As the anniversary of the killing of young Monroe, N.C. Honor Student Phylicia Barnes approaches, I will move full steam ahead in analyzing particular facts in the case that jump out at most of us who have followed the little girl’s tragic story. However, I should point out the fact that I am not an actual investigator of this murder case, but simply a trained journalist whom like many are concerned and want desperately for the monsters who brought upon the demise of such a promising  child. Also, my comments here have derived primarily from comments made by the older Barnes Female siblings of Phylicia, News Reports, and basic common sense which I will utilize in an attempt to paint a clear picture surrounding this entire murder mystery. Here are my thoughts:

Deena Barnes

I am troubled by the fact that a trained professional who works as a Pharmacy Tech, around control substances on a daily basis, and I am sure has been properly trained in the effects of drug abuse would condone and supply alcohol and marijuana to a minor child let alone a child who just so happens to be her baby sister. I am not nieve about this as I am well aware that substance abuse is common place in American Culture and no one is immune from the ills of one of society’s more prominent epidemics. It’s difficult to rationalize what Deena’s intent was giving a silly, fun loving, studious, and very green to Baltimore culture Phylicia Barnes pot and vodka. The child’s mother, Janice Sallis states that Deena downplayed the sickening behavior, and said “I wanted her to loosen up”. Loosen up? For what? I am surprised that authorities have not brought charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor against Deena. The fact that she introduced control substance to her  sister establishes the extent of her character which indicates that she is capable of anything. Her alleged estranged relationship with Micheal Johnson, if you even feed into that claim, is extremely problematic for a number of reasons. During the Blog Talk Interview on “Peas In Their Pods” radio, Deena stated that MJ was in the process of moving out of the apartment on a regular basis since early 2010 (January). I don’t think I need to remind readers that Phylicia went missing just after Christmas 2010. Why was there such a prolonged move after their alleged breakup? I won’t kid myself to think that couples never attempt to patch things up, but 10 months is a long time for MJ to get his belongings out of the house. Why did he still have a key to the place? I think it’s obvious where I am going with this. With MJ coming and going, I am sure that entailed his baggage i.e. “Bootz” (younger cousin), other family, and friends. In fact it was established during the BTI that Bootz actually stayed at Deena’s apartment also. If you listen to the BTI you will hear Deena’s awkward pauses when questioned regarding many of these facts. She was very hesitant to even give the age of the other male (Bootz) that was living in here apartment. The reports that an entourage of young males were coming and going all the time at the apartment should cast even more interest on what Deena was thinking when she offered substances to Phylicia. Why would she purposefully aid in reducing the child’s falculties in the midst of thugged out wannabe gangsters. I’m not picking on the MJ’s clan here, it’s just that I have seen their pictures on Myspace and Facebook, and it is what it is. Young Phylicia was reportedly to have told an older sibling that a male made a pass at her which she rejected. Did Deena not think that those guys would attempt to come on to her pretty little sister? Why didn’t she protect her? At the very site of any of the guys approaching Phylicia inappropriately, Deena should have stepped in and made it clear that her baby sister was hands off, and if she couldn’t control the situation she should have called her brother, male family, or she should have taken Phylicia to Kelly’s place at the very least. Even if Phylicia was to afraid to tell Deena what guys were up to, Deena should have had her radar up from the gate. Phylicia is a child and it was Deena Barnes’ obligation to protect her. I even question why Deena was so eager to have Phylicia come to Baltimore this trip (Deena paid for Phylicia’s flight). I perused Phylicia’s Myspace page and I observed that one of the younger relatives of MJ had apparently already met her on a previous trip to Baltimore. In a Myspace exchange he was encouraging Phylicia to come and go to school in Baltimore. So, I wonder if Deena was pressured to get Phylicia back to Baltimore by MJ’s clan.

