Death Of Phylicia Barnes Ruled A Homicide
BALTIMORE (WJZ) --Homicide. Investigators say honor student Phylicia Barnes was, in fact, murdered.
Mike Hellgren reports the questions now are how was she killed and who did it?
Two weeks after her body was found, it's official that the teen visiting Baltimore for Christmas was, in fact, murdered. Investigators determined the cause of death, but are purposely not releasing the information.
Phylicia Barnes, 16, disappeared days after Christmas. Four months later, Conowingo Dam workers discovered her body in the Susquehanna River, bringing her family and the larger concerned community into a new phase of mourning.
"My mind skipped from 'OK, my sister's dead' to 'What's the next step. How, what are we going to do as a family?' said her brother Bryan Barnes.
Investigators are taking the next step. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner has determined how she died. But the information is not being shared.
"The investigation is at a sensitive point, a crucial point," said Greg Shipley, Maryland State Police. "That's one of the reasons investigators are withholding the cause of death at this time. They believe it's important to the integrity of the investigation to withhold that information right now."
State police and city homicide detectives are confirming she was murdered but are not giving any details that the murderer may only know.
Now investigators are re-interviewing anyone who was in the apartment the last night with Phylicia; they are also re-interviewing family and friends both in and out of Maryland.
"There is new evidence and information that came as a result of finding her body and so investigators are certainly examining that, looking at," Shipley said.
Recently, the Northwest Baltimore community that had become so involved in the search for the North Carolina teen remembered her with her family.
"Our prayers were answered in a way that we really didn't want them to be answered, but there's still a sort of end to this part," said Phylicia's father, Russell Barnes.
Police are open to the idea of one person or several people being involved in this murder.
Police haven't reported any suspects or made any arrests yet.
Investigators are still taking calls from anyone who may have information about this homicide investigation.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the crime to call the tips line at 1-855-223-0033.
The medical examiner has released the teen's body to her family, who have planned her funeral. The funeral, which will be private, will take place Saturday at Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, Ga. The service will be streamed online at www.sbclive.org.
