It was Christmas time the Season of love, family, and good cheer. The greatest time of the year as many folk tails and songs of Saint Nick exclaim. The music normally can be heard from homes celebrating the holiday spirit to the sounds of choirs singing “Oh silent Night” through out communities in America. For the Barnes Family Christmas of 2010 would be a season in which tragedy reared it’s ugly head as the youngest child of four siblings vanished in thin air without a trace. Her story made National Media Headlines, a rarity for a young African American Child, and a dragnet of Police/Volunteers began searching various sites in Baltimore City looking for what appeared to be one of the African American Community’s brightest hopes, and shining stars, the beautiful studious Phylicia Barnes. The Monroe, N.C. Honor student had traveled to Baltimore to spend the Holidays with Family, a journey that ended without incident many times in the past. This trip sadly resulted in her untimely death at the hands of heartless individual(s) who murdered her and have yet to be brought to justice. The minimal details that we know about her killing are as mysterious as some of the actions of her Baltimore Family following her death. The reality of Phylicia having been in the care of those who should have protected her,  ultimately resulting in her discovery nude in a river 40 miles from where she was staying, and nobody knowing what happened to her is just simply unconscionable. This case which seemed cold, has dragged on without an arrest. We have heard reports surrounding suspects, Micheal Johnson (Deena Barnes Boyfriend), his cousin “Bootz”, and 16 year old brother who were at the apartment on the day Phylicia went missing. Seems like an open and shut case, but startling new details may tend to lean toward another angle in this case.
Phylicia’s mother, Janice Sallis-Mustafa who has recently began speaking about her daughter’s murder gave an interview in “Opal Fusion Mag” Blog. In tha interview Ms Sallis revealed a family secret that sheds new light on this entire mystery and further heightens the suspicion of the potential culpability of Phylicia’s Father side of the family that she had traveled to Baltimore to visit. I won’t overcast Blogger “Mimi’s” article regarding this revelation, but I’ll just simply say that the “Secret” became known to Deena Barnes and her Baltimore Siblings prior to Phylicia  arriving in Baltimore, that it was met with outrage, and possibly may have set the stage which resulted in Phylicia’s murder. The article also reveals that Russell Barnes (Phylicia’ Father) may have wanted this information kept from his children permanently and he was also described as furious that it had been leaked out by his ex-wife (Janice Sallis). The Opal Mag article leaves a lot of questions for readers to ponder. I recently Blogged that Janice Sallis strongly feels that Russell Barnes is complicit in the death or conspiracy to cover up the murder of his own child, and the recent revelations pointing to this family “Secret” almost assuredly keeps him in the scheme of potential suspects involved in this murder. I admittedly, was challenged by his lack of emotion when news first broke of the body found in the Susquehanna River having been identified as Phylicia’s. In fact there has been countless Blog post by readers who depict the entire Barnes Clan as unmoved, silly, rogue church going wannabes.
Weak Link: Kelly Barnes Factor
In my observation of the siblings throughout this ordeal I have noticed that Deena Barnes has a complexed discernment about her when interviewed. I saw a News Interview in which I observed Kelly Barnes speaking, while Deena trained her eyes on Kelly’s every word. It was almost as if Deena is frightened that Kelly will inadvertently implicate them in some way. Disciplined Interviewers and Investigators are trained to tune into non verbal communications of the Interviewee, and it is plain as day that Deena reeks with guilt. It could simply be an implication that she feels bad for her poor supervision of young Phylicia, but what ever it is Deena is clearly nervous. During the Blogtalk Broadcast Kelly Barnes was somewhat withdrawn during the discussion. She only offered comment when directly question by “Peas In Their Pods” staff. I also noticed that she wanted to say more than what she actually did. For a period of time it seemed as if she was on the verge of revealing something. Of the two, Kelly Barnes is the softest target as far as investigations go. She is not a good liar. It’s not natural to her and it’s obvious. During the same broadcast Kelly confirmed that she was supposed to pick Phylicia up that day but never did. She is also overheard stating that she was scheduled to get off of work early that day between 12-12:30 p.m. She states that she called Phylicia around 1:00 p.m. and was unsuccessful in reaching her. Recently a TPC Blog poster who is also a co-worker of Kelly Barnes revealed that Kelly did not come to work on the day that Phylicia went missing. This is an obvious unsettling fact if proven correct. Why would Kelly say she went to work and didn’t, but even more importantly I think it’s safe to say that one remembers what they did on the day their baby sister went missing, so the I don’t recall rationalization is buried here. Assuming that Kelly didn’t go to work, why didn’t she go by Deena’s apartment to pick her up or even check on her at the least? Kelly’s rationalization that she thought Phylicia was asleep is not convincing. Why is Kelly lieing? It would serve Police well to press Kelly Barnes on these facts. She knows something and she could break. Kelly is the weak link in unraveling the lies the Barnes Clan have meshed together.
