voice of reason."She used to always tell me to calm down, I was the crazy friend. She used to always tell me “be calm, best friend, let it go best friend," Jeter said.The event was also used to advocate for change.No one is charged yet in this case. Police have named Melendez's boyfriend as a person of interest.Kirkland Warren is jailed on several charges, including violation of a protection order.Court documents show Warren was released on bail on March 6th. Melendez and her daughter were last seen with him on March 12th.Now the executive director of the YWCA Clark County said she hopes this will be a turning point."Their lives were cut short, and it was cut short because of some gaps that happened in the system and I think that we as a community want to make sure that our loved ones are being protected," Brittini Lasseigne said.Jeter said Melendez's legacy will live on."How genuine of a person she was. This is truly sickening. This is wild to me. I never would have thought it would have been Meshay. I don’t understand, he should have been on an ankle bracelet. Period," she said.Police tell KATU they're continuing to collect evidence in this investigation.</div></body>

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Vancouver community comes together for vigil to honor Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Vancouver community came together for a vigil on Sunday, honoring the lives of Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart. CONTINUING COVERAGE | Meshay Melendez and Layla Stewart disappearance. Police recovered the bodies of the mother and daughter on Wednesday, more than a week after they went...