Pornography Claims

Sometime after Phylicia’s body was found, the authorities investigating her murder became suspicious about some of what they were told during the initial investigation, and began to focus on nude images of at least one minor. The discovery led to Federal Search Warrants being issued for Social Media and Email Accounts of Micheal Johnson, his cousin Bootz, Mjs younger brother, and another unidentified male. Though rumors have spread that those nude or pornographic images and a cell phone video cops found were in fact of young Phylicia, there is nothing that substantiates that the pretty little girl took her clothes off for adult males. Those claims were manufactured by the public. If these facts do eventually bare any confirmation what so ever, it only generates even more interest in what activities Deena Barnes was allowing her baby sister to engage in under her care. Was Phylicia completely incoherent that someone took advantage of  her, removed her clothes, and took nude pictures and videoed her? Why on God’s earth would Deena allow this or become so unaware of Phylicia’s activities at the apartment? 

Deena had been taking young Phylicia with her to work everyday except the day that Phylicia went missing. I don’t think that it is unusual to take a younger relative on the job, especially if it is condoned by an employer, but everyday becomes an issue I am sure. What activities were young Phylicia engaging in while Deena was filling prescription at her Pharmacy Job? Why wasn’t the child allowed o go with her on the day that she disappeared? There is a strong possibility that Phylicia may not have been physically capable of going to work with Deena, and she may have even been killed prior to the day her sisters alleged she went missing.  My argument here is not a stretch, it’s just that the facts related to Deena and Kelly’s manner of interacting with Phylicia on Dec 28, the fact that no one saw it important enough to go by the apartment to physically check on Phylicia even when it was known that male(s) were there with her, the lost of contact via texting or phone calls, and the lack of urgency when Mj purportedly sounded the alarm that the apartment door was wide open and no Phylicia, it simply opens the door to serious speculation whether that kid was even alive prior to the day they said she disappeared. During the BTI kelly, Deena, and Bryan Barnes stated that Phylicia didn’t know anyone other then her siblings in Baltimore. This simply isn’t true. I have already mentioned the myspace exchange where a relative of MJ was encouraging Phylicia to come to Baltimore and attend school. As it turs out, that relative was actually “Bootz” who just so happened to be staying at Deena’s place. Why hasn’t he been mentioned more in this scheme of suspects in this murder? He was there and he probably knows something. When it’s all said and done, Deena Barnes must stake claim to majority of the failures that she herself is directly responsible for in the unsettling, horrific, and senseless tragedy that resulted in the untimely demise of such a beautiful little girl.

To be Continued —

“To Catch A Killer”, a series leading up to the December 28 Anniversary of the Disappearance and killing of Phylicia Barnes.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

The late Phylicia Barnes Memorialized

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!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

The Beloved Baltimore Homeless Advocate, the late Ms. Bea Gaddy

I remember sometime in the early 1990’s attending service at a local catholic church where I would have the opportunity of a life time to see the World’s living Angel, Mother Theresa. As the presiding priest exited the pulpit, with the sisters of their faith  in tow, there I saw the small framed woman who was so beloved around the world. Walking beside her was another woman who many compared to the angelic like Mother. Her name was Ms. Bea Gaddy. Ms. Bea, a once homeless woman living as a Bag Lady in the city of Baltimore, was well known throughout the State of Maryland as the Mother Theresa of Baltimore for her work aiding the poor and destitute citizens of the city. The Bea Gaddy Community Outreach Center in East Baltimore was known as one of the official places of refuge for displaced families living in shelters, fire victims, children, and even those recently released from prison could call upon Ms. Bea at their time of need. The center provided blankets for homeless people living on the streets during winter months, shoes, clothes, and school supplies for poor kids whose families were unable to purchase them. To the people of Baltimore Ms Bea was a gift sent from heaven to minister to the ills of the impoverished in a gritty town  where  hard times and life’s rough patches were common place for many. Those familiar with the community know that it wasn’t uncommon to see Ms. Bea traveling on foot near the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus as people of all ethnicities and all backgrounds, often greeted her with kindness, affectionate embraces, and many would press the palms of her hand with $100, $50, and $20 dollar bills or what ever they had on them. People respected her work and a lot of those who gave cash were people that Bea Gaddy had helped during their hard times. Perhaps Bea Gaddy is more widely known for her annual Thanksgiving Day Holiday Dinner that she held to feed thousands of poor people in a single day. The event was so popular that local media would broadcast updates of the dinners progression and Ms. Bea would often make pleas to the public for items needed to make certain every one in attendance was fed. Citizens would leave their dinner table and rush over requested items to aid in the event’s success. During one TGH Dinner Bea Gaddy fed over 10,000 people. This single act of benevolence is only shadowed by the story of Jesus feeding millions with a loaf of bread, I’m sure. Her spirit of giving played seconds to her character. Bea Gaddy had an alluring personality in which she harvested a genuine love for people. Ms. Bea didn’t just take donations  for her activism, but she listened to people, and could relate to their plight. Ms. Bea’s emphatic practicality of living in poverty and a spell of  homelessness enabled her to lure donations from others who fostered compassion and a spirit of giving back. The fact that a former homeless black woman could rise from the gutter in a town marred by social and economic disparity and cultivate a grass roots ministry of helping the poor itself is a divine feet that her people would  fall beneficiary too. Ms. Bea has since gone on to be with the Lord, but her spirit and love for people remains for all that she ever touched and helped along the way. I am inspired by her legacy, her compassion, and genuine desire to offer a hand of upliftment to so many she never even knew personally. So, Tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day I’ll excuse myself and take a few plates of food downtown to the island of the homeless in my town, listen to them for awhile, learn how I can help their situation, and get a reality check of the real world because this too could be me.  The next time I visit my parent’s internment at the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Cemetary in Randallstown, Md., I’ll walk a few headstones away and leave some flowers at Ms. Bea’s headstone too. What a wonderful example and legacy she left for us all. Ms. Bea Gaddy, a true Champion of her People.

