Family Of Jholie Moussa Calls For Amber Alert Reform

When 16-year-old Jholie Moussa went missing in January, police did not issue an Amber Alert. Then discovery of her body in a Mount Vernon park on Jan. 26 prompted a homicide investigation. Detectives haven't turned up a suspect, but her family is working to get her justice by helping other missing kids.

Moussa's aunt Veronica Eyenga is pushing for Amber Alert reform so notifications can go out for more missing children cases, WTOP reported. She founded Not A Runaway Inc. after Moussa's death and is pressing for legislation to lessen the restrictions on Amber Alerts.

"We insist that any real change that happens has to start right here because we failed her tremendously," said Eyenga, according to WTOP. "Anything we can do to save her legacy, as well as all those children who go missing every day, that is what we intend to do in Jholie’s name.”

Not A Runaway, Inc. hosted a Missing Children's Awareness event this past weekend for families with missing relatives. Law enforcement and missing person groups were on hand to discuss restrictions for sending of Amber Alerts.

Moussa went missing on Jan. 13 and had been initially entered as a runaway juvenile in the National Crime Information Center database. That status was later changed to an endangered minor. No Amber Alert went out because police did not believe she was in immediate danger.

Moussa had been last seen on Jan. 12 leaving for a party in Norfolk, but her family said she hadn't taken overnight belongings. Her mother insisted she would not run away from home.

Fairfax County Police have identified a 17-year-old ex-boyfriend as a person of interest. He was charged for a felonious assault unrelated to Moussa's death.

According to Eyenga, Moussa's parents and twin sister have been traumatized moved to another area.

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Image via Fairfax County Police