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

Deena and Kelly Barnes are the older half-sisters of the late Phylicia Simone Barnes who many believe failed to adequate protect the child leading up to her disappearance, and body subsequently being discovered floating nude in a Northern Maryland river.

It was supposed to be the sister’s day out.  A hair appointment, shopping for beauty products, and just simply hanging out was the scheduled events for that day.  At least that’s the story Deena and Kelly Barnes told when their kid sister went missing over the Christmas Holiday of 2010. The only problem is neither of the Barnes older sisters ever went back to the Northwest Baltimore apartment where young Phylicia Barnes was staying with Deena. The studious teen just vanished and no one seems to know what happen, but when state environment workers discovered the pretty little girl’s nude body in the Susquehanna River in Northern Maryland, the mystery ended in tragedy, and her story has bothered us all ever since. We have learned so much about young Phylicia’s killing in the past year. We know hat there was a culture of drugs, nudity, and a constant flow of young men filtering in and out of Deena Barnes’ apartment. The environment Phylicia was exposed to had the makings of trouble from the very start considering a pretty young girl in the midst of such promiscuity, which was a distinct contrast to the supervision the child had been accustomed to. We are all very disturbed by the caliber of people Deena associated herself with and the activities we now know were a routine among the Johnson crew, but what remains as one of the biggest mysteries is what Deena nor Kelly Barnes did on the day their kid sister disappeared. Both of them failed to physically check on young Phylicia and I can’t help but continue to wonder why. Deena has continued to claim she and Michael Johnson were in the midst of a breakup, yet she freely allowed his family and friends to be exposed to her naive baby sister. Phylicia had gone to work with either Deena or Kelly everyday that she was in Baltimore except that fateful day. The only rationalization for why Phylicia didn’t go with them on the 28th was offered by Bryan Barnes when I interviewed him. Bryan said that young Phylicia had been up all night watching movies with Dylane, Michael Johnson’s baby brother that Phylicia was too tired to tag along with her older sisters to work that day, and had requested to stay home. We have to consider that Bryan’s account is simply what his sisters told him, because he wasn’t there. So, even if what Bryan said is correct, Deena’s decision to allow Phylicia to stay at the apartment is troubling. Dylane was and at least one other male was still at the apartment with Phylicia when she left for work that day. Deena’s story regarding the events during the early morning of December 28 is cloudy. She gave conflicting versions during the Peas in Their Pod interview. Deena said she and Phylicia were talking about plans for that day prior to her departure, that Phylicia had asked her to call Kelly to pick her up, and the third account was that Deena said Phylicia was asleep when she left for work. Her account isn’t clear and creates suspicion that she was attempting to conceal something pertaining to Phylicia’s welfare as early as 8:00-8:30 a.m. that day. Not just that though, her decision to allow her pretty baby sister to remain in that apartment alone with males even if she was awake while the young men slept is disturbing. Now that we know the child was allowed to run around streaking nude with grown men makes you wonder what in the hell Deena Barnes was thinking about the day she left young Phylicia alone at home. I don’t believe it’s unreasonable to expect that Deena should have mandated for Phylicia to come to work with her, or taking the child to Kelly’s place where there were not males and at the very least Phylicia should have been supervised by a responsible adult. Deena’s primary responsibility should have been to insure Phylicia’s absolute safety while she wasn’t physically going to be with her. The males at the apartment should have been awakened and asked to leave until such time that she returned to the