Volunteers Bringing donations into the Bea Gaddy Community Outreach Center in East Baltimore, MD

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

We have seen the images on Billboards, fliers posted on street poles, and on milk cartons for decades in a campaign to reunite missing children with their love ones. Though the stories on many of these sad and horrific cases linger on, there isn’t a since of urgency to resolve cases where young kids simply disappear in thin air without a trace. Many grieving parents never obtain closure after losing a child and it must be a living cancer to simply move on without them. We see National Media Reports on most Major Television Networks all the time. Some of the more recent stories highlighted the tragedy of young Caylee Anthony, Baby Lisa and even Teen Natalie Halloway, but the troubling reality is that all of these children were White Americans. Rarely if ever do National Media Broadcast stories pertaining to missing Black Children. Upon the initial sounding of an alarm that a white child has gone missing Media, Police, and the F.B.I. are on the case. These incidents normally trigger large search parties into the dark of the night looking for missing white kids. When a Black child becomes missing, the Police downplays the entire situation and almost assuredly assumes that the child is troubled, ran away, or just hanging out. The lack of authentic concern or investigation during the initial report of a missing black child results in losing valuable and critical time. To highlight my argument here, during the initial report  of the Phylicia Barnes missing person case, the child’s mother Janice Sallis spoke with the primary Officer on the scene, who told her, “We believe that she ran away”. Ms. Sallis had to convey to the Officer that her child would never do that. That she was a happen kid, and had no reason to run off without letting family know. Ms. Sallis even had to beg Police to go and look for her daughter. Later on when it became apparent that foul play was involved in the Barnes kid case, the Police even cried out for National Media attention. Networks reluctantly ran her story only after race was introduce for the lack of coverage of a missing studious black kid. Currently the News media has been running the Baby Lisa missing person case night and day. The Media has been on that case from the gate, but at the same time a pretty little African American child Jahessye Shockley from Glendale, Arizona has been missing for nearly a month, and most Americans have never heard about her story.

