FBI Provides New DNA Evidence In Ashanti Billie Case: Reports

NORFOLK, VA — The FBI said new evidence in the Ashanti Billie case includes DNA from her alleged killer that was collected from multiple locations in Billie's car, according to reports.

NBC Washington reports the FBI took DNA samples from Billie's steering wheel, gear shift, headlight switch, and turn signal. In a court testimony Tuesday, officials said the samples match Eric Brian Brown, the 45-year-old retired Navy veteran who was arrested Nov. 8 for Billie's kidnapping.

Brown allegedly abducted Billie on Sept. 18 as she arrived for work at the Blimpie’s restaurant on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Virginia, federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said.

Billie, who is originally a Prince George's County native, was a student at The Art Institute of Virginia Beach at the time. She never showed up for work Sept. 18 and was then reported missing. Her body was found 11 days later and more than 300 miles away in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Prosectors said Brown's DNA was also found on Billie's body. His DNA was taken from a swab of the pocket openings of Billie’s hooded sweatshirt and a swab of the outside, back center torso area of her shirt.

Brown allegedly flirted with Billie at Blimpie's on several occasions. A witness also recalled hearing a conversation where Brown made a crude sexual comment to Billie, who was a 2016 graduate from Henry Wise High School in Upper Marlboro.

Her remains were located in a wooded area behind a church on Greir's Grove Road Sept. 29, about 300 yards from Brown's childhood home, prosecutors said.

See Related:

• Retired Navy Veteran Charged In Ashanti Billie Kidnapping
• FBI Offers $10K Reward For Information On Ashanti Billie's Abduction And Death
• Ashanti Billie, Missing Prince George's County Woman, Found Dead In North Carolina: FBI
• Missing Prince George's County Woman Last Seen Leaving Naval Base: FBI

Brown, who served in the military for 21 years, worked as a day laborer and participated in the construction of the Blimpie’s this past summer. He is believed to be homeless and "lives at random facilities and buildings on and off the naval bases," prosecutors said.

According to court documents, a review of Brown’s phone’s web history shows that Brown made numerous searches on Sept. 19, including “police looking for man,” “Norfolk police looking for man in connection with homicide,” “amber alert sept 2017,” “missing woman and baby,” and “missing woman and man.”

Billie's phone was recovered in a dumpster near the corner of Tallyho Terrace and Azalea Garden Road in Norfolk, about three miles from where she was last seen, Sept. 18. Her car was located in the 9500 block of Lakeside Dr. in the Ocean View area of Norfolk Sept. 23.

NBC Washington also reports that Brown told a law enforcement informant after Billie's body was found that he hates black women. According to court documents, Brown said they are "gold diggers" who "only want guys with all the money."

Brown has been charged with kidnapping and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.

Photo: Billie via FBI, Brown via Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office