WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has passed a bill named after a Virginia teen found dead behind a Charlotte church.

On Thursday, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) tweeted about the passage of the Ashanti Alert Act, which creates an alert system for missing adults ages 19-59.

Ashanti Billie, a 19-year-old from the Norfolk, Virginia area was reported missing in September 2017 after she did not show up for class or report to work. Her cell phone was found inside of a dumpster and her car was located days later. 

Her body was found behind East Stonewall A.M.E. Church in Charlotte. A retired Navy veteran, Eric Brown, was charged in her death. 

 

 

Because Billie was 19 years old, an Amber Alert could not be issued.

Warner tweeted the legislation is now the way to the president's desk.