Young 5 year old Jahessye Shockley went missing on October 11, 2011

In fact there are hundreds of black kids currently missing and many of these tragic stories have yet to break mainstream news. Many have argued that the life of a black child isn’t valued as equally as that of white children. Some say that media sells cases of missing persons based on cosmetology in an effort to make sales of advertisements they solicit to viewers. In short the perception is that beauty sells. This is a very disturbing revelation which in fact infers that white children are more physically appealing than black kids. But not just that, African American Publications such as Jet, Ebony, Essence,  and other periodicals that solicit to our communities have failed to deliver media coverage of missing black kids as well. To further illustrate this point, we also see the lack of interest in stories by Blacks in power, in Congress, the Senate, and other Black Officials holding Public office who fail to even associate themselves with the plight of Black families suffering in the wake of their missing children. Moreover, the most disheartening reality is the black community itself fosters a scary discernment whereby we devalue the life of our own kids. We are not outraged enough. We are not shouting at the top of our lungs demanding exposure or Police attentiveness in finding missing black kids. Time and time again we see large groups of volunteers within the white community, some times in the thousands, searching and looking for their kids. The Black community has failed itself on this issue and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We must began developing respect and admiration for our community, learned to love each other, and look after each others children. In cases where an actual crime has occurred related to missing children, individuals who know something, or has saw something must come forward. We continue to make excuses why we don’t get involved. However, I am not referring to the thug who robbed the local corner store, I am talking about our children, and there can’t possibly be anything of greater importance. When we see crime against our children the entire community must get involved and demonstrate that our kids are sacred ground and any harm unto them will not be tolerated. We must stop living in fear and began to do for our selves what is necessary to protect our children. We know that America is racist, that some people don’t love our people, hate our people, wish death upon our people, and our children. Fear must not be an option when protecting our kids. A movement began last night in an effort to develop a grass roots campaign to help find and locate missing Black Children. The distinguished Host of WBRG “The Bridge” on Blogtalk Radio, Mr. John Robinson and Ms. Corliss King challenged listeners to post images of missing black children on their Facebook Profile page. So starting this Monday or before, I am requesting that all of you (all 20,000 of you) who have been visiting my Blog related to the Phylicia Barnes case, to join in and assist us  launching this movement to get the images of missing black kids out there to the public. You never know what we can achieve by getting the pictures out there in Social Media. Please visit www.blackandmissinginc.com to learn more about missing Black kids. Also post the picture of a missing black child for at least a week and give a brief history of the child’s story. We must do what we certainly can and have to do for ourselves, and save our kids. God Bless each and everyone of you.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Young Phylicia Barnes, murdered Honer Teen pictured with half sister Deena Barnes, who many have cast a cloud of suspicion upon relaed to the child's killing.

In the perpetual cloud of suspicion surrounding the Murder of  Monroe, NC Honor Teen Phylicia Barnes, many following the case ponder only the facts that have been released to the public, and with little progress having been divulged about authorities progress in the case, the suspicion continues to linger at the doorsteps of the apartment building where the studious kid was staying with her half sister. In the initial phase of the  investigation of Phylicia’s disappearance Police Cadaver Dogs literally lost the child’s scent at the entrance of that dwelling. The search for her led to continuous dead ends that many suspect were intentional misguided and bogus tips spearheaded by those who conspired to cover up the child’s killing. When State Environment Police pulled the little girls nude body from the the thawing waters of the Susquehanna River months after her disappearance, I believe that the spell of bad luck ended. Authorities now have an actual cause of death, forensic evidence, data from email accounts (obtained via federal subpoena), and the accounts by those closes to her surrounding the events that led up to the pretty child’s tragic ending. The most recent media update related to the murder case was released a few months ago after news broke about possible child exploitation, and cops revealing that a “volume of pornographic images” of a child had been discovered during the investigation.  Those reports sent a shock wave around the nation, but the case has since seemingly become ice cold. Or has it really hit a snag?

