Marie Covington was reported missing at 10:25 p.m. on Aug. 18 after having last been seen with 43-year-old Gary Morton the previous day. Two days later, she was found dead in Norfolk hours after an Ashanti Alert was issued.
Two Virginia Beach police officers "failed to meet the department's standards and expectations" when it came to handling the case of Marie Covington, an investigation found.
A critical Ashanti Alert was issued Sept. 19 for a missing Newport News man, 41-year-old James Philip Allen, who has yet to be found. It marks the third time this year law enforcement agencies in Virginia have issued such an alert all of which came from Hampton Roads within the past three months.