Deena Barnes is all smiles while holding her niece (Kelli Barnes daughter) at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis after sate lawmakers passed "Phylicia's Law". Maryland adopted the legislation after honors student Phylicia Barnes was murdered while under Deena's care (what a scary sight seeing Deena holding a child)

In all of the Blogs, Social Media Forums, and Radio Broadcast that I have either read or listen to, the vast majority of followers of the Phylicia Barnes murder case have expressed their heartfelt condolences to the Mustafa family regarding their lost in such a senseless tragedy. Many of us who view this case with an open mind know that if not but for the grace of god, there go I. Considering the violence that plagues American culture in modern time, this kind of crime can impact any of us, without warning, and we can only pray that justice will be done. Baring those of us who have lost loved ones to violence, we cannot even began to empathize with families who have had to bury their children.  When such horrific events occur the psychological impact on grieving families is devastating to say the least. People experiencing  such anxiety may never overcome the darkness that followers when death comes knocking. There are those who will argue with the slightest expression of compassion, that death is in fact a part of life, and few will debate whether their perspective holds truth. I am inclined to point out that people’s reaction to death varies based on their emotions and ideology related to the living experience we all innately manifest as human beings. Those of us who have and love kids know that recovery from the death of a child is an event many fail to achieve. We show compassion, understanding, and many pray for those who have lost people close to them. It’s a sense of decency to show such expression because we to are also human, but no matter how heinous a crime is that results in the violent death of others, there are those who seem to make it a point to rear their heads with viciousness, hatred, and display a lack of compassion for families whom have lost loved ones. Perhaps some are wired differently from the rest of humanity, but none the less their self-proclaimed candor is often times conveniently very untimely with seemingly cruel and superficial intent. The fact that comments are being made which directly imply that Janice Sallis-Mustafa is just as responsible for her late daughter’s death is disturbing, an uninformed perspective which clearly demonstrates that some people not only lack wisdom in making such preposterous claims, and the source of such discourse can only have derived from parties associated with the same morons responsible for the murder of Phylicia Barnes.  With that being said, I should add that the only thing this mother is guilty of is trust. Trusting the child’s adult half-sister with properly caring for her loving daughter under her care, is exactly what Janice and other parents around the world are also guilty of. However, most adults charged with such responsibility don’t give the kids drugs & alcohol, allow them to run around nude with their adult friends, and most importantly they don’t allow the child to end up floating in a river. I mean let’s be realistic about this. We can’t possibly believe that this mother knowingly allow her child to walk into harms way. Phylicia Barnes was a 16-year-old honor student who mentored her peers, and had a job. Some of the very assholes either living or hanging out around Deena Barnes’ apartment didn’t even work in a pie factory. It’s safe to say the environment Phylicia was exposed to in Baltimore was a complete culture shock to her. The child’s older half-brother, Bryan Barnes told TPC that his kid sister was hyper, fun, and everyone wanted to be around her. The child thrived socially everywhere she was, but there are those who say it’s Janice’ fault for allowing Phylicia to visit Baltimore, and that she should have known about the activities going on at Deena’s place. How so? The child had visited Baltimore five times prior to the trip that resulted in her death, and each time she returned home without any indication that there was a problem. I want one of these intelligent people who knows everything to explain to me how this mother should have known what was going on. The fact that Janice was told by one of Phylicia’s friends the child had talked about drugs and alcohol, shows Phylicia herself purposefully avoided telling her mom what she had been allowed to engage in while visiting Baltimore, because the child knew her strict mother would have terminated any further visits. While people are quick to beat up on Janice calling her a bad parent, they either ignore or are ignorant to the fact that Deena Barnes lied to the child’s mother from the very start. Deena told Janice only she and Phylicia would staying at her place. This lie was the sole factor that Janice even allowed Phylicia to visit. There is no way in hell this kid would have gone to Baltimore had the truth been known by Janice Sallis-Mustafa. Janice herself described her daughter as naive and her own street knowledge from having come up in the gritty South-Side of Chicago would have kicked in and her daughter would have never made the trip. They say that Janice seems “out there”, that she is rambling on, and that she is playing the blame game. Really? Are you kidding me? How many people have a straight A student child, that wants to work, and is preparing to leave high school early? I guess Janice didn’t have anything to do with that. I guess strict parenting is what cause her daughter’s death also. The reality of this entire ordeal is that this little girl died in Baltimore surrounded by some triffling, ghetto, and despicable pieces of shit that never cared about the child’s welfare. However, people attack the mom because she is reflecting on her own pass encounters with the Barnes family. They say she is still bitter over Russell Barnes. Why would she be? In fact it was Janice who encouraged her child to  get to know her father’s side of the family, because she wanted the kid to be well-rounded, complete, and not have to wonder about that part of her life. This clearly demonstrates that she had put the past behind her and didn’t allow the physical abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of the child’s father hinder her daughter from having a relationship with the other half of her family. Janice loved her daughter and everything she did concerning this child was carefully considered to impact Phylicia’s own personal development. She said Russell Barnes tried to beat Phylicia out of her while she carried the child during her pregnancy. In my mind a person who can forgive that kind of abuse for the sake of her child’s development, is illustrative of a character rarely displayed, and further depicts why the child was headed toward such a promising future. People should get it straight. Janice Sallis-Mustaf and her real dad Raheem Mustafa raised an incredible human being, whose life was cut down by heartless, cowardice, and demonic monsters who took advantage of the child’s innocence. In no way are this child’s parents responsible for her death. Moreover, these kinds of comments aren’t new, as individuals connected with the Barnes family have been cloaking in forums and blogs like the true cowards that they are. If they aren’t guilty of anything why not identify yourselves and stand behind what you have to say? I have come to know the Mustafa family as god fearing people, and those responsible for killing their beautiful child should simply be glad that they are, because had it been my child, there wouldn’t be a rock within the entire universe that these bastards could crawl back under to keep me from getting to them.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Janice Sallis-Mustafa, the mother of the late Phylicia Simone Barnes emerges after the arrest of Michael Johnson for her murder, who was the pretty honors teen's older half-sister's boyfriend, and comes out swinging to let the American Public know she is not done yet fighting for justice in her daughter's murder case.

