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KRNB – A missing or endangered persons alert system for adults is another step closer to becoming law after the U.S. Senate gave its thumps up to the ‘Ashanti Alert,’ named after a young woman went missing from her job in Virginia, and ultimately found dead last year. The ‘Ashanti Alert Act’ legislation comes months after the Commonwealth of Virginia passed a similar law in response to the death of 19-year old Ashanti Billie who was abducted from her job in Norfolk, Virginia. At the time, her abduction didn’t qualify for and ‘Amber Alert or ‘Silver Alert,’ because of her age. Billie’s body was found 11-days later in Charolotte, North Carolina.
Billie’s mother Brandy Billie pushed for the law:
“As we know it’s too late for our daughter, but just the fact that she’s going to be able to continue to help people, from this point forward, it means a lot to us.”
“I refuse to call this a vigil, that means something else to me,” said Brandy Billie, mother of the missing woman. #BringAshantiHome pic.twitter.com/0TskvaiM5m
— Amir Vera (@TheAmirVera) September 24, 2017
The bill need final approval by the U.S. House, after which it will go to the President’s desk for his signature. Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia sponsored the bill and hopes the law will go into effect next year.
A homeless navy veteran was charged in her death; 45-year old Eric Brian Brown, 45 hated African American women. ESSENCE.com cites several media organizations in there comprehensive report. Last month, Brown was found incompetent to stand trial, according to WAVY.com
(Sources: ESSENCE, WAVY.com)
abduction adult amber alert Ashanti Alert Act Ashanti Billie congress crime Loni Taylor missing person Silver Alert Virginia
