Phylicia’s North Carolina high school is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the teen’s whereabouts. She was an honor student at her school before she disappeared in Baltimore while visiting her sister over Christmas. Authorities are planning another large scale search to find the missing teen. Five facts about this case:
Phylicia Barnes (missing)
1) Phylicia Barnes, 16, disappeared on the afternoon of Dec. 28 from a Northwest Baltimore apartment.
2) The FBI has joined the case to help find her, and investigators are leaning toward foul play.
3) Authorities focused their search efforts earlier in the week on Leakin Park. Unfortunately, no clues from that search have led them to Phylicia. More than three dozen locations have been searched.
4) Phylicia is from Monroe, N.C., about 25 miles from Charlotte. Her goal was to move to Maryland when she finished with high school.
5) Her family said Phylicia does not have a history of running away, and the last message she sent her sister indicates she may have left to get something to eat.
Just after midnight on December 27, 2009, Lt. Colin Davidson from the Rosenberg Police told me his dispatch received a 9-1-1 family violence call. Patrol officers responded to the residence and found a bloody scene. Two women, 66-year-old Betty Jo Frank, and 39-year-old Keitha Frank Turner bleeding, it appeared the women were stabbed multiple times. Sadly, Betty Jo Frank was pronounced dead at the scene, and her daughter, Keitha Frank Turner was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Betty Jo Frank and her husband, Dr. Frank founded the Church of Living Waters in Rosenberg, Texas more than 32 years ago. Betty Jo was very active counseling members of the church, teaching children, and she was an administrator of the school. Keitha was the principal of that school where she oversaw the children, and attended services. Betty and Keitha’s were buried on New Year’s Eve.
Family was home at the time, including Keitha and Albert Turner’s children. It was determined the man allegedly responsible for this attack is in fact Albert Turner, a Texas Department of Corrections prison guard who fled the scene. There are active murder warrants for his arrest, and investigators believe he may have fled to Orlando, Florida where he is known to have family. Police say Turner fled the scene in a maroon Honda which since has been recovered just outside Atlanta in the Chattahoochee River. Turner could be in possession of TDC uniforms, and in a few reports, it says he was wearing a uniform at the time of the murder. Police cannot confirm that at this point. If you have any information, please contact CRIMESTOPPERS: (281) 342-TIPS– There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. This man is considered armed and dangerous.
Abraham was a truck driver’s assistant who hit the $30 million jackpot in the Florida lottery in 2006. He spend modestly, and only purchased a Nissan Altima, a $1 million home in a gated community, and a used Rolex from a pawn shop. He often lent money to friends and strangers, but ultimately he just wanted to be happy. Shakespeare would tell people he was on a budget, and wanted to help the poor. Sadly, Shakespeare hasn’t been seen since April 2009. His mother told investigators she spoke to him last in February 2009, but he wasn’t reported missing until November 2009. I spoke with Investigator Wood from the Polk County Sheriff’s office, and she confirms they have named Dorice Donegan “DeeDee” Moore of Florida a person of interest in this case. According to a press release, “Detectives say Moore began using Shakespeare’s cell phone in April 2009 to text Shakespeare’s relatives and friends in an effort to have them believe it was Shakespeare attempting to contact them… in addition, Moore is believed to have offered to give away a home work approximately $200,000 in exchange for making a false report to law enforcement regarding an alleged recent sighting of Shakespeare.”
Very sad news to report this Christmas. Just a few hours ago missing 11-year-old, Sarah Foxwell’s body was found by searchers near the Maryland-Delaware line. Nearly 3,000 volunteers gave up their Christmas to search for the missing child throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Investigators say Sarah went missing on Tuesday from her home, and authorities believe Thomas J. Leggs, Jr., 30, a convicted sex offender, is the one who kidnapped her. Leggs is charged with kidnapping and burglary, and more charges are likely to follow. It is believed that Leggs did know the child, and may have been a former boyfriend of Sarah’s aunt, who is her legal guardian. Police fear there are other children who are victims of Thomas Leggs, and they are working to identify those children now. If you have any information, please contact the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office: (410) 548-4891
In the spirit of giving this Christmas and Holiday season, I pose an idea for your gift giving needs. Maybe there are one or two people you are having a really hard time buying for, and you are spending a lot of time and energy in search of the perfect ‘material’ gift. Maybe consider making a donation in their name to their favorite charity, church or cause. If the person you are buying for doesn’t have a preference, or you cannot think of one, I have a list of fantastic organizations that help victims on my resource page. Please remember, many of these organizations function on folks donating their time to make the programs run. Many times they are doing fundraisers, or trying to seek money from grants and government funding. It’s just an idea, and remember, you don’t have to do it for every single gift, maybe consider starting a new tradition, and replace a few this season.
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