apartment later on that day. This is basic common sense and Deena Barnes has never publicly justified or even rationalized for that matter, why she chose to leave the child alone with males. Females following this case have been outraged from the very start regarding these disturbing facts. Women say it’s instinctive for a female to go into protective mode regarding the safety of children, especially a female child. Also if the actions of Deena Barnes aren’t startling enough for followers of this case, Phylicia’s other older half sister’s actions on that fateful day are even more confusing. Kelly Barnes along with Deena both have stated for the record that Kelly was supposed to pick young Phylicia up once she got off from work. The two sisters had plans for the hairdresser, and shopping for beauty supplies. They say that during the late morning hours they both lost contact with Phylicia. Kelly says she called several times unsuccessfully reaching her baby sister. A call from Kelly to Deena was made to inquire if the kid was with Deena, but an account by Michael Johnson that placed the child asleep on the sofa was accepted as the gospel without either of these grown women actually verifying what he told them. I mean Michael and Deena were breaking up after all. If the break-up account is true, did Deena believe that MJ would have her pretty kid sister’s beast interest in mind? Kelly Barnes lived blocks away from Deena’s Northwest Baltimore apartment. She said she got off work early that day, but admits she didn’t go over to Deena’s to check on Phylicia. She says she had plans to go over there anyway, but never did. Why didn’t Kelly go over there? The two women say they decided to let her sleep. The fact that Deena admitted Michael Johnson still had keys to the apartment was even more of reason for these women to be proactive about checking on their baby sister. According to the itinerary Deena gave Janice Sallis (Phylicia’s Mother) when she arrived in Baltimore on December 30^th, Deena claims the next time they heard anything about Phylicia was around 5:10 p.m. when she received a text from MJ stating that “Phylicia is up and active”, but says he never told her that Phylicia wasn’t at the apartment. This is yet another disturbing fact displaying the willingness of Deena Barnes to simply accept MJ’s account regarding Phylicia’s whereabouts as the gospel. At 5:10 Kelly had still not made her way over to Deena’s to check on her baby sister. Deena never made any further attempts to contact Phylicia either. It was a long time from 11:00-11:30 to 6:00 p.m. before either of these two women even went back to the apartment. Leaving young Phylicia alone with males and knowing others had keys to access that apartment while Phylicia was there is beyond comprehension. Assuming that Deena may have had difficulty getting out of work from her Pharmacy tech job, Kelly on the other hand doesn’t have the convenience of that argument, and the fact that she only lived blocks away while failing to simply go over to Deena’s apartment after previously planning to do so seems as if Kelly deliberately didn’t check on Phylicia for some reason. Deena and Kelly Barnes’ action back on December 28, 2010 are both complex and simply unexplained. Many of us simply want to know why Phylicia wasn’t adequately provided for under their watch. Their actions on that day set the stage for this entire horrific ordeal, and perhaps what they failed to do may even be part of a broader perspective in what happened. More importantly though, nearly everyone around the child in Baltimore appear to attempt to remove themselves from any association with Deena’s apartment on that day. I am convinced that some one knows what happened to young Phylicia Barnes, and the responsibility of determining what happen to this studious child must start with her own sisters. I refuse to stop talking about this little girl’s murder case until justice has been done. Deena and Kelly Barnes owe it to the memory of their kid sisters to come clean and tell the truth even if it kills them. Phylicia’s blood is on their hands and for the most part we all have always felt that way from the very start.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