Micheal Johnson: His Police Family Connection
Certainly we cannot exclude MJ because he was reportedly the last person who saw Phylicia alive, mysteriously hired an Attorney while Police ruled him out as a potential suspect, and has made some questionable Facebook post like, “Deena should just tell Phylicia’s mother what was going on at the apartment”, a FB comment which was suspiciously deleted a short time later. Recently news broke that Deena Barnes had filed for a Restraining Order against him which subsequently was denied by the presiding Baltimore Judge, who cited the lack of merit for the order. MJ is definitely not out of the pool of potential suspects. Also, there have been a growing number of posters in several Blogs who indicate MJ’s Family ties with at least one high ranking Police Official. Janice Sallis even confirmed this in a recent post on the TPC Blog. Just because a potential murder suspect has family within the investigating agency that has authority in the jurisdiction that he may ultimately be charged, doesn’t mean he is getting preferential treatment. However, anyone who has followed this case can’t help by being drawn to some interesting factors involved in this case. For instance, where was Phylicia Murdered? Why are there no witnesses who report seeing Phylicia leave that apartment either alone or accompanied by someone else? Where is the crime scene? The apartment rendered nothing by way of forensics. How is it that average males from Baltimore, a city leading the nation in adult illiteracy amongst Blacks, are capable of possessing the knowledge related to disposing a body in a river during the winter, and knowing the dynamics of how freezing water temperatures are ideal to mask the body for months? I’m not convinced that these rapper wannabe, pot smoking, and picture taking with guns aspiring thugs have the basic knowledge of anatomy or forensics science to met out such a carefully orchestrated cover up of this murder unassisted. It is quite possible that someone with expert knowledge related to anatomical decomposition may have aided the killers in the disposal of the body. Police do have this knowledge as they are charged with the task of recovering bodies on a regular basis in “Bodymore” (a cliche used to depict  Baltimore’s notorious culture of violence). I am well aware of the far reaching implications thar such a perspective suggest, but I am also experienced in the culture that exist within a very small minority of the BCPD. They are far from reproach.
I apologize to Janice Sallis-Mustafa for the manner in which this Blog post rehashes descriptive details related to Phylicia’s murder, knowing that you are now an active follower of the TPC Blog. It is my sincerest hope that a continued public discusion regarding the circumstances of Phylicia’s passing will ultimately, even in minor fashion, spur something that aids in the successful apprehension of her killers. Your kept in my prayers. Phylicia’s cause will march on until her killers are, as you explicitly stated, “locked up in a cage” rightfully until the conclusion of their mortality. God bless you!
David B. Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and founder of The People's Champion, a platform built on truth, justice, and advocacy for the overlooked. For over a decade, Adams has investigated wrongful convictions, missing and exploited children, homelessness, and the political forces that shape marginalized communities' lives.
What sets his work apart is a refusal to sensationalize. Adams treats crime reporting as human storytelling — pushing past headlines to examine the systemic failures in law enforcement, the courts, and government that so often go unexamined. He's built a reputation among activists and advocates for combining deep research, personal narrative, and unflinching commentary.
The People's Champion began as a personal outlet and has grown into a respected independent voice in crime and justice journalism, read by audiences nationwide who care about accountability and the people too often left out of the story.
