There are posters still hanging on light poles in the upper Park Heights section of Northwest Baltimore, seeking the public’s help in locating 16 year old Honor Student Phylicia Barnes, who went missing December 28, 2010 while visiting family in Baltimore over the Christmas Holiday, and many may have forgotten about the little girl’s story. The signs that remain with her fading image after nearly a year later,  is a reminder of the yet unsolved murder of a bright promising pretty teenage girl whose story captivated a nation, and depicts the desperation the child’s mother and family experienced during a 41/2 month mystery and search for her that ended with Phylicia’s nude body being discovered floating in a river 40 miles away from where she was staying with her half-sister. Since the authorities pulled the child’s body from the chilly waters of the Susquehanna River, few details have emerged indicating what Police have discovered about what happened to young Phylicia. There have been a variant of opinions, rumors, and theories regarding how the studious kid may have come to such a traggic ending, but the lack of information released to the public regardign the case’ progress has fueled concerns, and outrage from the public who have become doubtful that the murder will ever be solved. For many, the concerns are related to no arrest having been made in this murder case steming from obvious inconsistencies in the stories of those who were closes to the child. As an experienced investigator I know that sometimes people tell lies regarding crime for a variety of reasons, but that far to often the untruths are not enough to mount charges of criminal wrong doing, nor is it iron clad that the individual is actually responsible for committing a crime. However, in the Barnes case there are indeed some extremely alarming facts that can not be ignored. Beside the revelation that Deena allowed the nieve teen to drink vodka and smoke marijuana, there were other abnormal activities occurring at the apartment that were even shocking to Phylicia’s Mother, Janice Sallis. It was later revealed that Phylicia had confided in an older sibling regarding high traffic in and out of Deena’s place, and that an unspecified male had made a pass at her which she rejected. Alcohol, drugs, and a steady flow of young men coming and going constantly were a recipe for trouble from the very sart when we consider the vulnerability of a book smart kid from the rural south. The entire scenario surrounding the culture at Deena’s Northwest Baltimore apartment was extremely telling regarding what may have happened to Phylicia, but as details about the case emerged a growing cloud of suspicion developed toward the child’s sisters and others who were at the apartment that day. Let’s examine and revisit some of  the details:
1. Deena Barnes (Phylicia’s half-sister) had been taking Phylicia to work with her everyday except the day that Phylicia went missing. This isn’t fabrication or assumption. Deena Barnes verified this during the Blog Talk interview, and a fact that has caused many to suspect that something may have happened to Phylicia prior to December 28, which could also directly implicate Deena Barnes herself. Also, why was there a need for Deena to take Phylicia with her to work everyday? This demonstrates that even Deena herself had concern for Phylicia’s safety, and that something wasn’t right at her apartment. The fact that the only day Deena doesn’t take Phylicia to work with her results in the child’s disappearance is extremely troubling.
2. Kelly Barnes (other half-sister) was scheduled to get off of work the day Phylicia went missing between 12-12:30 p.m. and was suppose to pick young Phylicia up to go shopping for beauty supplies and go to a hair appointment. Kelly never goes by to check on Phylicia (lives blocks away from Deena’s place) after calling several times with unsuccessful attempts to contact the child. Moreover, there has been unconfirmed allegations that Kelly never even went to work that day and if  this is in fact true, I’m wondering why authorities haven’t vigorously pursued confirmation as to where Kelly was that day or why she lied about being on the job.
3. According to the older two half -sisters Deena and Kelly Barnes (comments made during BT Interview) neither of them actually spoke with Phylicia December 28. However, Deena made contradictory statements during the BTI. She initially said Phylicia was asleep prior to her departure for work, then she states she and Phylicia were discussing plans for later on that day before she left the apartment. Also, the laughter, whispering, and other odd behavior while giving an interview on a Nationally recognized Internet Social Media affiliate (“Peas In Their Pod”) about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of their baby sister, made it extremely difficult for listeners to validate much of what the two women said occurred the day Phylicia disappeared. The women collectively admitted that they had only exchanged text messages with Phylicia, a troubling element of this entire ordeal that has caused suspicion upon the truthfulness of their account and question the women’s judgement.
4. Micheal Johnson, the purported ex-boyfriend of Deena Barnes that she alleges an estranged relationship with, that supposedly was in the process of moving out of the apartment after a breakup with her  on an ongoing basis since January 2010, who strangely still had a key to the apartment, and reportedly the last person to see young Phylicia alive, contacted Deena at work to advise her that he was there to do laundry. Deena alleges that MJ told her that Phylicia was asleep on the sofa. Awkwardly. Deena also states during the BTI that MJ was there to pickup a younger brother/cousin. Deena obviously had trouble conveying accuracy of her memory during this very crucial time frame leading up to the child’s disappearance. More importantly though, after it was revealed that not 1, 2, but possibly 3 men may have in fact been at the apartment along with Phylicia, Deena never offers explanation of any kind as to what action she took to insure Phylicia’s safety. Deena simply excepts MJ’s report that the young child was asleep as reliable. It’s disturbing that a grown woman lacked the basic instinct that women innately manifest to personally confirm the whereabouts or safety of a young female child when she is in the company of multiple males alone who are unrelated to her.