Her voice had fallen silent and the public wondered where Janice Sallis-Mustafa had gone. Media outlets couldn’t contact her and it seemed as if the once grieving mother had vanished, and resolved to seclusion to cope with the murder of her late honors student child.  Just a few days ago Baltimore Police arrested Michael Johnson for the pretty child’s murder, and just when it the public thought the case was heading toward it’s conclusion, the fierce and fiery South Chicago native emerged readied for the second round in finding justice for her precious Phylicia Simone Barnes. In an exclusive 3 1/2 hour interview she made it clear that she hadn’t gone anywhere while citing her refusal to talk to media because,”If you’re not going to say what I said, then I don’t want to talk to you”. Janice pointed out that the media has been continuously rewording her comments, and she doesn’t like that. “I don’t care to be in the spot light on the news. I just want justice for my child”. Her statement came on the heels of having been informed that the social media public has been inquiring as to what she had to say after Michael Johnson had been arrested. Janice said the news was 50/50 in her mind simply because she feels the Barnes family has a lot of missing pieces in her daughter’s murder case. She made it clear that she wants Deena Barnes to go to jail and spend more time than Michael Johnson. Janice said, “Deena will get hers at the most joyous time of her life”, referring to Deena Barnes as a vicious person, and confirming for the first time that Deena was also captured in images that police obtained from Michael Johnson’s cellphone with 16-year-old Phylicia streaking nude with grown men. The now rejuvenated mother declined to confirm how she discovered that Deena also ran around nude, and indicated there remained particulars about the case still not made public. Janice held no punches while saying that the tragic story that ended her child’s life was like the folk tale of “Cinderella”, calling the Barnes kids “The wicked half-siblings”. Janice refused to even acknowledge her ex-husband’s children as Phylicia’s brother and sisters, indicating “real family wouldn’t have done that to their baby sister”. Janice posed a question to Deena saying, “Should I have been babysitting you Deena”? Janice said Deena Barnes is stupid , and “if she knew that she couldn’t be responsible in caring for a teenage child because of her lifestyle, then she should have left Phylicia in North Carolina”. I asked Janice specifically about  the text cops say Michael exchanged with Phylicia, She said Phylicia “must have been erasing her text messages, because I would periodically monitor her cell”. Janice pointed out that Phylicia was like any other teen girl who wanted her own privacy, but Janice said she was a proactive mom and she called verizon to have certain features changed on her daughter’s phone. “When I pay the bill for your phone their is nothing that you can hide from me”. Janice confirmed that it was her oldest daughter Shauntel Sallis that Phylicia confided in when the child became concerned that a male had made a pass at her. We have since learned that the person had come on to Phylicia was in fact Michael Johnson. In a recent article on TPC I have expressed that the details surrounding Phylicia’s discomfort around Michael may have been a missed opportunity to snatch the child out of Baltimore. Janice confirmed that it was. She said though she has “tried to make her children’s life comfortable for them no matter where they are”, she admits she “would have missed time from work to travel to Baltimore to get Phylicia”. I could feel the emotions emerging in Janice Sallis-Mustafa as it appeared she fought back displaying the hurt she and her family have been enduring while discussing her late daughter, but her strength overcame sadness, and she was relentless in expressing her disdain for everyone who had harmed her baby. At one point in the interview Janice began singing “here comes the bride”, referencing Michael Johnson. She said she hopes he becomes “somebody’s bitch in prison”, indicating that she wants him to “feel the real fear that he put Phylicia through when he raped her”. I expressed to Janice that cops never said Michael raped her, and asked if those were facts that were going to come out in the trial. Janice said, “Why else would he kill her. What was his reason? What other reason would he have to kill her”. I didn’t pursue that discussion any further for obvious reasons. Though Janice feels Michael and possibly his younger brother Glenton “Bootz” Johnson were the individuals that actually “raped and killed” her daughter, like most within the public she feels that Deena Barnes is responsible. Janice said she believes that the murder of Phylicia was planed, that Phylicia was the victim of child exploitation, and that she wouldn’t doubt it if the conspiracy she believes resulted in the demise of her child came at the behest of the child’s own father, Russell Barnes. Janice began to paint a vicious perspective in the entire case. She pointed out  that Deena Barnes continuously wanted “Simone” in Baltimore, that Deena had paid for every plane ticket for Phylicia when she traveled to Baltimore to visit (a fact that wasn’t known by the public), and Janice even admitted that she wondered if Deena wanted to have a “Threesome” (sex) with Michael and Phylicia”. She simply didn’t understand why Deena allowed Phylicia to run around nude with them. Janice explained that some woman “will do anything to please a man”, but Janice believes Phylicia’s killing runs deeper than that. She talked about how Russell Barnes’ cousin Saundra Barnes had publicly  spoken out against him, and shared with me the brutality and cruelty she suffered at the hands of Russell Barnes (much of which Saundra Barnes was aware of personally). Janice described an incident that occurred while married to Russell, when she was 9 months pregnant with Phylicia, and there wasn’t any food in the house at all. “”David I mean absolutely nothing”. Janice said Russell Barnes threw 14 single one dollar bills on the table and said,”if you’re gonna get food you have to walk to get it”. She explained how long of a distance you have to travel in the rural south to get to the grocery, she said she walked miles struggling to carry four heavy bags that day, stopping about every five minutes, and when she finally made it home Russell laughed at her for being mad. Janice said her emotions while being pregnant got the best of her and she attacked Russel. Janice said Russell bitch ass called the cops on her, a nine month pregnant mom with another small child. That wasn’t the only physical confrontation Janice said she had with Russell Barnes. She discussed another encounter in which she literally stabbed Russell to get him off of her. Janice said he was such a “piece of shit’. I explained to Janice that some within the public believes she is still bitter over her bad relationship with Russell, but Janice made it known that her troubles with Russell Barnes was nearly 20 years ago, and that’s when she began to connect the dots regarding Russell’ possible involvement in Phylicia’s murder. Past TPC articles depicted how Janice described being beat by Russell in an attempt to cause her to have a miscarriage because he didn’t want Phylicia, the family secret that revealed Russell having another child by her former best friend, and a fact Russell’s kids Bryan, Kelly, and Deena were not aware of. Janice said she revealed the secret love child of Russell Barnes to his cousin Harry Watson and Deena Barnes. When Russell learned that Janice had mentioned his hidden child to his family, he called Janice and threatened her life. Janice said she believe Russell was so enraged about it that he punished Phylicia for it. “Russell knew the only way he could get to me was through my