Black and Missing

Phylicia Barnes : Witness to testify teen was seen alive after she went missing

New developments are starting to surface in a case that received national attention

Published

14 years ago

December 19, 2012

UVM Staff

Phylicia Barnes

New developments are starting to surface in the disappearance case of Phylicia Barnes.

Barnes was 16 years old when she went missing after visiting her sister in her West Baltimore apartment. A nationwide search ended for Barnes when she was found in the Susquehanna River.

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Her sister’s boyfriend, Michael Johnson, has been charged with murder. It is alleged Johnson strangled Barnes in the apartment and transported her in a plastic tub.

Phylicia Barnes witness

But a witness may refute those allegations.

The Baltimore Sun reports the witness claims he saw Phylicia Barnes alive several days after she went missing.

Johnson is scheduled to go to trial next month.

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Unheard Voices, an award-winning, family owned online news magazine, began in 2004 as a community newsletter serving Neptune, Asbury Park, and Long Branch, N.J. Over time, it grew into a nationally recognized Black-owned media outlet. The publication remains one of the few dedicated to covering social justice issues. Its honors include the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and multiple media innovator awards for excellence in social justice reporting and communications.