The family of Phylicia Barnes spoke with Fox45, about new charges against Michael Johnson.
Barnes went missing in December 2010, her body was found in April 2011. Johnson, then 26 years old, was charged with Barnes’ murder.
He was convicted the following year, however, that conviction was overturned. In 2018, in his third trial, the judge dismissed the case against Johnson for lack evidence.
Darryl Chamberlain, one of Barnes’ cousins, recalls how he felt after.
“They let this man go free, roam, do whatever he wants. Clearly, we had all evidence in the trial. But I guess they didn’t see that,” Chamberlain said.
Last week, Michael Johnson, now 40, was charged in Baltimore County with rape and assault.
Darryl’s mother Alisia Chamberlain, another cousin of Phylicia Barnes, called Johnson a victim chaser.
“It’s devastating, devastating. Because you don’t want anybody to get hurt. Not at the hands of what could be classified or deemed as a predator,” she said. “Just so happens, this young lady survived. My cousin did not survive at his hands.”