The late Trayvon Benjiman Martin (17) and the late Phylicia Simon Barnes (16) are just two of hundreds of black youth killed on the streets of America

When the Civil Rights protest of the 60’s occurred I was just a toddler without a clue about the social change that was happening. I don’t recall much of it, as I was 2 years old when Dr. King was killed. They say the marches and protest currently going on in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing is very reminiscent of that era. I will admit that I have never witnessed the black community by the masses on such an accord for social justice in America. The inequality that has plagued our community has been an ever ending debacle as it pertains to our relationship with police and the justice system as a whole. We have witnessed the incarceration of countless black men only to discover years later that they were in fact innocent. In some of those case they were put to death like many believe happened to Troy Davis. For the most part, the black community were mum on the entire injustice that many cried out. There is still the case of famed journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who has been incarcerated for nearly thirty years now for killing a white Philadelphia Police Officer, in a case that reeks setup, railroad, and injustice if ever there were such a case. We have remained silent for Mumia’s plight also. Not only that, but hundreds of young black men are killed at the hands of people their own color daily in America, yet we cry out not for these people or their loved ones either. Then there is the case of the late Phylicia Barnes who died while in the care of older siblings. Her story has gone relatively silent except for a few dedicated Bloggers who refuse to allow her death to run quietly in the night. Where is the outrage for her, for her parents, and other siblings. Phylicia’s death like many homicides committed in the black community, more than likely was carried out at the hands of someone of her own ethnicity. The killing of this honors teen highlights a blatant disregard for the life of even the black communities most promising young people. The very disturbing thing about her death is that there is significant evidence that people may know exactly what happened to the intelligent child, but refuse to aid in solving her apparent cold murder case. Anytime there is a killing of a black child there should be discuss, outrage, and protest demanding that authorities establish justice for these heinous acts. The reality is that the life of a black child is literally worthless in America and we should be ashamed that we are complacent and not proactive in demanding justice for our kids. When a white child goes missing or is killed in this country, the media runs news coverage into the ground. The search parties and volunteers who participate in finding their kids typically come at great volume, while searching late into the night looking for their loved ones. It’s a depiction of their resolve for preservation within their community and one I can hold them at fault. Sadly, the black community accepts the killing of black children as a way of life, and often times the silence that follows is because of fear. Fear that they may fall victim to violence as well and simply adjust to violence and other crimes within their community. How is it that the killing of Trayvon Martin by a non-black person can spark such outrage, and we are ever so careless when the exact same kinds of crimes are committed by our own people. I will admit that the Martin Teen’s killing was marred by  a poor police investigation, and clearly was treated as a routine black youth murder by a racist police agency. I am convinced that the bold and arrogant attempt to get away from such a killing while trying to cover it up  by the police, is directly related to the black communities own violence and lack of involvement related to violent crimes in our own communities. I am not trying to poor salt on an open womb, nor diminish the injustice in Trayvon Martin’s killing, but rather offering a grass-root consciousness about the most significant dilemma plaguing our community. Trayvon’s killing is tragic and we must fight for justice in his case, but we must also be equally outraged that our beautiful daughters can end up, some how while in the care of family, floating nude in a river. We must fight for justice in this child’s murder also. Phylicia’s body was found in the Susquehanna River in Northern Maryland on April 21, 2011 and her case remains unsolved. Justice for Trayvon Martin and Justice for Phylicia Simone Barnes. We should all be ashamed.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

African-American people by the tens of thousands taking to the streets around the country protesting the killing of Trayvon Martin and voicing frustration over racial profiling of black youth.

