In the wake of shocking and disturbing details related to the Phylicia Barnes Murder Case that were revealed by the late teen’s mother Janice Sallis, for the first time we see a sudden emergence from members of the child’s Baltimore family here on the TPC Blog. Bryan Barnes (brother) and Russell Barnes (biological father) have weighed in on the discussion surrounding the details that led up to the senseless murder of such a promising teen. I applaud Bryan’s effort for stepping up and at least giving his family a voice in the presence of direct attack against members of his immediate family. There has been virtual silence from Russell Barnes and his children in Social Media since Phylicia’s tragic ending. We know that grieving families often need time and their space to heal and overcome what must be a complete horrific ordeal. If there is any member of the Barnes family who should be so delegated to take the reigns as the family’s spokes person, baring an attorney of course, it should in fact be Bryan Barnes. I have listened to radio broadcast of him, his speaking on television, and he clearly appears to be the only family member with objectivity, transparency, and a demeanor of sincerity when discussing the events leading up to the killing of his beautiful baby sister. In all of the articles that I have read in Social Media or elsewhere, I have yet to come across a single story where by those following the case have directly implicated him in the murder of Phylicia Barnes. Moreover, I believe that Bryan himself has wrestled with comprehending the details that his siblings have personally conveyed publicly under questioning related to their actions and knowledge about this murder case. Bryan has been quoted in media reports to have in fact stated, “We don’t care who is responsible for killing Phylicia, we want justice, even if it’s a family member”. This comment speaks volumes about what many have already concluded, that he himself at the very least, at some point in this investigation has considered that members of his family may be directly responsible, involved, or intentionally hindering the criminal investigation into the murder of Phylicia Barnes. I tip my hat to Bryan for having the courage to express this publicly.  However, subtle inferences of the possible implication of his family in this crime is insufficient. I challenge Bryan Barnes to revisit the particulars related to this tragic event, and reevaluate his own personal perspective about this case. With that being said, it is only appropriate that I address the off color comments of Russel Barnes. His comment, “Ya’ll are messing with the wrong family”, is very interesting as well as disturbing, and I wonder what such an ambiguous statement implies. Assuming that his comment is a direct result of his stated displeasure of Blogs, their post, and comments, I can’t help but wonder if there is a veiled consequence or threat entailed in his blog posting. Also, Russell Barnes posted,”I’m going to hold my peace and let God fight all of my battles”. That comment seemingly also has  an apparent veiled undertone. The term “battle” is extremely telling, and I’m wondering why Russell Barnes chose such a term, or why his obvious perception of conflict has derived from simply reading blog post entries. I’ll be realistic and admit there has been  some direct attacks against him and his daughters related to this murder case, but it’s only rhetoric. Considering the fact that Russell nor his children have responded to most of what followers of this case in the Social Media arena have expressed, and I find it interesting that his family emerges after Mrs. Janice Sallis-Mustafa aired the family’s dirty laundry publicly. I believe that some of the details Mrs. Mustafa conveyed were extremely hurtful and embarrassing for her to make public, but I also believe she felt obligated to set the record straight about her own conclusions related to what happened to her child, as well as some of her personal experiences, and history interacting with the Barnes Family. Not only that, but her personal resolution that untruths  were told to her resulting in allowing her precious daughter to visit the Barnes Family in Baltimore, and concluding with Phylicia being murdered, is an extremely compelling  argument when considering some of the gut wrenching details she expressed, like Russell Barnes’s rejection of her child, and drugs and alcohol being introduced to Phylicia. Therefore, it is very troubling that Russell Barnes would suddenly appear with a debut comment in social media making statements with a veiled inference to violence and conflict battles. Quite frankly, I personally don’t believe such an effort  displays any wisdom what so ever, especially when Russell Barnes and some of his children have suspicion lingering around them related to a violent Capitol Crime. In fact, I also believe that such comments ultimately validates what Mrs. Mustafa has already publicly expressed about the character of Russell Barnes. Now does this mean Russell and is kids are guilty, that what Janice Sallis-Mustafa shared publicly is accurate, and that the public will think any differently about this case? No! However, I must say that I heard the grief, pain, and distress in Janice’ voice when I spoke to her. Summarizing what the public already knows about this case, and the absence of any explicit rebuttal related to suspicions of criminal acts by Barnes Family members, or the alleged history of violence by Russell Barnes, creates a hell of a stigma for the entire Barnes Family to overcome related to what Mrs. Mustafa has personally expressed. Moreover, it is uncertain whether the comments by Russell Barnes were purposely expressed to convey intimidation toward those whom have spoken out with their opinions and venting their frustrations with the case’ slow progress, but I am convinced that such steam filled discourse by Russell Barnes only fuels a growing public sentiment that the Barnes Family may be complicit in the tragic ending of young Phylicia Barnes. The Statements made publicly by Deena and Kelly Barnes are contradictory and not logical. Also, they have yet to defend themselves from much of what Social Media and others from the public have expressed regarding this murder case. The lack of authentic grief on the part of Barnes Family members  is compelling, unsettling, and questionable comments by their father Russell Barnes perpetuates continued suspicion which is compounded by the silence of his daughters..
The People’s Champion
I’m David Adams
