Precious Doe

Precious Doe was a pseudonym assigned to an unidentified female corpse (presumed to be 3 to 4 years of age) discovered on April 28, 2001, in Kansas City, Missouri. The girl had been murdered and decapitated. The body was naked and the head was wrapped in a trash bag and dumped nearby. The brutality of the crime, and the fact that the child went unidentified for a long period, sparked national interest. [cite news
last = Goldblatt
first = Jeff
title = Slain Mystery Girl Brings Community Together
publisher = FOX News Network
date = 2002-08-08
url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,59905,00.html
accessdate = 2006-06-30] In an effort to identify the girl, police released sketches, computerized likenesses, and at least two busts depicting the victim. [cite news
title = Police Release New Bust Of 'Precious Doe'
publisher = KMBC-TV (TheKansasCityChannel.com)
date = 2003-09-19
url = http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/2497018/detail.html
accessdate = 2006-06-30] The case was featured on the TV program "America's Most Wanted" several times. [cite web
title = Harrell Johnson (Suspected Precious Doe Killer)
work = America's Most Wanted
publisher = Twentieth Century Fox Film
date = 2005-05-05
url = http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=31729
accessdate = 2006-06-30] [cite web
title = Michelle Johnson (Suspected Precious Doe Killer)
work = America's Most Wanted
publisher = Twentieth Century Fox Film
date = 2005-05-04
url = http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=31709
accessdate = 2006-06-30]

On May 5, 2005, the body was identified as Erica Michelle Maria Green, age three, [cite news
title = Charges In 'Precious Doe' Case
publisher = CBS Broadcasting
date = 2005-05-05
url = http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/05/national/main693165.shtml
accessdate = 2006-06-30] and her mother and stepfather were charged with her murder and extradited from Oklahoma to face charges in Missouri. [cite news
title = Mother, stepfather charged in 'Precious Doe' killing
publisher = Cable News Network
date = 2005-05-06
url = http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/05/precious.doe/index.html
accessdate = 2006-06-30] The eight other children of Erica's mother were taken into state custody or placed with relatives. [cite news
author = Associated Press
title = Okla. Never Monitored 'Precious Doe' Case
work = phillyBurbs.com
publisher = Calkins Media
date = 2005-05-10
url = http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/278-05102005-487325.html
accessdate = 2006-06-30] On December 3, 2005, prosecutors announced that they would seek the death penalty against Erica's stepfather, Harrell Johnson. [cite news
author = Associated Press
title = Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty in 'Precious Doe' Case
publisher = FOX News Network
date = 2005-12-03
url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177609,00.html
accessdate = 2006-06-30]

Police have said that after Erica died, Harrell Johnson said he used hedge clippers to sever her head.cite news
last = Duarte Jr
first = Hector
title = Cousin of Harrell Johnson Details Final Days Of Precious Doe
publisher = All Headline News
date = 2005-05-07
url = http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/2230953560
accessdate = 2006-06-30] Johnson's cousin, Lawanda Driskell, said that Erica's mother helped Harrell dispose of the body by taking Erica from the house as if sleeping in a stroller and telling Driskell she had given Erica to the woman who had raised her.

On October 8, 2008, Harrell Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h2hoqaD3fX1r_n7CymEYPmgx2OUgD93MHVBO0 | Man convicted of murder in Mo. 'Precious Doe' case]

References