GUILTY VA - Ashanti Billie, 19, found deceased, Virginia Beach, 18 Sept 2017 *Arrest*

[zannian]

I'm still monitoring the "Boycott Blimpies" petition. It's just short of 2500 signatures.



Link to petition:
Sign the Petition

 

[Niner]

Wondering if after 3 months of being medicated we "might" have some "new" news?

TIA!

 

[zannian]

There's no new news that I know of. I Google "Ashanti Billie" almost every day.

 

[zannian]

Note that Tuesday September 18 2018 around 5 am EST will mark the one year anniversary of her abduction.

 

[Niner]

Thanks for checking on this case zannian!

 

[iulia]

Family of abducted Virginia woman pushes for national alert bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAVY)- The family of Ashanti Billie plans to meet with U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor to push for a federal Ashanti Alert law. In September 2017 investigators said Billie showed up for work at Blimpie on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and got abducted then murdered. Authorities found her body days later in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

[zannian]

Ashanti Alert bill passes in U.S. House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON (WAVY) -- The federal version of the Ashanti Alert, created in honor of the late Ashanti Billie, passed in the House of Representatives by voice vote on Tuesday night.

H.R. 5075, introduced by Rep. Scott Taylor, will now go to the U.S. Senate. If it passes in the Senate, it will head to the president's desk to potentially be signed into law. A version of the alert was just signed into law in Virginia this year.

Billie, 19, went missing in September 2017, when she never showed up for work on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Her body was found more than a week and a half later behind a church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Police arrested retired Navy veteran Eric Brown, and charged him with kidnapping. Brown was schizophrenia and found incompetent to stand trial earlier this year.

In the aftermath of her death, lawmakers have worked to pass an "Ashanti Alert" bill that would establish a system to notify the public when an adult is missing.

At the time of her disappearance, Billie was too told for an Amber Alert and too young for a Senior Alert, according to police. The Ashanti Alert Act was passed in the Virginia General Assembly in March, and later signed by Gov. Ralph Northam.

Tuesday was a full day for the Billies. They came to the U.S. Capitol to see the bill named after their daughter pass the House of Representatives.

Meltony and Brandy Billie met with Congressman Taylor in his office as they went over strategies on what to do with the bill in the future.

They also had a news conference at the Capitol to express the next steps. The most important thing they need to do is get a friendly sponsor in the U.S. Senate.

Then they need to get it passed in the Senate, and then fast tracked to the president’s desk and hopefully it will be signed into law and implemented by the end of the year.

Back in Taylor’s office, the Billies and 25 others gathered to speak with Taylor, who one year ago to the day first met with the Billies.

Taylor has formed a strong relationship with them, and has taken the issue on with an enthusiasm that was obviously appreciated in the room. Meltony would say, “the Congressman made us a promise, and here we are today.”

In the room is a strong picture of Ashanti Billie, and she is never far from her parents' thoughts. When her parents look at the picture they think "confidence."

“I think her potential was cut short. She was taken from us. We are keeping her legacy alive with this bill,” Brandy Billie said.

Meltony added, “she stands there like that standing strong, and Ashanti is strong, and she is standing strong for others. We are grateful. It means a lot to us because to know that she is still able to help people, and to know we can help people through this tragedy means a lot. We had no one, and we hope no one goes through this again."

At the Capitol steps, Taylor told reporters, “I know there are no words, no wishes, no whispers that can bring her back, or ease the Billie family burden, but I also know no amount of darkness can ever keep out a bright light.”

Joining them were members from NCIS, the FBI, and Norfolk and Virginia Beach Police, who helped capture the man thought responsible for Ashanti’s death.

“The Ashanti Alert is here to help those that go missing," Brandy Billie said. "To get them attention. Until we had this, the loss of Ashanti, we didn’t know there wasn’t an alert in place for adults between 18-65. The Ashanti Alert will fix the void.”

Taylor and a group of representatives introduced the Ashanti Alert Act in Congress back in February.

 

[YESorNO]

Virginia Beach man charged in Ashanti Billie's murder still not competent to stand trial

Nov 12, 2018

"NORFOLK
A Navy veteran accused of abducting a 19-year-old woman from a base and killing her in North Carolina still isn't competent to stand trial, according to statements made Tuesday in federal court by lawyers on both sides.

Eric Brian Brown, 46, was charged last year with the September 2017 kidnapping of Ashanti Billie outside a sub sandwich shop at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek where she worked....

In June, the judge ruled that prison staff could forcibly medicate him after learning that Brown was acting out in prison, had swung chain restraints at a guard, and was not taking care of himself. He also granted a request from prison officials for another 120 days to evaluate him and restore his competency to stand trial.

Defense attorney Andrew Grindrod questioned Tuesday whether the prison can legally continue to medicate Brown against his will, especially since the 120-day order allowing it expired last month. He also asked the judge to schedule a hearing to determine whether medical professionals believe Brown's competency can ever be restored.