5. After Kelly Barnes’ failed attempts to reach Phylicia by phone and her unexplained reasons for simply not going over to Deena’s apartment to physically check on Phylicia, she contacts Deena (Kelly BTI account) to see if she had picked Phylicia up. Deena advised Kelly that MJ said she was asleep, and these two women simply resolve to let her sleep. Later on that day the text messages ceased between the two woman and Phylicia, but they assumed she was sill asleep and nobody went to check on her. This is suspicious, irresponsible, and frankly speaking, not a very convincing  rationalization to account for their actions or lack there of on the day that their beautiful baby sister just vanished in thin air.
6. MJ returns to Deena’s apartment late afternoon on December 28 and discovers the door to Deena’s apartment wide open, music blasting inside, and Phylicia no where to be found. This is where the complete picture gets very cloudy. It’s unconfirmed , at least publicly, where the account that Phylicia was seen walking to get food derived from, or the account that she may have met up with friends and simply wondered off. Assuming that this is another rationalization that MJ offered to Deena regarding Phylicia’s disappearance, it speaks volumes about Deena’s alleged estrange relationship with MJ. Why is he deemed to be so credible by Deena related to her kid sister? Why was there apparently an obvious lack of urgency on Deena Barnes’ part in the initial stage of Phylicia’s disappearance? To drive this point even further, Deena did not leave work to at least insure the security of her home, and if for no other reason to obtain explanation from Phylicia why the place was left open? If Deena couldn’t leave work, why wasn’t Kelly Barnes (lives blocks away) contacted and asked to go by the apartment to investigate what was going on? Unbelievably, neither of these two women went by the apartment, and Deena arrived nearly 2 hours later. It’s unconscionable that they lacked any since of urgency what so ever, a fact that tends to add credibility to the something may have happened to Phylicia prior to Dec. 28 theory, and exposes Deena and Kelly Barnes’ possible complicity in this entire senseless tragedy.
7. The lack of unauthentic grief in the face of the murder of a loved one by Phylicia’s Baltimore family only highlighted and fueled a growing public sentiment that the truth about what happened to Phylicia had yet to be told. Russel Barnes Phylicia’s father remained composed during the discovery of his daughter’s nude body and he has yet to display any signs of emotion publicly. Deena and Kelly’s continued display of laughter and carefree demeanors during a memorial service held in Baltimore in honor of Phylicia is not only sickening, demonstrates that they are not exactly moved by the passing of their baby sister, and is the main reason that suspicion lingers around them.
8. During the Police conducted searches for Phylicia in the early stages of her disappearance case, Police were fed bogus tips regarding places where the child’s remains may possibly be. Baring the Patapsco State Park search, which led to the discovery of the remains of a homeless man unrelated to the case, the authorities have run into one dead end after another. The discovery of Phylicia’s body tens of miles away from where Police were led tends to raise suspicion whether the leads were purposely orchestrated to keep cops distracted while valuable forensic evidence dissipated. The fact hat Police K-9 dogs lost the child’s scent at the main entrance of the apartment building obviously demonstrates that Deena’s apartment was ground zero for the purpose of concluding a recovery of her remains.
9. Deena’s apartment yielded no forensics evidence related to a murder or a crime of any kind. So what happened to Phylicia? No one saw the child exit the apartment alone or accompanied by anyone, surveillance cameras mounted atop local establishments in the area did not reveal any images of Phylicia traveling as Micheal Johnson had alleged, and Phylicia’s discovery nude points to a meticulous and detailed disposal of her body. The discarding of the child’s clothing aids in destroying potential fibers, DNA, and other forensics that could lead to her killer(s). Dumping the body in the river probably was the most clever act that was committed in her murder because the winter months shielded the body for months, but I am not convinced that the primary suspects in this case possessed the aptitude to met out such criminalistic intelligence. I am completely convinced that there was a conspiracy involved in the disposal of the child’s body, and that they had help from sources with expertise in anatomical decomposition. Realizing that Micheal Johnson has family members within the Baltimore City Police Department only fuels my perspective here.
These are just some of the many troubling and alarming circumstances that surround the disappearance and subsequent murder of Phylicia Barnes, and it seems that the investigating authorities have a plethora of information to lead them to her killer(s) yet no arrest have been made. The public can only continue to pray and hope that something emerges to bring the person(s) responsible for taking this flower from our midst. As the Anniversary of Phylicia’s disappearance looms we must embrace her family and friends with a comfort empowered by our love for life and justice. The cruel and harsh realities of this world are often times too difficult to bare, but we must press on and live without fear, nor shall we allow ourselves to fall astray from the straight path of righteousness. We pray for redemption and we pray for those whom have gone astray. In loving memory of a little girl who died senselessly and so young. Rest now young Phylicia for you will forever be in our hearts. God speed!
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.