Extraordinary Silence

Barring the typical hearsay chatter from non authentic sources related to the Barnes Teen murder, there has been very little information leaked to the public surrounding the case. Not just that though, the males who were reportedly at the apartment on the day Phylicia went missing have been completely mute as well. It very well could be that they have been professionally advised to institute their constitutional right to remain silent, but a view of these individuals Social Media Pages, like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter etc. tends to paint a very peculiar posture. They either carry on as if they are completely unaware that suspicion follows them, or they have ceased and limited their Social Media interaction with others. To say the least, they appear to be to calm, confident, and have yet proclaimed their innocence publicly related to this case. Micheal Johnson (Deena Barnes’ Boyfriend) has taken the suspicious measure to obtain legal counsel, who recently publicly professed his clients innocence related to the murder case. MJ even had a lawyer on retainer doing the phase of the investigation when  cops had ruled him out as a suspect. His actions I’m sure raised some concerns by investigators. MJ’s strange posture legally and the complete silence of his younger relatives is a very mitigating factor. I mean if it were me, the entire world would know my position as I would boisterously and publicly profess my complete innocence related to this murder. The fact that these young men remain silent, in my mind depicts tentative unconfirmed guilt. Also, authorities seemed to have ceased it’s public investigation of the Barnes killing and now appear to have shifted gears into developing  a case for prosecution, and meaning that police probably have a suspect on their radar. However, it serves cops well to deny disclosure of facts at this stage of the case in fear of compromising their efforts thus far.

Hidden Clues

Janice Sallis-Mustafa, the late Teen’s Mother has been actively engaging in online Social Media (including right here on The People’s Champion Blog) and speaking out about her daughter’s murder. Unfortunately, the mother has had to tread through some negativity from the public. Blog posters have questioned her judgment, inferred that her daughter’s death is a result of bad parenting, and that the child wanted freedom from her mother. An intelligent thinking person has to wonder the benefit of expressing such claims in the face of a grieving parent who has lost a child to violence. I’ve challenged TPC Blog posters to a standard of tact and diplomacy, simply because Phylicia’s mother participates here, and it sadly hasn’t come into fruition while someone even recently accused the child’s mother of murdering her own daughter. Moreover, the negativity directed towards Janice Sallis doesn’t appear to derive from some sick  person’s cruel prank. The comments appear to have purpose, hate, and intent to cause more pain. Understanding some of the details of the case we see that Phylicia may have been possibly targeted after a family secret was revealed. It continuously appears that the same hatred involved in Phylicia’s murder may now be targeting her mom. Only the person(s) responsible for the child’s death sticks out in my mind when considering who the people are that made the cruel comments. Janice Sallis has shown tremendous courage and tenaciousness in her response to some of the comments. Ms. Sallis appears vividly agitated when the Barnes Sisters, Deena and Kelly are cast as innocent by blog posters. She also continues to convey that she is “very Pleased” with the progress of the case. In case readers are not paying full attention, her  discontent for the older Barnes females and display of  gratitude in the authorities progress offers a hidden clue inside this case that speaks volumes. The cops know something and they are in contact with Janice on a regular basis.

Making a Case for Prosecution

I am sure that many will say, “if the cops know who killed Phylicia, why hasn’t an arrest been made”? It isn’t quite that simple considering the history of Baltimore’s Criminal Justice System. Baltimore has a reputation for some extremely questionable jury verdicts. A town that has a strong culture of anti-police sentiment may find difficulty seating a jury that will render a guilty verdict if the case is introduced predicated on mere circumstantial evidence alone. This has to be the sole culprit in a prolonged arrest for the child’s murder. It would be an even greater tragedy if cops collared the actual killer, and then had to set him free due to poor evidence within a prosecutorial summation at trial. In Baltimore, this is the reason high profile murder cases linger on.  In a crime such as this the community has to be patient, let the case run it’s course, so that authorities can do their work to make it stick. The killer(s) could walk if another bad Baltimore jury gets the case. The eerie silence that this case fosters points to the reality that the killer(s) are more likely already known. One slip up will nail the bastards for good.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

Texas Deltas under attack in Dallas.

