Finally, the Johnson clan breaks its silence with an email to “The People’s Champion” Blog. There hasn’t been any response from the Johnson males or their friends since the cops began interviewing those close to Phylicia in the wake of her killing. During the searches for the child prior to her nude body being discovered in the Susquehanna River, none of the Johnsons were active participants. During my interview with Bryan Barnes, he made it a point that they haven’t been seen or heard from since the investigation into this murder case began. It was Bryan Barnes who also displayed suspicion that the Johnson’s sudden disappearance seemed revealing, considering the Johnsons claim to love Phylicia as a sister. Not just that though, the public has been watchful of their lack of interest, involvement, and response to public suspicion in Social Media. So why now has William “Krazy” Johnson decided to contact me? Very interesting indeed.
Here is the email exchange:
This is William of the “Johnson Clan”
Will coolxkraz@gmail.com
12:18 PM (1 hour ago)
to me
I was brought to the attention that you are making up stories about me and my family. I don’t know exactly what is true, but I definitely what is not. I am not the bad person that you portray on your blog. In fact I am the complete opposite. Though, I am angered by your (and/or your writer’s) accusations about me.What you have posted on your blog is considered libel. That is an offense similar to slander just in written form, and considering the seriousness of the entire situation with Phylicia, I am considering to take legal actions against these false, negative publications about my family and I. I am passing this information on to the rest of the members of my family and close friends that were negatively portrayed in your blog.You guys are taking this entire situation the wrong way. Imagine what we have been through since we’ve lost her. A bond between two families have been torn apart, two families have been dealing with internal trust issues, members of my family have been harassed by the media with seemingly no true knowledge about anything, law enforcement have taken illegal action against members of my family multiple times. Imagine how we feel, put yourself in one of our shoes.Even though Phlyicia wasn’t a blood relative of mine, she was treated like one, and it angers me that her passing is being used as a conduit for hatred towards good people.Sent from my iPhone
My Response:
David Adams
1:07 PM (18 minutes ago)
to Will
Thank you for your email Mr. Johnson. I can appreciate your interest in removing all, if any doubt that you or members of your immediate family were in fact complicit in the untimely demise of the Late Phylicia Simone Barnes. However, your perception that my Blog along with its writers have slandered you are inaccurate. I might point out that images of you engaging in the suspected use of narcotics, alcohol, and brandishing weapons are a depiction of negative culture and are images that you and members of your family have willingly displayed via your own personal public Social Media websites . Though it is your right to pursue any civil litigation that you so desire, you should be mindful that as a potential suspect (who was actually interviewed by City Police related to Phylicia’s murder), your relationship to this case is public knowledge, which has also established you and other potential suspects as public figures. I’m curious as to the authentic premise of this communication. You and members of your family are all welcome to give your version of what you think or know has happened in this case, and I will give it the same press as I have given other articles. Up and until now the public hasn’t heard a peep from anyone associated with the Johnson family about this little girls murder. I extend this open invitation to set the record straight, to you as well as your family and friends.
The People’s Champion
I sincerely hope that either William Johnson or some of the other members of his family along with their friends decide to take me up on my offer to speak publicly about the case. If not here on this blog, on some other Media Affilitate. I await their response.
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.
