Murder of Phylicia Barnes

The murder of Phylicia Barnes is a crime that is believed to have occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on December 28, 2010. Her body was recovered in the Susquehanna River on April 20, 2011 following a series of searches and national media coverage from various outlets, including the Today Show. The investigation into her death, which has been ruled a homicide, is ongoing.^[1]

The case has been considered to be unusual because Barnes had no criminal history or any family problems. Baltimore City Police considered the case to be the most vexing missing person case they had ever investigated. They labeled it as Baltimore's Natalee Holloway case.^[2]

The Victim

Phylicia Barnes, born on January 12, 1994, and age 16 at the time of her disappearance, was an honor student from Monroe, North Carolina. She was on track to graduate early and had plans to attend Towson University. She was visiting her relatives in Baltimore when she disappeared.^[3]

Disappearance

Barnes initially was believed to have disappeared while walking to the Reisterstown Road Plaza in Baltimore from a nearby apartment complex on December 28, the last day she was seen. Following her disappearance, she never used her cell phone or credit cards or updated her Facebook page.

On January 3, police stated they were 'enormously concerned' about the missing girl.^[4]

On January 22, America's Most Wanted aired a short feature during commercials.

Search

Three months after her disappearance came a renewed effort for prayers. A $36,000 reward was offered.^[5] Billboards were placed along major highways advertising for clues on her disappearance.^[2]

On April 9, 2011, Maryland State Police conducted a massive search of Patapsco Valley State Park using more than 100 members of law enforcement and volunteers. The search did not turn up Barnes's body, but another body with no ties to Barnes was found.^[6][7] Police declared themselves 'back at square one' after the search did not find her.^[8]

Friends and classmates of Barnes in Monroe held a carnival to raise money in her honor on April 9.^[6]

Body found and homicide investigation

At 7:30 AM on April 20, 2011, workers spotted a body floating in the Susquehanna River near the Conowingo Dam. Another body was later found nearby.^[9] Police confirmed the next day through a tattoo and dental records that the first body was that of Barnes.^[10] The body of the other victim, an adult male, was identified and deemed not connected to the case of Barnes. ^[11]

Police at the time did not rule out foul play. They said the investigation into forensics and determining how Barnes died and how she got to a location 45 miles from where she disappeared could take weeks.^[12]

On May 4, following an autopsy, the death was officially ruled a homicide. The cause of death was determined, but has been withheld for investigative purposes in fear or jeopardizing the investigation.^[13] Soon after, a security expert discussed the Barnes case.^[14]

Final plans

On April 28, more than 700 people gathered at the church Barnes used to attend to remember her.^[15]

Her funeral, which was private, took place in Georgia on May 7, 2011.^[13]

References

1. ^ DiMarco, Nick; Bryan P. Sears (April 21, 2011). "Investigation into Death of Teen Moves to 'New Place'" (in English). North Baltimore Patch. http://northbaltimore.patch.com/articles/investigation-into-death-of-teen-moves-to-new-place. Retrieved 22 April 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Police: Body found in Md. river is missing NC teen" (in English). Associated Press. April 21, 2011. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxvhR4_3Od0UJNqtdfFcfcwkAN-A?docId=7861b8060ea843978d5987a3ae8878d3. Retrieved 22 April 2011. 
3. ^ Black, Caroline (January 4, 2011). "Phylicia Barnes Missing: Police Fear N.C. Teen Abducted in Baltimore" (in English). WJZ (Baltimore: CBS). http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20027203-504083.html. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
4. ^ Fenton, Justin (January 03, 2011). "Police 'enormously concerned' about missing teen girl" (in English). Baltimore Sun. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-01-03/news/bs-md-ci-missing-teen-girl-20110103_1_teen-girl-honors-student-police-spokesman-anthony-guglielmi. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
5. ^ Lyttle, Steve (Mar. 28, 2011). "3 months, no trace of Phylicia Barnes" (in English). Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/28/1952758/students-hold-vigil-for-missing.html. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Fundraiser, Search In Phylicia Barnes Disappearance" (in English). Monroe, NC: WSOCTV.com. April 9, 2011. http://www.wsoctv.com/news/27489029/detail.html. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
7. ^ Cooke, Meghan (Apr. 10, 2011). "Police search park for Monroe teen" (in English). Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/09/2212275/police-search-park-for-monroe.html. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
8. ^ "Baltimore police 'back at square one' after park search for clues in NC teen's disappearance" (in English). Associated Press. BALTIMORE. April 10, 2011. http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/8948a56e80174bc3a9346ac5e830dd09/MD--Missing-NC-Teen/. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
9. ^ Shine, Tom; Z. Byron Wolf, Arlette Saenz (April 21, 2011). "Phylicia Barnes, Missing North Carolina Teen, Found Dead Near Baltimore; Cause of Death Unknown" (in English). ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/US/phylicia-barnes-missing-north-carolina-teen-found-dead/story?id=13430724. Retrieved 22 April 2011. 
10. ^ Hayes, Kevin. "Body of missing student Phylicia Barnes found in Md." (in English). WJZ (PORT DEPOSIT, Md.: CBS). http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20056227-504083.html. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
11. ^ "Police Identify Man Found Dead Near Phylicia Barnes" (in English). Md.: WSOC. http://www.wsoctv.com/news/27675274/detail.html?cxntlid=cmg_cntnt_rss. Retrieved 26 April 2011. 
12. ^ Martinez, Edecio (April 22, 2011). "After body of Phylicia Barnes found, investigators search for answers" (in English). CrimeSider (PORT DEPOSIT, Md.: CBS/WJZ). http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20056385-504083.html. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Fenton, Justin (May 4, 2011). "Phylicia Barnes' death ruled homicide, cause withheld" (in English). The Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-barnes-homicide-20110504,0,228792.story. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 
14. ^ Schaffer, Christian (05/05/2011). "Security expert discusses Barnes case: Police have confirmed Phylicia Barnes was murdered" (in English). ABC News. http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/crime_checker/baltimore_city_crime/security-expert-discusses-barnes-case. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
15. ^ Burkins, Glenn (Apr. 29, 2011). "700 gather to remember Phylicia Barnes" (in English). The Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/29/2259466/700-gather-to-remember-phylicia.html. Retrieved 5 May 2011.