No matter how far back into the annals of history one might find themselves delved into, you will find where there has been struggles of class, race, tribal discord, and just about any social dilemma that hindered the ability for humanity to arrive at an equilibrium in tolerance related to man’s innate diversity. At some point change developed through educational, spiritual, cultural growth, and in some instances through revolution, as the masses rose up and spite anarchy, tyranny, and injustice. The intelligent mind knows that change is in fact inevitable. It has been over 400 hundred years now since the first slave ships brought Africans to the so-called New World and our plight to obtain equality marches on. With that being said, We must acknowledge the path we have traveled from slavery to the momentous achievements we have fought for through blood, sweat, tears, the martyred lives of many before our time, and realize that such liberties we now enjoy would not have been made possible if not for the countless white men and women who battled shoulder to shoulder with us, and assisted the ending of our long dark night upon these shores. It is because of this basic reality, and I know with conviction that I speak for most African-Americans when I say this, the only reason there has never been an all out race war in this nation quite frankly is due to the fellowship of civilized Americans of all ethnicities who love peace, and understand that our destiny is inextricably connected. However, when cases like the Trayvon Martin killing happen, there are racist White Americans who push the envelope in an attempt to usher our country into further social divide. When I think about American socialism in its totality during modern times, I am fearful that such bigotry would only write a check that white people in this country could never cash. I should say that it’s only because our natural love of peace, and closeness to God that black people in this country have not rose up by the masses, bared arms, exacted revenge upon the white race for the many years of oppression we have endured, and by many respects would be completely justified considering our treatment since we have been here. The other night on WBRG “The Bridge”, a Blogtalk radio affiliate, I stated and I quote, “the only way the racism that exist toward black people will end in this country is for us to beat their ass”. Many have misinterpreted what I was trying to say. I wasn’t talking about all white people. I meant racist white people. I mean let’s face it, if you corner an animal it will eventual turn toward you and attack. It’s a natural survival instinct when any creature is face with a mortal threat. How long do racist white people think they will be allowed to commit heinous criminal acts against black people, especially killing our innocent children without some form of revolt or some other retaliation formed against them? This is simply real talk. There may be some who might argue that my perspective here advocates violence and contradicts the very premise I am trying to convey, but I am simply stating the obvious. To drive this point on further, what do people think will happen now if George Zimmerman is not charged with the killing of Trayvon Martin? I ask this question because the educated ones of us who have been praying and working for peace are quite aware of the potential exclusiveness of this entire case if swift justice isn’t served. Also, why should non-racist Americans have to be shoved into the abyss of hatred? The basic theory of a controlled stimulus is positive and negative reinforcement,  and perhaps a good “ole fashion” ass whooping just may be what the doctor ordered to terminate people’s ideology that they can harm other people for no other provocation other than the fact that  they haven’t learned to accept others personal uniqueness, physical traits, and inherit individuality. The institution of Community only exist because of social tolerance, and we have tolerated racism in America far too long. Moreover, I have watched countless videos and read various articles on this case. The vast majority within society believe that George Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin, and their not all black people either. There is just a minority (racist white people) who unsurprisingly simply don’t get it. I have read statements such as, “Trayvon deserved to die”, “he probably stole the skittles and ice tea”, and “if black people didn’t fill over half the prison population, Trayvon might not have been killed”. There has even been racist comments made by sworn police officers that I refuse to even feed into. I guess the most sickening racist perspective is the inability to comprehend or refusal to admit that this case reeks with racism. Let’s stop kidding ourselves here, even if Trayvon Martin was in fact the aggressor, which we all know isn’t true based on Zimmerman’s own 911 comments, the matter in which the Sanford police investigated the case, clearly was done so from a prejudicial perspective to say it nicely. They tested the slain victim for drugs not the shooter, they allowed the shooter to go home the same night with his clothes he wore during the shooting with valuable forensics, they didn’t give Zimmerman the usual gun powder test or a drug test of any kind which both are not only a standard investigative measure, but prudent procedures typical within police investigations of this nature nationwide. Not just that though, Sanford police officers omitted Trayvon’s 911 call to police that he made moments before he was killed, and other police misconduct like attempting to influence eyewitness accounts of the shooting screams racism from every level. A logical thinking person with an ounce of common sense can easily make the necessary deductions to determine what is really going on in this case. It is inconceivable that the Zimmerman supporters could be that stupid. In fact they are probably completely retarded if they think for a second that the killing of black children by racist people, and then covered up by racist police will continue without repercussions  in America. So get it straight racist white America, there is an ever-growing exhaustion for the tolerance of racist murderous acts against blacks without justice in this country and ignoring it would simply be a tragic error.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Sanford, Florida Police Chief Bill Lee stepped down temporarily after coming under fire for poor investigation by his department into the Trayvon Martin killing. New leaked Justice Department details may point to misconduct by Sanford Police.`