baby”. Janice and I talked about the plane tickets Deena purchased for Phylicia, the drugs and alcohol, the “streaking” nude incidents, the fact that neither of the child’s siblings checked on her the day she went missing, the cover up with the police, and the most disturbing fact is when Russell himself told Michael Johnson to disappear. Janice said, “it might have even been a hit”. While the public struggled with all of the unknowns and why didn’t they do this or that questions, Janice creates a perspective that is supported by the lack of proper care the child received her entire stay in Baltimore. “They never really cared about her”, Janice said. Janice admitted that the slow process in arresting those responsible for Phylicia’s murder was done at her request. “I told the police to take their time because Simone isn’t coming back so why rush. I want to get them all”, she said. Janice went on to say that Phylicia was a “naive country girl” who was coerced by Deena and her friends. “In this day in age what teenager is gonna get the permission of an adult to use drugs and alcohol and turn it down”. Janice said the nudity Phylicia was involved in was influenced by the drugs and alcohol Deena and others gave the child. Janice continuously expressed that she believes Deena gave Phylicia drugs from her job. That’s a perspective the mom has always conveyed and something I personally wonder if it derives from Phylicia’s toxicology testing results that haven’t been made public. Janice went on to say while elevating her voice that, “Phylicia is not going to take her clothes off for a man. That is just not her character”. As Janice’ anger became more apparent she called Deena Barnes a “dead rat”. “That heifer is not innocent by a long shot. Deena is the one who is responsible for Simone’s demise”. Janice has never hidden her discuss for Deena Barnes from the very beginning when she made it known that Deena lied to her about who would be staying at her apartment while Phylicia was there, which is another aspect of the case that Janice believes was a part of what just maybe a conspiracy to kill her precious daughter. Janice also said she believes the Barnes siblings may have had envy toward Simone. “At one point Deena probably once was the pretty one and then here comes Simone”. Janice had harsh words for Kelly Barnes also. “How are you going to have an engagement (the planned hair appointment and shopping for beauty supplies), Simone doesn’t answer the phone, and you don’t go over there. A light bulb should have gone on”. Janice is not alone on her perspective regarding Kelly. Why Kelly Barnes who said she got off early, didn’t go by the apartment to check on Phylicia has been the most asked question by the public. Janice reminded me that a co-worker of Kelly’s commented on TPC Blog last year that Kelly didn’t even come to work that day, a fact that has yet to be confirmed.  More and more as Janice and I talked i noticed a pattern in everything that occurred leading up to Phylicia’s disappearance and subsequent death. It’s almost as if they knew what Michael was going to do to Phylicia. The fact that the only day she is left alone Michael pounced on her speaks volumes.. Did they know what was coming? Janice points out that her very observing daughter Shauntel Sallis, noticed Deena Barnes was extremely nervous, and that her hands were shaking the night they arrived in Baltimore to look for Simone. Janice said that Shauntel also discovered that Deena and Michael continued to text each other throughout the entire ordeal while a young Phylicia Simone Barnes had gone missing. Janice said, “Deena dangled my baby in front of that vicious wolf and he was salivating for six month about Simone before she came to Baltimore”.  Janice wants Michael Johnson to talk and tell the entire story. She said, Michael was dumb for leaving the nude pictures on his cellphone while the cops were investigating the case, but she and I also discussed that Michael may have been clever in doing so, because it would ultimately lead back to Deena Barnes in the event that he was collared for the child’s death. Also, Michael’s intercepted calls by the police in which he described fleeing the U.S. to avoid prosecution tends to imply that he wasn’t the only person involved. I won’t disclose that perspective Janice and I shared, in fear that is may jeopardize the case. However, Janice had more to say about the Barnes family and her comments came as a complete shock to me. I talked with Janice how the prosecutors revealed information about the case when Johnson’s indictment was unsealed, and much of what was said during the bail hearing had already been made public during my interview with Bryan Barnes. Janice then said, “I’m glad you mentioned Bryan Barnes because Simone didn’t even like him. While I was talking with a friend I remembered something Simone said to me before she left for Baltimore the last time. Simone said Mommie I’m going to buy everybody a Christmas gift except Bryan, and I asked her why she said that. Simone said I don’t like him, because he called me a ‘cum stain’. I said he called you a what? She said a ‘cum stain’, sperm. I said to her I know what a ‘cum stain’ is”. Janice says she now realizes that “none of the Barnes siblings were a good influence on her daughter”. So they shouldn’t act like she meant so much to them. Janice also said the fact that Arlene Barnette and Bonnie Briscoe continue to say, “my granddaughter and my niece”, is very upsetting to her. “Those demonic looking bitches, how dare you claim to be apart of my family tree. She said the only blood relatives that Simone has on the Barnes entire family are Russell’s half-brother Sgt. Jackson and the “wicked half-siblings” Bryan, Deena, and Kelly Barnes.  Janice hopes that the truth all comes out regarding who did what, how it all happened, and she even wants to know the extent of how Phylicia suffered. Janice also says that Danisha McIntosh “sickens me”. I shared with her that Danisha, who was the female who tweeted, “It’s trapped at the damn. don’t pull the lever” months before Phylicia’s body was actually found at the Conowingo damn, who is also widely believed to have pertinent details about the case, was a beautiful, promising and up and coming female just like Phylicia. Janice says she doesn’t see Danisha as beautiful, “I look at a person’s inner beautiful and Danisha is ugly on the inside.  I believe once Janice receives all of the  details about what happened to her daughter, then and only then will she began to have some degree of closure. They may have taken her beautiful daughter from her, but her spirit is as fierce as ever, and she is up to the task in finding justice for Phylicia Barnes. This Thursday night followers of the Phylicia Barres murder case can listen, and discuss the killing of Phylicia along with Janice Sallis-Mustafa on WBRG “The Bridge” on Blogtalk Radio from 9:00 – 11:00 EST. The show is hosted by The lovely Mrs. Corliss King and the Distinguished John Robinson. The show’s platform is an uncut “real talk” atmosphere where I’m sure Janice Sallis-Mustafa will finally get the opportunity to tell America what she believes happened to her beautiful daughter. You may call in to listen or participate at (646) 381-4789! Online participates can joined the show via http://www.wbrgthebridge.com. The show has an online chat room open to the public which can be utilized during and after the show. Don’t miss this broadcast in which America learns first hand about this tragic, gut wrenching, and horrific murder cases of one of the African-American Community’s most promising  child. Justice for Phylicia Simone Barnes marches on.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Michael Johnson is the man Baltimore Police believe allegedly killed Phylicia Barnes, and then transported her body out of a Northwest Baltimore apartment.

