Candlelight Vigil Held In Memory of Phylicia Barnes
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Saying goodbye. On Thursday night, family, friends and neighbors gathered both here in Baltimore and in North Carolina to remember Phylicia Barnes. The teen was found dead four months after she disappeared.
Kelly McPherson was at the emotional vigil.
In front of the apartment where she was last seen alive four months ago, the Northwest Baltimore community gathered to remember Phylicia Barnes, 16.
"It could've been worse; we could've never found Phylicia. So we give our praise to God," said her father Russell Barnes.
The North Carolina teen was visiting her father and staying with her half-sister Deena in the Reisterstown Square apartment complex when she disappeared days after Christmas.
Last week, her body was found in the Susquehanna near the dam, naked.
Baltimore City investigators have not determined how she died.
"Our prayers were answered in a way that we didn't really want them to be answered, but it's still some sort of ending to this part," Russell Barnes said.
In her hometown, another vigil was held to remember the honors student.
"I can't express how special she is, and I'm not going to use the word 'was' because she's still special," said her mother Janice Sallis.
And the next step: "Justice, that's our main thing," Russell Barnes said. "We can't start our healing process until we find out what happened with Phylicia."
Investigators may return to the Susquehanna near the Conowingo Dam with underwater teams. Police still have no cause of death and have made no arrests.
The Barnes family is holding a memorial service May 14. The public is welcome.
