In this episode of Crime Watch Daily Updates: Phylicia Barnes was a bright 16-year-old student from North Carolina who spent some of her high school winter break in 2010 visiting her half-sister Deena in Baltimore. What should have been a fun bonding experience for the sisters ended in tragedy and heartbreak.
On December 28, 2010, Phylicia stayed back at her sister’s house while Deena went to work. The two had plans to meet up later in the day, but as the time rolled around, Phylicia wasn’t answering her phone. She wasn’t at Deena’s house either, so Deena called Baltimore Police to report Phylicia missing.
Other than hanging out with Deena, Phylicia also allegedly spent some time with Deena’s ex, Michael Johnson. He was supposedly the last person to see her before she disappeared, and the same day, neighbors reportedly saw him moving a large plastic tub out of Deena’s apartment. Prior to her death, Phylicia and Michael reportedly exchanged over 1,300 text messages.
In April 2011, Phylicia’s body was found floating in the Susquehanna River about 40 miles away from where she was last seen. The autopsy determined she died from asphyxia, though there was also a possibility she suffered from hypothermia in the water.
Michael was arrested in April 2012 in connection with Phylicia’s death. At his trial, a witness said Michael confessed to killing Phylicia when they had sex and Michael needed the witness’ help moving the body.
He was convicted of second-degree murder, but a judge threw out the verdict because the prosecution reportedly withheld information from the defense.
Michael went to trial again, and this time, prosecutors showed a risqué and sexual tape involving Michael, Phylicia, Deena, and Michael’s brother. Phylicia’s family didn’t get the ending they wanted the second time around because the case ended in a mistrial.
He was charged a third time and after a lengthy appeals process, went to trial again in 2018. After a four-week trial, a jury acquitted him of murder charges.
Let’s take a look back at the mysterious death of a promising teen who disappeared while visiting her sister.
Deena should’ve been involved with it, so her ex wouldn’t be the only individual charged with the murder. That’s my take.
Deena has the nerve to show her face, she should be in prison for having her underage sister raped, child engagement, child pornography. Even this media outlet dressed it up as a sex tape. Let's be honest with her age, child porn! DEENA, the older sister arranged it. Family or not Phylcia is the victim and everything else is a crime.
That older sister needs to be investigated because there seems to be jealousy because of younger sister was pretty and her ex was attracted to her.. ain't no way in hell they should have been all on a s***** the perpetrator his brother Felicia's sister and Felicia.. this is ridiculous no wonder they couldn't get Justice and the dad needs to pursue that and question his daughter because this is what led to her being killed
Intoxication has nothing to do with what this disgusting sister did whether she is older or younger what she did is unforgivable… there is know remorse on her face an trying to look innocent but have know excuse why she brought her sister into that situation… SHAME ON HER…
Honestly I feel the older sister is also to blame. Why isn’t she going to jail for child endangerment?
R.i.p.
I feel sorry corruption ties your own death blessed
Did nothing don't fuck them
Too much time
It was a weak case !
Not even circumstantial enough to have had it brought to trail ….
Why didn't they just keep working the case against him until they had something stronger
A bunch of weird , sick , evil , stupid people in n this case
Smh 16 😢 this is sick what an ahole keep his ahh in there smh
So the other girl that’s Felicia ex boyfriend sister
You know something wrong when he struggling with tubble wear and they don’t want help . They scared and nervous smh
Living in a word nowadays where These e guys are pitiful poor excuse for a human definitely not a man can’t take rejection jealous and just as insecure as a women smh sitting up here killing women because they mad as if that makes things better smh
Her sister is disgusting
Who is the really "idiot" judge?
IF I WAS HER FATHER, I WOULD "HANDLE IT" ACCORDINGLY.
I'D SKIP TOWN AND MOVE TO A PLACE WITH NO EXTRADITION TREATY EXISTS.
She is so beautiful. I am sorry for the family and friends.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🌹💔🧚🏽♀️🧚🏽♀️🧚🏽♀️💔💔💔 praying for justicefor this beautiful young lady 🙏🏽😢
Big Sis had a hand in her death too..WTF,she know she was wrong with that B.S.Them Judges should be locked up along with him.
What kind of mess is this?! My God. From the prosecution dropping the ball to the disgusting situations she as a minor was put into….this is awful. Ain’t no way I’m sending my daughter away to another city with a sibling she didn’t grow up with. U don’t know how those kids were raised!
UNFUCKINGACCEPTABLE 🤬
The state should be ashamed. Clearly negligent.
Phylicia's sister was a bad influence on her. This is so SAD!!!
Maybe her sister killed her. She doesn't seem to have any morals.
No remorse for the victim she decided to sleep with her sisters boyfriend she fucked around and found out good riddance
Her sister is messy, evils, and horrible.. They all need to be under the jail…Something is in milk
What type of freaky ish
It sounds like Michael Johnson is a guilty as they come. What a nasty low-life thug. I wish the older sister (Dena) would not have left this disgusting sob in her apartment around her younger sister (Phylicia) who needs JUSTICE.
Whole family sick 🤢 and trash 🗑️. Everyone involved is trash 🗑️
They think it’s ok to do junk and than wonder why it end’s horribly. You don’t do sex tapes and think it’s ending good.
What a sicko half sister 😳 karma's coming for him.
ewwwwww that Sister makes me cringe soooooooo BAD 🤮 🤮 🤮
Her sister & the other guy isn’t he video need to be in jail also..
Her sister should know better 🙄 to put her sister in that type of situation. Shame on her to. I pray for you and family. To get justice.
Hopefully her family will sue him or have sued him just like OJ simspson got sued and was found responsible for Nicole and Ron Goldman death and had to pay a lot of money!!
The older sister had something to do with it
That is sick. May he be sent to his maker as soon as possible so he can face his guilty verdict with the Lord. Amen.
Look at the choices she made though.