Just days after Baltimore Police took Michael Johnson into custody and charged him with the murder of 16-year-old Monroe honors student Phylicia Barnes; state prosecutors unsealed the first degree murder indictment against him. For the first time particulars of the case against Johnson were made public. Cops say the pretty little girl died from asphyxiation at the hands of Johnson at the Northwest Baltimore apartment where the studious teen had been staying with her half-sister over the Christmas Holiday in 2010. The details were disclosed during Johnson’s Bail hearing on Friday April 27, 2012. The court denied bail for Johnson citing he poses a threat to society, especial those he is close to (more on that detail later). The hearing revealed other details as well, and the state said it believed Johnson carried the child out of the apartment in a large container. Early on in the investigation TPC reported that Johnson had allegedly been seen by a neighbor struggling to carry a large container in the hallway of the building where the child was last seen. Bryan Barnes, the late teens’ older half-brother made these facts known during an interview here on TPC. Barnes also said that police cadaver dogs lost his kid sister’ scent just footsteps away from where Michael Johnson’s car had been parked earlier on the day Phylicia went missing. The public had wrestled with how the child was either led or taken from the apartment unnoticed, but apparently the cops believe someone did in fact see something that day, and the container Johnson was carrying had the body of Phylicia Barnes inside it. It will be very interesting to see the state’s entire case along with the rest of the evidence they believe they have which incriminates Johnson in this murder case, because the eyewitness account of him struggling with a large container is mere circumstantial. After all, he was moving out of the apartment and the state must demonstrate other compelling evidence that more than likely, Johnson was carrying the Barnes kid in that large container. Also, the state revealed other disturbing details about the case. Prosecutors say that Johnson had text messaged the Barnes teen over 500 times during the months leading up to her planed Baltimore visit. They say the child confided in an older sister stating, “I don’t like the way he looks at me”. That information had already been made public and its common knowledge that the teen was concerned after one of the volume of males who frequented Deena Barnes’ apartment, made a pass at her. We now know that the child was talking about Michael Johnson. The state didn’t reveal which older sister Phylicia raised these concerns with, but it’s just disturbing that the child wasn’t snatched out of Baltimore when it was known Johnson was texting the 16-year-old child. At the very least Deena Barnes should have been aware if for no other reason but to inquire about the hundreds of text Johnson made to Phylicia. It just seems that another missed opportunity occurred that would have enabled the girl’s siblings to get her away or limit her contact with Johnson. More importantly though, if Deena was involved in the streaking incident when Phylicia took off her clothes and ran around nude with Michael and other males, it probably wouldn’t have matter if Deena knew about the text anyway. Much of the state’s information thus far is compelling, but they must prove murder to make the charges stick. Calls intercepted by cops in which Johnson discussed moving to another country that doesn’t have extradition authority to the United States, just maybe the kind of evidence that seal Johnson’s fate in this case. An audio tape disclosing such a conversation in open court would be extremely damaging to the defense. Jurors would more than likely take note of such details, solely based on the mindset that an innocent person wouldn’t have to flee to territories out of the reach of the American Justice System. Moreover, Johnson himself must be aware that very damaging evidence against him exist, and the earlier comment in this article describing the judge’ concern that Johnson would be a danger to society especially those closes to him, tends to imply that some of his own family and friends have made damaging statements against him, and the judge may feel that Johnson would retaliate against his own clan. It seems as if the wall of silence has already begun to crumble in this senseless tragic ordeal.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Deena Barnes (pictured center) has garnered some compassion in the killing of her late sister after her ex-boyfriend was indicted for the murder of Phylicia Barnes. Some say her conscience is already serving a life sentence related to her baby sister's death.