When George Zimmerman the community watch captain who gunned down 17-year-old Trayvon Martin called the cops to report the Miami, Florida teen as a suspicious person, it seems he wasn’t the only person who dialed 911 that fateful night February 26, 2012. Unconfirmed reports out of Chicago via ABC-7 News is reporting that U.S. Justice Department Officials have discovered that the Martin teen also called the Sanford police 911 emergency line moments before he was killed. This new information if determined to in fact be true will change the course of this entire investigation. Sanford police have continued to rationalize the reason Zimmerman wasn’t charged is due to the lack of evidence to refute his self-defense claims. Officials have said evidence and statements from witness support Zimmerman’s allegations and the department has stood firmly behind its investigation into the killing of the Martin teen. The new leaked information creates another perspective on this controversial homicide case. The fact that Martin may have called 911 (suspected to report a strange person following him) shows that he had concerns, was afraid, and supports his girlfriend’s account, who he was talking to on a cell phone moments before the shooting occurred, that someone was following the youth. This means that the self-defense claim by Zimmerman most certainly must fall flat, because the “stand your ground” statue in Florida doesn’t provide protection under the law in incidents where self-defense claims are made by the pursuer. More importantly, when the Martin parents filed suit to obtain the 911 tapes from the killing, apparently the call from their son to 911 officials was omitted by authorities. We have not even heard about Trayvon’s call up until now. This raises serious questions about the Sanford police’ intent when they provided information to Trayvon’s parents surrounding his killing. Also, the new details regarding this alleged 911 call from Trayvon adds credibility to the Martin’s claim that Sanford police misled them and provided false information when they claimed that Zimmerman had a squeaky clean background. Moreover, other disturbing details have begun to emerge. The public has been aware that the Trayvon Martin teen was actually killed about 70 feet from his Father’s fiancée apartment but his family was completely unaware. In fact the Martins had reported the teen as a missing person, they made repeated calls to Sanford P.D. while he was listed as a missing person, and it wasn’t until 3 days later that Sanford police led them to the city morgue when they discovered their son had been killed. Analyst following the case now say the youth more than likely didn’t have any identification on him, and with no criminal history the cops couldn’t establish who he was through local or national finger print databases. However, Activist Dick Gregory points out that a small town like Sanford probably wouldn’t have a volume of 17-year-old slain youths in their city morgue, and Gregory’s insight here is alarming.  Why did it take so long for the police to make the connection that the slain black youth at the city morgue was the Martin teen. In the three days it took the police to notify the Martins of Trayvon’s death the police could have scripted the perfect cover up. Trayvon’s alleged call to 911 combats any notion that he was the aggressor and cast serious doubt on just about everything that Zimmerman told 911 dispatchers the night he reported the youth as suspicious. Also, it has been widely speculated by many within the public that Zimmerman’s entire story was more than likely nothing more than complete fabrication. During the 911 call Zimmerman made to police he was overheard saying, “these assholes always get away”. The account he offered during that call also doesn’t make sense either. He initially says Trayvon is walking toward him to check him out, then suddenly for no reason he states, “he’s running away”. Audibles from that call depict sounds of Zimmerman exiting his vehicle in pursuit of the teen. Many feel Zimmerman concocted the complete bizarre story to create a scenario in which he would have the opportunity to use the gun he was packing to met out what he has wanted to do, which was to kill a black person. Trayvon probably called 911 because he was really afraid that someone was after him. His call not having been made public fills in some missing pieces to the case. The fact that the youth’s family was unaware of his killing until several days later, with none of them at the actual crime scene to voice outrage which probably would have force the police to do their jobs, created an avenue that made it possible  to treat the child’s killing as a routine killing of a black person, and is more than likely why such shitty police work was done during the crime scene investigation. The new developments in this case are monumental as it relates to a possible cover up by the Sanford police. There isn’t any sound reason or explanation that could be offered as to  why the Martin teen’s 911 call wasn’t caught by Sanford police officials, or why it apparently was suppressed and is now an element of this case that will dictate where the investigation goes from here.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's department will head up the Federal inquiry into the killing of Trayvon Martin.

