Investigators and the family of a Vancouver woman and mother of four who went missing in February still have scant little information to work from, and are pleading for the public’s help.
Family members last saw Ashanti A. Conde, 27, on Feb. 19, according to the Vancouver Police Department, which is investigating her disappearance.
Conde’s mother, Yolanda Turner, said Conde moved to Vancouver when she was 2, and she has four kids, ages 7, 6, 3 and 4 months.
“Ashanti’s a good-hearted person,” Turner said. “She cares about her family. She cares about her kids. She wouldn’t just walk away from them totally like this.”
Turner and Michelle Bart, president of the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation, said Conde’s father spotted her around 9 p.m. Feb. 19 near a Shari’s. She refused to come with him, they said, and left.
Conde didn’t have a car or a cellphone, and they suspected she was there because she has friends and acquaintances who stay at the nearby Motel 6 near Mill Plain Boulevard and Northeast Chkalov Drive.
“There hasn’t been any kind of leads or anything that’s led us to her so far,” Turner said. “We’re all just kind of hoping for a happy ending to this. If nothing else, we’re hoping for closure, if anything.”
Acquaintances last saw Conde around Feb. 22, as she was leaving a Brush Prairie home with Michael A. Conley in a silver 2002 Cadillac Seville.
Conley’s body was found near Dougan Falls on March 9. Investigators don’t believe Conde is connected to the death.
Bart, whose group typically works on missing children cases but decided to help in Conde’s case, said searchers have checked jails and hospitals, and there’s scarce information on what happened beyond when she was last seen.
“She has a colorful set of friends, and she has been know to frequent 82nd Avenue in Portland,” Bart said. “Our whole position, and Yolanda’s and her family, is no matter what she chooses to be in, there are four children that want to know everyone did what’s possible to find their mom.”
While Conde may have had a troubled history and possibly became involved in prostitution, Bart said her family deserves as much help as any other, and her kids need to grow up knowing the community and authorities care enough to try.
“It makes it a tricky situation, but this family and four little children deserve to know where their mom is,” she said.
“She has family and she needs to come home,” Turner said.
Conde is African-American, 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. She has green eyes, long black hair and some tattoos. She also goes by Shanti.
The family and investigators are encouraging anyone with useful information about Conde’s whereabouts to contact the Vancouver police or email Detective David Jensen at david.jensen@cityofvancouver.us.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can also submit a tip to the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation by email at tips@nwcave.org.
The Vancouver police also have a tip line available at 360-487-7399