The judge said he would make a ruling after reviewing the most recent report on Brown's condition, which was issued earlier this month."

Virginia Beach man charged in Ashanti Billie's murder still not competent to stand trial
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[YESorNO]

Connecticut senator to introduce Ashanti Alert Act to U.S. Senate

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

"NORFOLK, Va. – The Ashanti Alert is on its way to the U.S. Senate.

Kimberly Wimbish, a spokesperson for Ashanti Billie’s family, announced that U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) will officially introduce the Ashanti Alert Act to the Senate.

This is the last step before the legislation heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

The Ashanti Alert was signed into Virginia law in June in honor of Ashanti Billie, a 19-year-old who was abducted from her job at JEB Little Creek in 2017...."

Connecticut senator to introduce Ashanti Alert Act to U.S. Senate
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[zannian]

Suspect in Ashanti Billie case to continue mental health treatment at federal facility

NORFOLK, Va. -

New court documents reveal details about Eric Brown's mental status. Brown is the man accused of abducting Ashanti Billie from JEB Little Creek in September.

The 19-year-old was later found dead in North Carolina.

Questions about Eric Brown's mental status are what put the Ashanti Billie case on hold.

A judge ruled Brown is not competent to assist in his own defense or stand trial. Now, new court filings show psychiatrists believe Brown is responding to medication. Because of that, Brown has met with his psychiatrist and officials have loosened his restrictions, according to court documents. He's now allowed more time outside of his cell and in common areas of the housing unit at a North Carolina facility.

Though court documents said Brown continues to have some 'auditory hallucinations and paranoia,' the report states "there is substantial probability" Brown will "demonstrate that he is competent to stand trial after an additional 120 days" of treatment.

No later than February 18th, the director of the facility in Butner, North Carolina will let the court know whether or not Brown has fully regained competency. Proceedings in the abduction trial should move on from there.

 

[zannian]

Brown was more cooperative with staff after he first received antipsychotic medication, but did not show significant improvement until several doses later.

Brown was "eventually was able to engage in meaningful conversation and began voicing some desire to advance his legal proceedings."

 

[YESorNO]

Report: Ashanti Billie's accused killer responding to treatment (with clip)

Nov 30, 2018

"NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) -- Court records have revealed new details about the mental status of a man charged in the abduction and death of a Virginia Beach woman. ...

Documents filed this week at the U.S. District Court in Norfolk show an Oct. 22 report by the Bureau of Prison's clinician found Brown is responding to medical treatment at the Butner Federal Medical Center in North Carolina -- where he has been since December 2017.

According to the documents, this report notes Brown has shown, "slow yet consistent improvement in his mental status and behavioral functioning." When the report was filed on Nov. 9, doctors requested Brown spend another 120 days at the facility.

Based on this report, a judge ruled Brown would have a "a substantial probability of regaining competency" if he spends that time receiving treatment....

The medical director at the facility has to inform the court whether Brown is competent to stand trial within seven days before his commitment ends on Feb. 18, 2019."

Report: Ashanti Billie's accused killer responding to treatment

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[JerseyGirl]

Federal Ashanti Alert for missing adults is headed to the Senate

 

[crhedBngr]

Federal Ashanti Alert for missing adults is headed to the Senate

Excellent.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Missing persons alert named in honor of slain Va. teen passes Senate unanimously

 

[iulia]

Death penalty in play for Navy veteran in woman's death - NEWS 1130

NORFOLK, Va. — The death penalty is not off the table for a Navy veteran charged with killing a Virginia woman whose kidnapping inspired the creation of an Amber Alert-like system for missing adults.

 

[YESorNO]

Man accused of killing Ashanti Billie could now face the death penalty (with clip)

Dec 19, 2018

"NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) -- The man accused of kidnapping and murdering Ashanti Billie could now face a minimum of life in prison and possibly the death penalty after a new indictment handed down by a federal grand jury.

Eric Brian Brown, 46, who's still considered incompetent to stand trial following a December 2017 psychological evaluation, was indicted Wednesday in Norfolk Federal Court on the charge of kidnapping resulting in death. ..."

Man accused of killing Ashanti Billie could now face the death penalty
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[iulia]

ASHANTI ALERT ACT: Ashanti Alert Act, named for kidnapped woman found dead in Charlotte, signed into law

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A law designed to create a nationwide alert system for adults between the ages of 18 and 64 was signed into law Monday by President Donald Trump, WTOP reported.

 

[JerseyGirl]

According to court records, evaluators believe Eric Brown is now competent to stand trial. Ultimately, a federal judge will make the decision.

The judge will need to hear arguments on this issue, so he set a competency hearing for next month.

Defense attorneys said their psychiatrist will not be able to file a report and testify until at least March 27. Prosecutors do not oppose the continuance.

Now, we wait for a judge to decide if he will delay that court date.

Prison evaluator: Eric Brown now competent to stand trial

 

[Niner]

So the Feb. 18th hearing (which I have in my notes) is cancelled and now on March 27th? If I'm reading this correctly.

TIA!