Long before a judge and jury decides the innocence or guilt of Michael Johnson for the murder of the late Phylicia Barnes, It should be understood that another adjudication has already played out in the eyes of public opinion. Guilty as charged has been the constant public  perspective related to the manner in which Deena Barnes cared for her baby sister under her watch. Although there are many in social media who have recently expressed compassion for Deena Barnes in the wake of her boyfriend’s indictment for the murder of Phylicia, there remains a large contingency of followers who aren’t as eager to adopt such newly discovered understanding, and people still hold Deena directly accountable for what happened to this promising child. Some say they now empathize with Deena because obviously she wasn’t involved in the actual killing, They express concern that she has also been victimized by a demon who betrayed her trust and stole one of the most precious gifts god had bestowed upon her, which was the blessing of a beautiful kid sister who was snatched from this world senselessly, and without provocation. We are now completely aware that Janice Sallis was lied to from the onset when the teens’ mom first began contemplating allowing Plhylicia to travel to Baltimore and establish a bond with her older half-siblings. Janice has repeatedly claimed that Deena assured her that Phylicia would be safe in her care, that only Phylicia and her would be staying at the apartment during her stay in Baltimore, and conveyed to Janice that she understood the strict parental guidelines established for Phylicia’s supervision. Despite Janice’s request, Deena exposed Phylicia to a culture that ultimately culminated into the child’s death. Allowing a naive book smart college bound kid to indulge in drugs and alcohol is gut wrenching, and unconscionable to say the very least. Deena’s apparent apathy when challenged by Janice about Phylicia’s pot smoking allegations depicted just how out of touch she was related to basic parenting. Realistically speaking, we must consider the reality about substance abuse in American culture that plague our youth, but such behavior having been condoned by a supposed responsible adult is even a rare occurrence in modern time. The high volume of male traffic in and out of her apartment demonstrates just how loosely Deena guarded the innocence of her baby sister. I personally have always felt that if Deena and Michael were actually in the midst of a breakup, perhaps having Phylicia over as a guest wasn’t exactly such a great idea in the first place. The emotions typically associated with social disharmony in relationships  has historically hinged on bitterness, distrust, and animosity. Assuming Deena really wanted to be a positive role model for young Phylicia, we must also believe that Deena wanted to display herself in the best possible light for her up and coming minor sibling, and  the decision to have Phylicia over her place during such an intimate and personal upheaval was clearly poor judgment on her part. We should also consider that Deena’s personal strife should not have been allowed to infringe upon Phylicia’s desire to enjoy the company of her elder sister during such spirited holiday season, which is why I also feel Michael’s departure from Deena’s place, along with his family and friends, should have been expedited under Deena’s direct supervision, and physical presence. Phylicia should not have been permitted to be at the apartment alone with anyone, if for no other reason that she was a female child the fact that Michael still had a key with unabated access to the apartment, and that Phylicia really didn’t know any of them. Michael’s family and friends were Deena’s associates. If we allow the benefit of the doubt and afford Deena’s actions having been predicated on ignorance regarding parenting skills, there was still so much more that Deena personally displayed negligence in properly caring for a teenage female child, and the level of trust given to a man she had fallen out with fails even the most far-fetched rationalization that anyone could possibly offer. I am reminded of a comment someone made in which stated, “I guess she didn’t actually believe he would harm her sister”. However, Deena also obviously was completely ignorant to the fact that Michael apparently had a physical attraction to young Phylicia. His attraction  was more than likely born when the child was permitted to run around nude with Michael and others at Deena’s apartment. Though it is unclear whether Deena was actually there during such activities, it leaves room for a lot of speculation if Deena herself took the pictures when it occurred, and even if she wasn’t involved in the “streaking” Deena is ultimately responsible. Deena’s presence or not demonstrates poor supervision of Phylicia. The fact that Michael cheated on Deena with another mutual friend, in which he even fathered a child by Tabitha Fickling showed Michael couldn’t be trusted around other females. It’s completely disturbing that Deena failed to see the writing on the wall when she left young Phylicia alone in that apartment knowing that Michael could simply come over at any time. Hell the sole reason they were breaking up was because of his unfaithfulness to her, but she chose to allow Michael prime opportunity to be alone with the child. To really drive the point home even further, it’s disturbing that Michael kept the nude images of him and Phylicia on his cellphone while the cops were actively investigating the case. Michael’s failure to discard such material evidence that could create a perceived culpability of his direct involvement in what ever happened to Phylicia, raises concern why Deena was unable to pick up on his interest in her little sister. I am aware that many have expressed that i have unfairly picked on Deena Barnes regarding Phylicia’s death, but I am simply stating what many within the public also feel regarding this tragic murder case. There isn’t any discussion that could occur that would bring Phylicia Simone Barnes back, but it must be understood that the verdict has already been returned on Deena’s failed responsibility in properly caring for Phylicia, and her sentence is eternal as she must deal with her conscience the rest of her life.

