Human remains found in September north of Dougan Falls in Skamania County have been identified as those of a Vancouver woman who has been missing since 2018.
Ashanti A. Conde, then 29, was reported missing March 11, 2018. Her family reported to the Vancouver Police Department that they hadn’t seen her in a few weeks, according to a police news release. Investigators determined Conde was last seen Feb. 22, 2018, leaving Brush Prairie with Michael Conley, who was reported missing Feb. 27 of that year.
People reported to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 24, 2018, that they found a Cadillac sedan matching the one Conde and Conley, 51, were seen leaving Brush Prairie in crashed just north of Dougan Falls. The Cadillac was covered in snow, but no one appeared to be inside, the news release states.
Search and rescue crews found Conley’s body March 9, 2018, near the Cadillac and said they did not suspect foul play, according to Vancouver police. They did not find Conde’s remains at that time.
Crews continued to search multiple locations throughout Southwest Washington and investigated numerous tips, the news release states.
On Sept. 26, 2021, Skamania County and Clark County Search and Rescue teams again searched the area where the Cadillac was found. They located human remains in a rugged and steep location, according to Vancouver police, and investigators sent the remains to a private lab to be identified.
The lab notified Vancouver police March 31 that it had identified the remains as Conde.
The Skamania County Prosecutor’s Office and Skamania County Coroner’s Office are handling any investigation into her death.
Conde’s family has created a GoFundMe campaign for her funeral costs.
The fundraiser states, “After four years of searching for Ashanti and answers, the beloved mother of four, sister, daughter and friend has been brought home. We are thankful for everyone’s support during the four years of misleading trails and nightmare roller-coaster we have endured.”
The National Woman’s Coalition Against Violence and Exploitation said Wednesday it will shut down the Help Find Ashanti Conde Facebook page the organization made.
“After over four years of hundreds of volunteer hours, media interviews and support, mileage and flyer distribution on this case, this was not the ending any of us had hoped for,” said Michelle Bart, president and co-founder of the women’s coalition.
The organization said Conde’s family is planning a celebration of life later this month.
