Woman found dead in Stevenson, missing children found with suspect

Candice Malave Delena was found dead inside the White Cap Apartments in Stevenson, and by nightfall her missing children had been located safely in the same town with Levi Delena, the man who was later arrested in the case. What began as a welfare and missing-children search turned into a homicide investigation within hours.

Skamania County Sheriff’s Office deputies said the first 911 call came in at about 2:06 p.m. on May 15, 2026. Skamania County EMS and deputies reached the White Cap complex within minutes and found the woman deceased with significant traumatic injuries. Investigators immediately started processing multiple scenes tied to the case, including associated vehicles and residences in Stevenson, while the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit came in to help with crime-scene work and investigative support.

As the search widened, investigators learned the woman’s children were unaccounted for and may have been traveling with a man connected to the case. Authorities entered the children into state and national missing and endangered child databases and requested an AMBER Alert. The push for speed paid off later that evening, when deputies located the adult male person of interest at an apartment complex in Stevenson at about 8:45 p.m. The children were found safe inside the residence where he was located.

The man was later identified as Levi Delena, a Stevenson resident, and the victim was identified as Candice Malave Delena, his estranged wife. Levi Delena was booked on second-degree murder. With help from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the children were placed into protective custody.

Candice Malave Delena’s body was transferred to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Skamania County officials said there was not believed to be an outstanding threat to the community, but the case remained active and additional information was expected as the investigation developed.

On May 18, Skamania County Superior Court Judge R. Krog set Levi Delena’s bail at $2 million during his first appearance, and arraignment was scheduled for later that week. The case now sits at the point true-crime watchers know best: the suspect is in custody, the children are safe, and the next answers are tied to the autopsy, the court record, and whatever investigators pull from the scenes they processed in Stevenson.