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.
David B. Adams is a journalist, crime writer, and founder of The People's Champion, a platform built on truth, justice, and advocacy for the overlooked. For over a decade, Adams has investigated wrongful convictions, missing and exploited children, homelessness, and the political forces that shape marginalized communities' lives.
What sets his work apart is a refusal to sensationalize. Adams treats crime reporting as human storytelling — pushing past headlines to examine the systemic failures in law enforcement, the courts, and government that so often go unexamined. He's built a reputation among activists and advocates for combining deep research, personal narrative, and unflinching commentary.
The People's Champion began as a personal outlet and has grown into a respected independent voice in crime and justice journalism, read by audiences nationwide who care about accountability and the people too often left out of the story.