In just a little under 24 hours from now the largest protest for social change in America since the Civil Rights Era will unfold as thousands of citizens from across our nation will descend upon the small Southern Florida Town of Sanford. The event which many have dubbed a movement for social change, justice, and a fight against racial profiling, began as Black Media affiliates pushed the controversial case in Social Media, and as a result sparked a grassroots campaign among various church organizations around the country. The Black Church is the largest single organization within the black community, and is also the birth place of the 60’s demonstrations which led to the signing of the Civil rights Act of 1964. The scheduled march in Sanford, Florida is expected to reach in excess of 100,000 protestors, but other protest have been planned in cities across the country on March 26, 2012 as well. Rochester, N.Y., New York, N.Y., Philadelphia, PA, Kansas, MO, Los Angeles, CA , Chicago, IL and other major U.S. Cities have held 1,000,000 hoodies marches to protest the Martin killing. At issue sparking International outrage is Sanford’s controversial “stand your ground law”. The night of this tragic event when George Zimmerman gunned down Trayvon Martin, who was unarmed, Sanford Police ignored standard homicide crime scene protocol by not administering a gun powder chemical test nor any drug test to determine whether Zimmer was under the influence. Both are normally done as a standard operation procedure in shooting cases for police agencies nationwide. It is not only unclear why such test were not conducted on Zimmerman, it’s suspicious, and extremely alarming that a drug test was in fact conducted on the Deceased Martin teen. The crime scene forensics is not the only thing Sanford cops allegedly botched in this case, but they apparently attempted to sway eyewitness accounts of at least two citizens who initially told cops that “it was the teen boy who we heard crying out for help”. The complete ineptness of Sanford police was established from the beginning, and the questionable police work was exacerbated when Sanford Mayor and Police Chief agreed to release the 911 tapes from the Martin killing. Perhaps the shocking tapes which included the desperate cries for help by someone who many believe was in fact Trayvon Martin, the sound of gun shots (yes you can actually hear 2 gun shots) capturing the actual shooting on 911 audio recordings, and just may be the most difficult portion of the entire ordeal for many to grasp. Witness accounts in the 911 audio describe a struggle between to people and one caller even said the guy with a white t-shirt on is on top. This is a very crucial piece of information, because Zimmerman had reported to 911 dispatch earlier that Trayvon was wearing a dark hoodie. In short all of the circumstances surrounding the Martin killing from the alleged self-defense claim by George Zimmer, the 911 audio tapes, and the poor crime scene investigation by Sanford P.D. points to a potential cover up at the very least. However, what has sparked such outrage is the fact that Zimmerman was allowed to go home the exact same night that he killed the Martin teen. Sanford P.D. didn’t even hold him for at least 72 hours which they legally had the right to do, until more information was gathered related to the shooting. Sanford police simply accepted his account of events that night and was readying to close the book in the shooting. Police officials in Sanford in short did what many against “stand your ground” had feared, by allowing an innocent person to be killed based on only perceived fear alone, and without establishing any serious threat as justification for defending themselves. Witnesses have since come forward and fingered Sanford Officer Anthony Raimondo a SFPD officer with a storied past, as the person who tried to sway the eyewitness account of citizens who actually heard Trayvon screaming for help. Raimondo assigned to the Narcotics Division was the first police officer on the scene of the Martin shooting (homicide detectives are normally required to respond to all shootings) and has raised eyebrows, because he was recently disciplined departmentally for failing to arrest a suspect while witnessing him beat a homeless man. In that incident Raimondi was aware that the beating was being captured on video recording by onlookers, and he was also aware that the suspect in the beating was the son of a fellow Sanford police officer but failed to arrest him. Rimondi’s presence as the primary officer at the scene of Trayvon’s killing is very troubling due to his obvious reputation of integrity issues within the Sanford Police. Moreover, ABC-7 out of Chicago, Illinois are reporting that the United States Department of Justice has uncovered that Trayvon Martin had made a call to 911 moments before he was killed. These facts are currently developing and many within the black community are watching intensely. Also, many of those who have been on the ground in New York, Philadelphia, and in Florida during protest have said that America should now brace for a movement that will not go away. It appears to be a constant theme within the African-American Community that this is “the last straw”. CNN Analyst & TV One “Washington Today” host Roland Martin has even called the Martin shooting “A call to arms”, and stated “no longer will black people in America accommodate the fears of white people simply based on the way we dress”. Many of those from my generation are probably too young to remember demonstrations, protest, and the riots that came in the 60’s during the Civil Rights Era. Today’s generation have never actually witnessed the struggles for social change other than what they may have learned in history classes. The volume of protest in such a short period of time indicates that something is about to happen in America, and our social landscape may never be the same. The determining factor that change is imminent is demonstrated by the massive involvement by the black church, who rarely take a stand on politics and social inequities in our country. It was the black church that sparked the Civil Rights Movement, but will there be a call for nonviolence in the wake of outrage for the constant unjustified killing of black children? Justice for Trayvon Martin!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

