Phylicia Barnes Murder Suspect Found Guilty

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins by Photographer Billy Carrier

Story Created: Feb 6, 2013 at 10:18 PM EDT

Story Updated: Feb 6, 2013 at 11:21 PM EDT

Charlotte, N.C.--A hand shake and a smile. Signs of relief for the family of 16 year old Phylicia Barnes. "We're pleased and we believe that Phylicia can really rest now in peace," said her father Russell Barnes. “This is a great day.I can breathe now,” said her mother, Janice Mustafa.

The Monroe honors student disappeared three days after Christmas in 2010 while visiting her sisters in Baltimore for the holidays. An intense police search ended four months later when her body was discovered floating in a nearby river. Michael Johnson was the last known person to see her alive. At trial, the most incriminating testimony came from a petty thief. That thief said Johnson admitted to raping and choking Barnes, showed him her body and asked for help getting rid of it.
“It is what it is, and we still feel in our hearts that Michael Johnson is not guilty,” said Michael Johnson's Father Glenton Johnson

At the Union Academy in Monroe where Barnes attended class, Tim and Mallory Wilhelm say
the verdict provided comfort.  "She was a wonderful person...was gonna go on to college,
was gonna make something of herself and it's a shame that this happened," said Unionville Resident Tim Wilhelm.

17 year old Mallory says she'll never forget when the best friend she met in theater class didn't return from Christmas break. "It's nice not to sit there wondering any more. What could have happened. What did happen," said Unionville Resident Mallory Wilhelm.

Johnson faces up to 30 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for next month. Defense attorneys say they plan to appeal today's verdict.

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