The people’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Mugshot of a battered Michael Johnson who has been charged with the murder of honors teen Phylicia Barnes. Johnson's attorney says his client was batered when city police arrested him.

For over a year now the tears have been flowing for a 16-year-old studious kid who was found nude floating in a river. Her dad, Raheem Mustafa said the ordeal was far too much for his wife to bear. Janice Sallis-Mustafa and her remaining kids were so heartbroken that they all slept huddled in the same bed for months. The reality that young Phylicia Barnes, the lively spirited child that once filled the Mustafa home with so much joy, happiness, and would be no more was simply a nightmare.  Her grief filled parents stood tall in the face of tragedy while comforting their other kids, even went public via National News outlets, Talk Radio, and Social Media crying for justice for their fallen child. They were not alone in a simple quest for justice. A pretty book smart kid who traveled to Baltimore to reunite with older half-siblings and ended up dead while under the watch of her biological father’s other kids sparked outrage from the public. Followers of Phylicia’s murder turned cyber-detective while producing text, emails, tweets, and pictures to aid police with this complexed case.  It has been long suspected that Michael Johnson, Phylicia’s sister Deena Barnes ex-boyfriend was somehow involved in the child’s murder. Around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday night the Baltimore Police Fugitive Task Force executed an arrest warrant on Michael Johnson’s home. Johnson was taken into custody and charged with first degree murder in the Barnes killing. Authorities declined to comment of specifics that led to the arrest.  I’m sure many within the public and the media are extremely curious as to what evidence the cops may have gathered against Johnson, but those findings would only be superficial at this point. Even Bryan Barnes, the late teens older half-brother stated during a TPC interview, “It all points to him”.  It remains to be seen what cops have now that they didn’t have a year ago. Here are some interesting facts about the Barnes killing:

