(LAURA)
GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM
SIGNED A BILL THAT
CREATES A PROGRAM TO GET
THE
WORD OUT ABOUT CRITICALLY
MISSING ADULTS.
IT WAS INSPIRED BY
ASHANTI BILLIE -- THE
19-YEAR-OLD WHO WENT
MISSING IN SEPTEMBER,
AND WAS LATER FOUND DEAD
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
CAPITOL BUREAU REPORTER
EVANNE ARMOUR EXPLAINS
HOW THIS PROGRAM WILL
HELP FILL A GAP IN THE
CURRENT SYSTEM.
CHIMBORAZO PARK IN
RICHMOND IS THE LAST
PLACE KEESHAE JACOBS WAS
SEEN.
THAT WAS SEPTEMBER 20-16.
POLICE AND HER MOM.. ARE
STILL LOOKING FOR HER.
(TJ)
TONI JACOBS / DAUGHTER IS
MISSING
"I ASKED, I REALLY ASKED
THEM, HEY CAN WE DO AN
AMBER ALERT? AND THEY WAS
LIKE NO
BECAUSE OF HER AGE."
KEESHAE WAS 21.
TOO OLD FOR AN AMBER
ALERT.. AND TOO YOUNG FOR
A SENIOR ALERT.
(TJ)
"I WAS CONFUSED ABOUT
THAT. I WAS LIKE SO HOW
IS THE PUBLIC GOING TO
KNOW MY
BABY'S MISSING?"
TONI JACOBS KEEPS
KEESHAE'S PICTURE ON HER
CAR.
SHE SAYS SOCIAL MEDIA..
RALLIES.. AND KNOCKING ON
DOORS HAS HELPED GET THE
WORD OUT.
BUT SHE WISHES THERE HAD
BEEN SOMETHING IN PLACE
FOR THOSE WHO FALL INTO
THE 18 TO 60
AGE RANGE.
(TJ)
"THE IN BETWEEN IT'S
LIKE, IT'S LIKE THERE'S
NO URGENCY. THERE'S NO
URGENCY FOR IT.
AND THERE SHOULD BE."
NAT: IPAD OPENING
THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY
SIGNED FRESHMAN DELEGATE
JAY JONES' BILL..
CREATING A "CRITICALLY
MISSING ADULT ALERT
PROGRAM" FOR VIRGINIA.
IT'LL BE MODELED AFTER
OTHER STATEWIDE ALERTS.
IT GIVES STATE POLICE THE
POWER TO CRAFT GUIDELINES
FOR WHEN TO TRIGGER IT.
DEL. JAY JONES / (D)
NORFOLK
"BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT
INVOLUNTARILY MISSING --
HAVE BEEN TAKEN,
HAVE BEEN ABDUCTED -- WE
WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING IN
PLACE THAT'S GOING TO
HAVE
ALL THE RESOURCES DEVOTED
TO FINDING THEM AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE."
JACOBS WELCOMES THE
CHANGE.
AND SAYS.. WHILE SHE
WISHES IT WERE IN PLACE
WHEN HER DAUGHTER WENT
MISSING.. IT COULD BE
EXACTLY WHAT OTHER
FAMILIES NEED. (TJ)
"THIS WILL HELP A LOT OF
FAMILIES THAT HAVE
MISSING LOVED ONES AND
DON'T HAVE TO
HAVE THAT WAITING
PERIOD."
EVANNE ARMOUR..TEN ON
YOUR SIDE.