Texas officials are reporting they believe a Serial Rapist is on the loose in the Suburbs of Dallas, TX. The spree which has extended a 10 month period, has some alarming similarities local Police say. All four of the victims in these cases just happen to be members of the well known African American Sorority, “Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc”. Cops say that the suspect, a African American male, 5′,6″ – 6′,0″,  and approximately 250-300 pounds was captured on surveillance video as he walked around the home of one of the victims. The woman told police that they were accosted at home in their bed at the time of the rape, and one of the woman say the subject broke into her home through her garage. The wave of sexual assaults on the woman has sparked a National reaction from the Sorority’s National Headquarters. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority posted a warning to its alumnae urging them to refrain from wearing clothes that identify the organization, and asked them to remove items identifying them as sorority alumnae from their cars, key chains, homes and offices. In addition, the organization told its members they should stop posting their personal information, such as their whereabouts, on Facebook and other social-media sites, and make sure their homes are locked and secured. Authorities also revealed that all 4 women indicated that the subject appeared to have very personal and intimate information about them. Many observers of the case say that these facts tend to point directly to some entity within the Sorority itself, because the woman attended separate schools, and that it isn’t exactly known whether they were all active members of the organization. It is quite possible that the suspect may have obtained some records from a member of the sorority, and began targeting women from that list. The case appears very odd considering the common practice of most major sororities code of secrecy. Police say that the suspect, believed to be 20 years the women’s junior, left DNA behind in all 4 sexual attacks which tends to offer hope that an arrest will be made imminently. The attacks are not only sickening, continues are culture of violence toward woman, but the fact that established educated female citizens in the Dallas area are being attacking in the most safest place imaginable (their homes), depicts a sad commentary that is simply difficult to convey.

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

A New York sanitation crew was making it’s routine garbage pickups in a section of Brooklyn June 18, 2006, when one crew member encountered an usually heavy load of garbage that also gave off an extremely foul odor.  The Cops were summoned and they discovered a body of  a young female. The gruesome corpse was later determined to be the remains of young teen Honer Student Chanel Petro-Nixon, left on a busy street corner to rot like common Trash.  Her story unfortunately never achieved National Media attention, like that of Phylicia Barnes. Later on America’s Most Wanted Investigative Reporter, John Lieberman and then, the Rev. Al Sharpton took up the pretty little girl’s murder story to warm up an otherwise cold case. However, their efforts only gained local attention. This past June marked the 5th anniversary of the Nixon child’s death, and no one has ever been charged in connection with her killing. Chanel’s body, just like Phylicia Barnes’ who was found nude floating in a river, as if the girls lives were worthless, produces anger and outrage. Baring the intricate details related to their individual killings, we seem to find very little contrast in the character and development of these children. They were both from very structured homes, were among the top of their perspective classes academically, very attractive, and had never been in any kind of serious trouble prior to the tragedy that ended their lives. In murder cases it’s always a challenge to get individuals who may have knowledge about the case to come forward, do the right thing, and bring justice to the victims and their families. It’s troubling that two of our most educated children have been taken and the cowards responsible remain at large. The African American Community suffers from a serious decease that promotes silence in the face of  evil. An evilness that could ultimately impact one of their very own children. Yet we remain apathetically resolved to say nothing, cower in our homes, and create an arena for the very nature of evil to exist. Some offer a seemingly emphatic rationalization that they do not want to die, and I understand this but we can not fear evil especially when the safety of our children are concerned.

Phylicia Barnes (Monroe, N.C.) and Chanel Petro-Nixon (Brooklyn, N.Y.) were both 16 year old Honor Roll Students who vanished in thin air, and were later found murdered in the mean streets of Baltimore and New York. Their killers have never been found.