1. Johnson was the last person to see Phylicia Barnes alive.

2. He told Deena Barnes that the child had gone to get food.

3. Police investigation into the food allegation was determined to be false.

4. Johnson was seen struggling with a large container in the apartment building hallway by a neighbor.

5. Police cadaver dogs lost the teen’s scent at the doorway of the apartment building and only footsteps away from where Johnson’s vehicle had been parked that day.

6. Johnson obtained an Attorney even while cops say he wasn’t a suspect.

7. Johnson unexplainably couldn’t be reached by Deena Barnes in the early hours of the child’s disappearance.

8. Johnson says he last saw Phylicia around 1:30 p.m. on December 28, 2010, but twitter tweets from his kid brother Glenton puts him in a car smoking pot in the Rolling Road area, around the time Glenton tweeted violence referencing beating a female, and at the same time he said he saw the child at Deena Barnes’ apartment.

9. The F.B.I. discovered nude photos of 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes on Johnson’s cellphone, with the teen streaking nude with Johnson and others at the child’s older sister Deena Barnes apartment.

There has been enough circumstantial evidence to justify an arrest of Johnson as far back beginning when the “went to get food” account he offered was determined to be bogus. The Barnes case seemed ice-cold but suddenly cops appear to have sufficient evidence to charge Johnson with the pretty little girl’s murder.What happened now that didn’t happen a year ago? Did police finally get the help from the public they needed to break the case wide open? Many of these questions won’t be answered until the entire matter is played out in our justice system, but for now the most likely suspect has been taken off the streets, and I can’t help but wonder if dominos will start to fall now that cops have some one in custody. Justice for Phylicia Barnes must continue to march on.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

The late Phylicia Simone Barnes went missing December 28, 2010 while visiting half-siblings in Baltimore over the Christmas Holiday, and was found months later nude in a river in Northern Maryland. Her killer(s) have never been found a year later.

Danisha McIntosh a pretty, bright young woman, and seemingly headed toward success has become embroiled in a tragic murder mystery. Danisha tweeted on February 28, 2011, "It's trapped at the dam. Don't pull the lever", and months before Phylicia Barnes' body was actually discovered at the Conowingo Dam. Her relationship with young men questioned by police regarding the Barnes teen murder, leaves no doubt that she more than like can break the case wide open.

