Body Found Behind CLT Church Identified As Missing Virginia Teen

Courtney Francisco,

UPDATE:  Police have confirmed that the body found behind Stonewall AME Zion Church on Friday is that of the missing Virginia teenager, Ashanti Billie.

Billie, 19, had been missing since September 18, 2017.

Police have not identified any suspects. This investigation is ongoing.

 

Charlotte, NC — A church landscaper discovered a woman’s body behind the Stonewall AME Zion Church Friday morning.
Now, FBI agents are working to confirm if it is a missing woman from Norfolk, Virginia.

19-year-old Ashanti Billie vanished Monday, Sept. 18.

The family of the missing woman just released a statement Friday evening, saying they pray this is not her body.

This is our Official Statement. On behalf of the Ashanti Billie Family we would like to thank the Hampton Roads community and beyond for their support. We have received information a body has been located in Charlotte, NC. As the family awaits further updates. We ask that you continue with us in prayer, that it is not Ashanti. Thank You. ? #bringashantihome ✊️

Posted by Kimberly Wimbish on Friday, September 29, 2017

Charlotte FBI agents gave WCCB Charlotte a statement saying, “We are aware that a body has been found in Charlotte and we’re aware that a woman is missing from Virginia Beach, but it is too early to connect the two.”

Reverend Michael McLean says the church foreman called 911 around 9:30 in the morning after a landscaper found the body behind a boulder on the church grounds.

“While he was doing his trimming, and he initially smelled something. As he looked, he couldn’t identify it,” said Reverend McLean.

“We’ll find things in the back of those boulders. Drug paraphernalia, clothing, those kinds of things. So, we always expected some type of criminal activity was going on back there,” said Reverend McLean.

Related Article: Police Investigating After Body Found Behind Northwest Charlotte Church

Family reported Billie missing nearly two weeks ago in Virginia.

She was last seen going into a military base there, and surveillance video showed her car leaving the base after five that morning.

She never went in to work or school that day.

She was a student at a culinary institute.

The FBI says investigators found her phone in a dumpster. Several days later, agents found her car nearby.

In Charlotte the neighborhood association president could only watch police gather clues.

“People shouldn’t have to be exposed to this, people shouldn’t have to scared of this,” said Joshua Richardson.

“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of crime in this area,” said Reverend McLean.

There is a $20,000 reward if you can help the FBI find Billie. Call 757-455-0100.