Our community is sweltering with violence. Most of the victims in many of these sad and tragic stories are our children. To say that I am too afraid to speak out when evilness taps at my door within my community is simply a display of irresponsibility to our children and our families.  To drive home the point that the “fear of death” mindset is nothing more than a mere rationalization used to escape personal responsibility, we can look at the reckless behavior that many adults engage in, and we see that death apparently is well below the list of priority related to personal safety. We know that the silence murder brings originates from society’s physiological trait of acceptance. We want to be popular, well liked, and the death of two studious little girls is meaningless when social acceptance is weighed. Sadly though, many of our people who profess to love God fail to act when they have information related to crime that could aid authorities in solving many of these cases. Several years ago I sat in the pews of  the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland, as Dr. Walter Scott Thomas gave a sermon to his congregation related to Christian responsibilities. On that Sunday morning the Pastor called upon his  followers to take back their communities. Dr. Thomas highlighted his speech by asking the church, “How can a Christian say that they love God when they see drug dealers selling drugs right at their doorstep, and not pick up the phone and call the police”? I remember that sermon well, and the eerie silence that suddenly fell upon the congregation. I am not picking on Christians here, nor am I inferring that such civic responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of the followers of Christ. The point is that all of God’s People share the burden of righteousness and if for no other purpose but to defeat Satan. The killers of these children derived from the dregs of humanity, and they must be captured in the name of God and all of his people. Some where someone knows something about the deaths of these little girls and I plead with them to step forward and embrace all that is good and pure, do the right thing, and go to the police. Fear not the consequence of retribution, the terror associated with violence, the ridicule of others, and the stigma of the “stop snitching” culture. Fear no man, as their viciousness and evilness has no authority related to the destination of your soul. People would have to literally kill me, to stop me from speaking the truth, stop me from turning them in, and claiming victory in he name of God. It is clearly stated in the Holy Quran that, “Blessed is the Martyr who dies for the cause of righteousness and God. Bliss is his for all eternity”. I can’t stop thinking about a little girl named Chanel who simply wanted to find a job and hang out with her friends, or a little girl named Phylicia who just wanted to love somebody, and get to know her family. I can not image the details or the events that occurred during their final hour with us. Will you help us? Will you aid in seeking justice for our daughters? Will you claim victory in the name of God and all of our people?

Phylicia Simone Barnes Memorial crime reporting tip hotline: 1-800-492-8477 (toll free, anonymous)

Chanel Petro-Nixon Memorial (212) 614-6741 Tipline

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams

First and foremost I would like to make it abundantly clear that as a writer I can appreciate the fundamentals of free speech as well as the right of others to exercise their constitutionally protected freedom of expression. This process will most assuredly develop resistance and in many cases a variant of opposition from glaring postures of thought, ideas, and understanding from premises that may derive from contrasting mindsets of others. However, given the nature of human behaviorism even in post civilization, we must at least attempt to approach this process with objectivity in the hopes that a fair medium will be obtained by granting an equilibrium for all while maintaining absolute civility at all times. Many times as a society we have faltered in achieving this, especially in highly sensitive arenas such as politics, religion, and crime. Here on the “People’s Champion Blog” I must take the reigns and send a clear and decisive message related to the standard in which participants interact.

Janice Sallis-Mustafa under fire on the "People's Champion Blog" by posers who question the grieving mother's judgement, and even blame her in a pathetic rant for her child's death, claiming young Phylicia wanted freedom from her wrath.

Justice still eludes the beautiful and promising Honor Teen from Monroe, NC. Phylicia Barnes was killed while visiting family in Baltimore over the Christmas Holiday in 2010.

