Kirkland Warren sentenced to life for double murder and child molestation in Clark County

A Vancouver man charged with murdering his former girlfriend and her7-year-old daughter was sentenced to life in prison in Clark County Tuesday.

28-year-old Kirkland Warren pleaded guilty last month to aggravated first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree child molestation.

"A crime of this magnitude demands a punishment commensurate with the offense to the victims and to the community," said Judge David Gregerson. "This court sees no persuasive reason why this defendant should not receive the maximum punishment under Washington law."

The bodies of 27-year-old Meshay Melendez and her daughter, 7-year-old Layla Stewart were found off a rural road outside Washougal in March 2023, days after they were reported missing.

Both Melendez and Stewart had bullet wounds to the head. DNA matching Warren’s was found on Stewart, indicating sexual abuse. The prosecuting attorney choked up several times when describing the details of that crime.

“Speechless. Unable to fathom and believe that someone could do this to a 7-year-old,” he said.

“To cowardly put their half-clothed bodies and throw them down a ravine and make the family suffer for 10 days, looking, calling, investigating, working feverishly with law enforcement to try and figure out, where are they?”

Family members Melendez and Stewart did not hold back when given the opportunity to address the court.

“The loss of Layla has left a hole in my heart that can never be filled,” said Javontae Stewart, Layla’s father.

“Everyday I wake up with the pain knowing my girl will never grow up.”

“We will never see her smile again or hear her laughter,” said Lashay Gates, Layla Stewart’s aunt.

“We will never see her grow, achieve her dreams or the life she deserves Our family has been torn apart my grief and the endless questions that haunt us every day. Why?”

As Warren exited the courtroom in handcuffs, some shouted at him, calling him a child molester and a coward.

https://katu.com/news/local/kirkland-warren-to-be-sentenced-for-double-murder-and-child-molestation-in-clark-county

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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: October 9, 2024, 3:02 am.

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