On the day that I die I want people who knew me to be able to say that David Adams was a proud black man unafraid to die fighting for my people -- The People's Champion

I would like to make my stance on this tragic case very clear to all of my readers and all within humanity throughout the globe. The killing of a Trayvon Martin and the circumstances surrounding how the police who investigated his murder, is without question one of the most egregious acts of injustice witnessed by the America People in modern time. Though the road to equality for people of color in the western hemisphere has made great strides in the past century, acts of hatred, bigotry, and racism carried out at the hands of hate mongers whose sick and perverse deeds often times results in the death of black children continues to accelerate a vehicle of separatism within humanity on a world stage. The merits of this horrific case are so shocking that it defies logic that the manner in which Law Enforcement Officials within the southern states of America do their jobs, that they have such diversity in their policing practices which presents a glaring contrast to not only other states in America but globally, and a critical analysis of these facts only serves to reignite further dialogue and legislation  in those regions of our nation pertaining to criminal cases in which Black People fall victim. The disturbing reality that the Sanford, Florida Police Chief, the Mayor, the State Prosecutor, and other State Officials lack the practical, professional, and moral astuteness to properly administer the laws of their jurisdiction not only depicts complete incompetence, but rather solidifies their actions  as having derived from absolute prejudice. Therefore, it is extremely imperative that the people as a whole rightfully stake claim to the affairs of that municipality in the name of  humanity, righteousness, and justice. This entire case fumed injustice from the very gate, and I state for the record that I completely support all of the protest and demonstrations around the globe, while seeking swift justice for these basic premises:

1. The Florida “Stand your ground” statue is too vague and entails ambiguity that hinders the proper use of discretion for interpreting the law accurately.

2 . The Martin homicide crime scene investigation was flawed because universal protocol for investigations of this nature were not adhered to the letter.

3.  Police personnel primary to the scene presented a conflict of interest given their tactical authority which most certainly allowed for key fundamental police standards and practices to be missed.

4. The release of George Zimmerman the exact same night of the Martin teen killing was poor judgement and exemplifies a careless and reckless regard for expedient fact-finding in the case, and created a further threat to public safety in the Sanford Community.

5.  The obvious attempt by Sanford police Officials to cover up this tragedy speaks to the desire of those functioning in leadership capacities to ignore the life of a teenager that they have yet to describe, if any, the laws that he broke the night he was gunned down.

These unfortunately details are alarming, and it must not be permitted to stand in a civilized society. However, I am calling upon my people within the black community to continue this quest for justice, not only in the Trayvon Martin Murder Case, but for any case that results in the unjustified killing of our children. The times of standing idle while so-called Black leaders stand at a podium decrying the injustice of our people has completely subsided. The time for the Black Man to take his proper place in our community has been long over due. We must now purge forward in the face of a nation that has always sought our demise, a nation who has locked up countless black men only to have their innocence discovered years later, and a nation that continues to hunt our black youth. Black man the tears of our mothers and daughters must live no more. How many of our mothers will have to bury their children? How long shall injustices befall us? When will we learn that we live in a nation that doesn’t respect us, and primarily because we don’t respect ourselves? I appeal to my brothers that the time for our reckoning is now upon us. For the souls of our ancestors still cries for freedom. Freedom from murder. Freedom from emasculation. Freedom from incarceration, and freedom from our own metal slavery. I’d rather die fighting and moving forward for justice, respect, and equality rather than dieing like a little boy who stood still. This is my appeal to you all my brother.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams