On Tuesday, a Baltimore judge dismissed charges against Michael Johnson, who was accused of Phylicia Barnes’ murder.
In 2010, the 16-year-old Barnes was staying with her sister in Baltimore before she went missing. Her body was later found in the Susquehanna River.
Johnson maintained his innocence throughout all three of his trials in this case, though as the ex-boyfriend of Barnes’ sister, he was the last to see her alive.
The first case against Johnson ended with a second-degree murder conviction, but a judge allowed a new trial because the prosecution withheld evidence. The second trial was a mistrial when prosecutors used a wiretap recording that the judge had not allowed. According to reports, there was no fault with the prosecution in this third trial.
The trial was concluded when a judge determined that there was not enough evidence against Johnson.
“The case against the defendant is unarguably circumstantial. With no direct evidence, the state presented many intriguing issues that suggest the defendant may have been involved in the disappearance and death of Ms. Barnes. As conceded in argument by the state, there was no smoking gun in this case,” said Judge John Addison Howard.
When asked about his newfound freedom, Johnson said, “It feels great to be out — 31 months.” He said that he “ha[d] no idea” what he would do now that he was a free man.
Barnes’ family, in the meantime, felt only shock and loss. “It definitely, it’s heartbreaking. I told my family right now I feel like I just got run over by a train,” Russell Barnes, Phylicia’s father, said. “The book is still open. We can’t close the chapter. We can’t end the book until we get justice served for Phylicia.”
Russel Barnes will be meeting with Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to discuss possible future actions. Mosby has said that she disagrees with the court’s decision and will be seeking an appeal on the grounds that the court did not have the jurisdiction for an acquittal.