It was a sunny day with clear skies in Harford County, Maryland on April 21, 2011 when a State Environmental Worker working along the shores of Conowingo, Maryland yelled out to his crew members, “Look! A body in the water”. That day would become even more puzzling as another crew discovered another body just a few miles up-stream in the exact same body of water. When State Police responded to the scene the bodies were retrieved and determined to be a young female and,  an adult male who it later was learned had committed suicide. Both bodies were nude, badly decoposed, and appear to have emerged when spring weather began to thaw the chilly waters of the Susquehanna River. Almost immediately authorities suspected the pair’s tragic ending were directly related, but as it turned out, that wasn’t the case at all. During the investigation State Coroners revealed the female was in fact a child with a distinct tattoo of a rose on her ankle. The finding sparked the interest of Baltimore City Police who were conducting their own investigation into the unexplained disappearance of a 16-year-old honors student from Monroe, N.C. who had gone missing over the Christmas Holiday on December 28, 2010. Authorities in Monroe sent dental records of the child to the Maryland State Medical Examiners Office to determine if the Harford County case was related to the missing North Carolina teen. Within hours of receiving the records it was discovered that the female child who had been pulled from the chilly waters of the Susquehanna River in Northern Maryland was the missing honors student Phylicia Barnes. Any hopes that the public had fostered wishing the smart kid would be found alive were suddenly dashed, and left the nation wondering how such a promising child could have come to such an abrupt ending. The only minor consolation was that Janice Sallis-Mustafa, the little girls mom, didn’t have to worry about finding her precious daughter anymore, and the child’s family could hopefully began to  find some closure. However, Phylicia’s story bothered many people following the case. Many of the people who were around the child in Baltimore appear to be deceptive in information they offered to Police while being questioned regarding Phylicia having went missing. This is an account confirmed by City Police who say, “some people weren’t being truthful”. Particulars revealed in the Barnes teen case seemed fishy early own even before the child was found. Statements made public from Michael Johnson (The person reported to have last seen her alive), Deena & Kelly Barnes (The two older half-sisters), and others didn’t add up. For whatever reason, they all failed to explain how young Phylicia who didn’t know anyone in Baltimore but her siblings and their friends, ended up floating nude in a river 40 plus miles from where she was staying with her sister in West Baltimore. The main cause for suspicion is the fact that the child was left at the apartment alone with adult males the day she went missing. The Two sisters never went by the apartment to check on their baby sister. In fact it almost seems as if they knew something may have already happened to Phylicia. their behavior immediately after her disappearance is simply sickening. There was no authentic grief displayed by these women, and their account given on Blogtalk highlights that something went drastically wrong and they know more than what they have told the authorities. The fact that Phylicia was left alone with males demonstrates that there wasn’t serious concern for the child’s safety. Deena Barnes alleges that she and Michael Johnson were in the midst of a break-up, yet she felt comfortable with leaving Phylicia alone with his family and friends. Also, Deena has always offered the rationalization that she thought Phylicia was safe because MJ told her the child was asleep on the sofa. Maybe it’s just me, but the thought of my baby sister sleeping on the couch with my ex who is moving his belongings out of the house just doesn’t sit well with me. Deena knew that other males were there as well. In fact three males were actually at the apartment when Phylicia went missing. A pretty little girl who had been running around “streaking” nude with adult males (MJ’s attorney revealed that the F.B.I. had been questioning his client regarding a nude photograph of  Phylicia, MJ, and others on his cellphone streaking in and out of Deena Barnes apartment) was left alone with them (adult males), something Deena had never done the entire time Phylicia was in Baltimore (Phylicia went to work with Deena or Kelly every day except December 28, 2010), and suddenly the child goes missing. Perhaps I am the only person following this tragic story who has seen this convenient parallel. Deena Barnes may not have been the only person caught in a lie regarding the disappearance and subsequent murder of Phylicia Barnes. Michael Johnson’s story is full of holes also. MJ told Deena Barnes that he believe Phylicia went to buy food, but police investigations into that account revealed the child never went to the commercial area near the apartment. We don’t even know if MJ ever told Deena that, but that story may have stalled the cops efforts in locating the child from the very start. MJ has claimed he last saw Phylicia at 1:30 that day and I believe that was a lie also. Twitter records made public from various members of the Johnson Clan shows that MJ was probably in the Rolling Road area smoking “pot’ with his kid brother Glenton around the time Phylicia was last seen. Though the Rolling area is just a stone throw away from Deena’s apartment, Glenton’s tweets indicate that perhaps a female was in their company as well. Glenton tweeted, “Don’t tell her twice. Whoop her **s”. The tweet depicting violence toward a female on the day Phylicia went missing, around the time MJ said he last saw the child, and the location of the tweet in relationship to the apartment are yet other coincidences related to this case that can not be ignored. While all of this may have been going on, Deena relied upon MJ’s account that young Phylicia was asleep on the sofa. Did Deena Barnes purposefully throw her kid sister to the wolves? I personally don’t think such a perspective is too far-fetched considering Deena condoned her pretty little sister taking off all of her clothes and running around with adult males. Why would any woman allow such activity to transpire pertaining to their minor sibling? Many of the intelligent followers of this case who are simply utilizing common sense believe that the streaking nude occurrences is what may have led to Phylicia’s ultimate demise. The child’s mother told TPC that Phylicia was so modest about her body that the child was uncomfortable undress around her own mom. Now that it has been established as a matter of fact that Deena Barnes more than likely did introduce her baby sister to drugs and alcohol, and Janice Sallis’ statement, “If there are nude pictures of Simone she had to be complete intoxicated” fuels the notion the child was probably incoherent at the time she took off her clothes and ran around with the adult male family and friends of Michael Johnson. Why would MJ keep such a picture on his cell? This demonstrates that perhaps MJ had a sexual attraction to the studious teen. Many pedophiles and serial killers often retain trophies of many of their victims. The public has kicked around thousands of possible theories regarding what may have happened to young Phylicia Barnes and at this juncture in the case we can only pray and rely of the brave men and women who are charged to bring these animals to justice. However, as many have already stated, the cops need help from the public to close the book on this senseless murder. The help needed must start at the door steps of  “the Twitter Girl” Danisha McIntosh who tweeted on February 28, 2011, “It’s trapped at the dam. Don’t pull the lever”. The body of Phylicia Barnes was discovered in the Susquehanna River near the Conowingo Dam in Northern Maryland month after Danisha Tweeted about a dam. Her tweet is explosive simply because she is the ex-girlfriend and close friend of Dorian carpenter, and Glenton Johnson who were both questioned by police related to the Phylicia Barnes disappearance. One year later Danisha still hasn’t come forward to tell cops what she knows about the murder of Phylicia Barnes. It has always been my concern that Danisha, whose life practically mirrors Phylicia Simone Barnes’ may end up as another pretty, promising, and intelligent flower floating nude in a river somewhere. When the seasons change and natures transformation begins, whose to say Danisha won’t end up floating all alone because of what she knows, and just like Phylicia Simone Barnes whose was a pretty flower lost in a river.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams