Imagine your loved one goes missing—not a child, not a senior, but a healthy adult. You call the police, desperate for help, only to find there’s no national alert system that fits their age group. That’s exactly the gap the Ashanti Alert was created to fill.
So what is an Ashanti Alert, and why does it matter more than you think?
The Tragic Story Behind the Name
The Ashanti Alert is named after Ashanti Billie, a 19-year-old woman who was abducted in Virginia in 2017. Despite clear signs of danger, her case didn’t qualify for an AMBER Alert (reserved for children) or a Silver Alert (for seniors with cognitive impairments). Her body was found two weeks later, hundreds of miles away in North Carolina.
Her heartbreaking story exposed a glaring hole in the national alert system: adults between 18 and 64 who go missing under suspicious or dangerous circumstances often fall through the cracks.
In response, Congress passed the Ashanti Alert Act in December 2018, creating a nationwide framework to notify the public when adults go missing and may be in danger.
What Is an Ashanti Alert?
An Ashanti Alert is a public notification system designed to help locate missing adults aged 18 to 64 who are believed to be in danger. It’s similar to AMBER and Silver Alerts but targets a different age group.
Here’s how it works:
Law enforcement investigates a missing person case.
If the person is between 18 and 64 and there’s evidence of danger—such as abduction, foul play, or suspicious circumstances—they can request an Ashanti Alert.
The alert is then broadcast to the public via media, highway signs, wireless devices, and emergency systems.
It’s fast, targeted, and potentially life-saving.
Why the Ashanti Alert Fills a Critical Gap
Before the Ashanti Alert, there was no consistent way to notify the public about missing adults who didn’t qualify for other alerts. That meant valuable time was lost—and in cases like Ashanti Billie’s, it may have made the difference between life and death.
Here’s what makes the Ashanti Alert unique:
📍 Age-Specific Coverage: It focuses on adults aged 18–64, who are often excluded from other alert systems.
🕒 Time-Sensitive Activation: Alerts must be requested within six hours of the initial report to ensure rapid response.
📡 Multi-Channel Distribution: Alerts can be sent via TV, radio, highway signs, and mobile phones.
🧠 Evidence-Based Criteria: The alert isn’t issued for every missing adult—it requires signs of danger or non-voluntary disappearance.
🌐 Nationwide Network: The system encourages coordination across states, territories, and tribal jurisdictions.
How It Compares to Other Alerts
To understand the Ashanti Alert’s role, it helps to compare it to its siblings:
AMBER Alert: For children under 18 who are abducted.
Silver Alert: For seniors or vulnerable adults with cognitive issues.
Blue Alert: For law enforcement officers who are injured or killed in the line of duty.
The Ashanti Alert fills the space in between—adults who are missing under suspicious or dangerous circumstances but don’t meet the criteria for the others.
Who Can Issue an Ashanti Alert?
Not just anyone can trigger an Ashanti Alert. It must be requested by law enforcement and approved by a designated agency—like the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons, for example.
The criteria include:
The missing person is between 18 and 64.
There’s evidence suggesting the disappearance is not voluntary.
The person’s physical safety is believed to be at risk.
The alert is requested within a reasonable time frame (typically six hours).
This ensures the system isn’t misused and remains focused on urgent, high-risk cases.
Why You’ve Probably Never Seen One
Despite being law since 2018, Ashanti Alerts aren’t as widely known or used as AMBER Alerts. That’s partly because implementation is voluntary—states can choose whether or not to participate.
Some states have fully integrated the system, while others are still developing their protocols. Public awareness is also low, which means fewer people recognize the alert when it appears.
But that’s changing. As more states adopt the system and more cases highlight its importance, the Ashanti Alert is gaining traction.
Real-Life Impact
While data is still emerging, early cases show promise. In states like North Carolina, Ashanti Alerts have helped law enforcement quickly spread information and engage the public in locating missing adults.
The alert system has also sparked conversations about how we treat adult disappearances—and whether we’re doing enough to respond quickly and effectively.
Personal Insight
Honestly, I hadn’t heard of the Ashanti Alert until I stumbled across a news story about it. It made me wonder how many other systems exist quietly in the background, waiting to save lives but lacking the spotlight. It’s a reminder that awareness can be just as powerful as legislation.
Conclusion
The Ashanti Alert is a vital tool for locating missing adults who fall outside the scope of AMBER and Silver Alerts. Named after Ashanti Billie, it’s a poignant example of how tragedy can lead to meaningful change.
Have you seen an Ashanti Alert in your area? Or do you think your state should adopt it? Let’s talk about it in the comments.