Alexis’s Law is a comprehensive legislative proposal named in honor of Alexis Miranda Badger (known for decades publicly as Aundria Bowman). It addresses the profound gaps and systemic failures in child welfare, adoption, and vital records codes that allow finalized adoptions to shield horrific abuse and deny basic human dignity to victims even after death.

Dennis Bowman was a documented sexual predator with a history of convictions dating back to the 1970s, yet he was fully approved to adopt a vulnerable child. At age 14, Alexis bravely reported severe physical abuse, starvation, and sexual molestation at home. Despite subsequent investigations, social services and school officials returned her to her abusers. On March 11, 1989, Alexis vanished. Her adoptive father claimed she ran away. In reality, he had murdered her, dismembered her body, and buried her remains in his backyard, where they lay hidden for over 30 years.

A view of the capitol building from across the water
A view of the capitol building from across the water

Alexis's Law Framework

What it is:

Why it's important:

Legal loophole:

Under current statutory frameworks in Virginia and many other states, adoption decrees become absolutely final after a short period (typically six months). Crucially, only the adoptee themselves has the legal standing to petition to vacate an adoption. Because a deceased minor cannot file paperwork, biological parents or next-of-kin have no clear statutory pathway to seek posthumous relief.

This leaves victims legally bound in perpetuity to the name given to them by their murderers.

Alexis's biological mother has spent years fighting bureaucratic limbo just to remove the murderer's surname and restore her daughter’s original birth identity on official records. Alexis’s Law establishes a mandatory statutory mechanism to close these loopholes permanently.


Downloadable Framework of Alexis's Law

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