With that being said, I must address some of the comments that were posted regarding Ms. Janice Sallis-Mustafa and her late daughter, the unforgotten Phylicia Barnes. Being a native Baltimorean I have a firm understanding of the culture that exist within the African American Community, and the deplorable manner in which many adults living in the city choose to conduct themselves when their conflict resolution skills are called upon. So, I will grab the bull by it’s horn here and spare no punches while meting out my complete displeasure regarding the poor and insensitive dialogue that has occurred. In the wake of this tragedy, I am sure that many may have expressed their personal feelings regarding Ms. Sallis allowing her daughter to visit her Barnes extended family in Baltimore, the carelessness and culture of Deena Barnes’ lifestyle, and all other pertinent factors in this case. We can’t possibly conclude that Janice Sallis knowingly and irresponsibly sent her beautiful daughter into harms way. In fact, she has admittedly stated her initial gut feeling regarding this and how she battled within herself prior to making the decision to allow Phylicia to go. If you are a parent who can say with complete conviction that you never made a decision related to your child that you don’t regret, then you are kidding yourself. Also, Phylicia had been to Baltimore several times prior without incident. I am not understanding the foolish banter that criticizes her in this regard. She isn’t from Baltimore and lacks the knowledge and practicality of the trifling viciousness of the likes of Baltimoreans. One poster asked her directly if she had actually talked with Deena Barnes. I wonder where this person has been all this time, if they even watched any of the news reports related to this case, and how they would feel if some one took such a cheap shot at them in the wake of their daughter’s disappearance and subsequent murder? Media has run a clip repeatedly that depicts Janice Sallis expressing that she had discussed in explicit detail her expectation of supervision while Phylicia visited Baltimore. Might I remind you that young Phylicia Barnes was in fact a straight A Student, that she was preparing to attend College a year early, and that she was well liked and respected among her peers. These factual details speaks volumes about the standard of living that Phylicia Barnes was accustomed too, as well as the direction of her mother’s parenthood. Please miss me with the neanderthal mentality. Furthermore, to infer that Phylicia’s death occurred as a result of her wanting to get away from her mother is absurd, heartless, cowardice, and just simply a very cruel thing to say during the darkest hour of this family. Those of us from Baltimore know and understand the nature of the beast. It is understood that compassion, understanding, and empathy doesn’t exist in a city with a predominantly African American Population that leads our nation in adult illiteracy and violence against other people of color. We cannot allow such sub standards to cloud our vision and focus in this case. This case is about finding the parties responsible for taking such a promising and intelligent  child from our midst. This case isn’t about name dropping or informing others of the alleged prominence of your family or their association with other notable public figures. More importantly, this case isn’t about your personal feelings or your distaste of others perception of your comments in an open and public forum. When we offer our support regarding the tragedy and suffering of others it should be extended without condition, without regard for who gave what, and done from the sincerest depths of our spirituality and understanding that this too could have been my family. Somewhere along the way it seems that we have forgotten why we all have come to this Blog Post. We have forgotten that a child was killed. A child deprived of life should be a matter of concern for all within humanity. We have forgotten that it’s alarming to find our beautiful daughters unclothed floating in a river. We have forgotten that the perpetrators remain at large. I am also remindful that those responsible are also more than likely following our discussions here, a fact that we all must consider when posting comment. This could very well be the cause of such obvious counterproductive dialogue regarding this senseless murder. If your intent here is to cause disruption or exact more grief upon the family and supporters of Phylicia Barnes, then your efforts are not only sickening, but poorly misguided as we are here for Justice, understanding, and healing. Please let us be in this forum or be involuntarily removed.  Moreover, though I welcome all comments, I also reserve the right to terminate participation of those who refuse to conduct themselves with dignity and respect for the mother of this child. Janice Sallis did her job raising Phylicia and she should be treated with the compassion and understanding befitting the fruit that bares our creed. There will be zero tolerance of further discourse of this nature. Justice for Phylicia Barnes must prevail. Mother Sallis you remain in our prayers!

The people’s Champion

I’m David Adams

We have arrived at one of the darkest hours of our time. The life of yet another black man is surely to fall at the hands of America’s gauntlet of injustice. Time and time again we see convictions for murder only to discover years later that the convicted had been wrongly accused. No crime scene forensics evidence links Troy Davis for the crime he most certainly now will perish for. 7 of the original 9 People have since recanted their testimony and say they were in fact coerced by Police. Yet countless Courts in our land have not found such mitigating circumstances sufficient to commute Troy Davis’ Death Sentence to Life in prison.

Why must he be killed, why must our Justice system ignore the cries for Justice by thousands, and cries that even resound in the Halls of the Vatican. Why have we stood by idly and watched the continued persecution of our people? Why in America is the life of a Black man as valuable is the dregs of human feces. We say we are free but that is far from the truth. Why must we fear? A fear that changed the landscape of one black family for decades, and now it appears for ever. It seems that we are only  moved by the lure of Babylon’s whore and her false Gods of Material. There is no compassion amongst us. our people remain stranded on pillars of carnage while others migrate to America and excel, and excel far beyond any measure that the post Civil Rights Era ever afforded people of color. The Preacher man said wait on God, but it seems as if God abandoned the children of Abraham many score ago. They say Jesus cried out, but God answered not, and his blood was shed to save the world. I pray that the blood of Troy Davis rain down like the mighty River Jordan and spark a catalyst for change in America. A change that motivates the lost seed of Israel to rise up and strike a mighty blow upon the Kings of Sodom, and that there be peace, not death on this earth..

The people’s Champion

I’m David Adams

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!

The People’s Champion

I’m David Adams