Concerned citizens in Baltimore who have been following the Phylicia Barnes Murder case awoke today to headlines in a Baltimore Sun News Article which reads, “State Police: Progress made in Phylicia Barnes investigation”. The story highlighted a public statement from the Maryland State Police, in anticipation of Media inquiries surrounding the approaching anniversary of the teen’ killing, Â and the first time that authorities have broken their silence since reports of a possible “child porn” link surfaced back in early July of this year. Though authorities declined public comment regarding the specifics of the murder investigation’s progress, it appears that the killing of Beautiful and Studious Phylicia Barnes isn’t a cold case, but rather tips and information from the public has aided authorities in what ever they apparently have discovered that resulted in the promising teen’ demise. Read full article below:
 (BALTIMORE, MD) – Maryland State Police homicide investigators and their partners in the Baltimore Police Department are actively continuing their investigation into the murder of a North Carolina teenager, who went missing while visiting family in Baltimore almost one year ago.
Phylicia Barnes was visiting family in Baltimore when she disappeared on December 28, 2010. Her body was found on the morning of April 20, 2011, in the Susquehanna River near the Conowingo Dam in Harford County. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled her death was a homicide. Investigators have yet to publicly release the cause of death due to the importance of that information to the ongoing investigation.
Detectives from multiple units in the Baltimore Police Department, including the Homicide Unit, were investigating the disappearance of Barnes. When her body was found in Harford County, Maryland State Police Homicide Unit investigators joined the investigation into her murder. This joint investigation has continued since April, with the assistance of multiple other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
No charges have been filed or arrests made in connection with the murder of Phylicia Barnes. Investigators have worked the case continually and progress has been made, although making the details of that progress public at this time could hinder the outcome of the investigation. The work of investigators has included re-interviewing family and friends, reviewing evidence, searching for and analyzing additional evidence, and conducting forensic examinations. Investigators have continued to work with the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office and have kept officials there updated on the investigation.
Concerned citizens have called regularly with tips and theories for investigators. That information has all been reviewed, analyzed, and investigated. Police continue to urge anyone with information regarding the murder of Phylicia Barnes to contact them immediately. Persons with information may call the TIPS Line that has been established since Barnes disappeared at 1-855-223-0033. Or, they can call the Maryland State Police duty officer at 410-653-4200. Calls may be kept confidential.
Homicide investigators have maintained contact with the family of Phylicia Barnes, both in North Carolina and Baltimore. They have assured family members the investigation is active and ongoing.
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.
