Murder of Erica Green explained

Erica Green
Birth Name:Erica Michelle Marie Green
Birth Date:May 15, 1997[1]
Birth Place:McLoud, Oklahoma, U.S.[2]
Death Date:[3] [4]
Death Place:Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[5]
Body Discovered:On April 28, 2001 (body)
May 1, 2001 (head)
Resting Place:Memorial Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.[6]

Erica Michelle Marie Green (May 15, 1997  - April 28, 2001), also known as Precious Doe, was an American three-year-old girl who was murdered in Kansas City, Missouri, in April 2001. Green's decapitated body was discovered on April 28, 2001, and her head was found nearby on May 1, but remained unidentified until May 5, 2005. Green's murder attracted significant media and public attention due to the brutality of the crime and the lengthy period without identification.[7]

In 2008, Green's mother and step-father were convicted for her murder.

Discovery

On April 28, 2001, the decapitated body of a young African-American girl was found near Hibbs Park at 59th Street and Kensington Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. On May 1, 2001, the young girl's head was found wrapped in a trash bag approximately 150 to 200 yards southeast of the body discovery site. Investigators determined that she had been beaten with an ashtray found with the body and kicked several times, causing extensive injuries throughout her body, and then decapitated in an effort to keep police from being able to identify the body. The ashtray lacked DNA or fingerprints, and the unidentified girl was known by the multiple-use name Precious Doe, which was used in public broadcasts in an effort to identify her.

Media appearances

The brutality of the crime, and the fact that Green went unidentified for a long period, sparked nationwide interest in an effort to identify her. Police released sketches, computerized facial reconstructions, and at least two busts.[7] [8] The case was featured on the TV programs America's Most Wanted and Cold Case Files several times.[9] [10] [11]

Identification

On May 5, 2005, Precious Doe was identified as Erica Green, a three-year-old from Oklahoma. Her mother, Michelle Johnson (also known as Michelle Pierce), and her stepfather, Harrell Johnson, were charged with murder and extradited from Oklahoma to face charges in Missouri.[12] [13] Michelle Johnson's eight other children were taken into state custody or placed with relatives.[14] On December 3, 2005, prosecutors announced that they would seek the death penalty against Erica's stepfather, Harrell Johnson.[15] Police stated that Erica had died when Johnson had used a pair of hedge clippers to sever her head after she had been brutally beaten.[16] Johnson's cousin, Lawanda Driskell, said that Erica's mother helped Harrell dispose of the body by taking Erica from the house as if sleeping in a stroller and telling Driskell she had given Erica to the woman who had raised her while Johnson was in prison.

Conviction

On October 8, 2008, Harrell Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.[17] On October 22, 2008, Michelle Johnson was sentenced to 25 years in prison, in exchange for her 2007 guilty plea to second-degree murder and testimony against her husband.[18]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://oklahoman.com/article/3675374/lawsuit-blames-oklahoma-officials-for-precious-doe-murder Lawsuit blames Oklahoma officials for 'Precious Doe' murder
  2. News: Precious Doe Born In Prison. 2005-05-10. Cosgrove-Mather, Bootie. CBS News.
  3. http://www.knowledgecash.com/infolope.aspx?id=NY339L59986885 Infolope: Murdered victim - Precious Doe
  4. News: 2 Charged With Murder In 'Precious Doe' Slaying. KMBC. May 5, 2005. ...one night late in April 2001...She was left on the floor for two days.. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110713161652/http://www.kmbc.com/r/4452082/detail.html. July 13, 2011.
  5. News: Tipster Tricked Precious Doe Suspect Into Providing Hair Sample. Authorities said the little girl was killed in Kansas City, where the family had been staying with friends or family.. May 6, 2005. KMBC.com. Kansas City News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120322002816/http://www.kmbc.com/r/4461626/detail.html. March 22, 2012.
  6. https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article150621902.html The Kansas City Star
  7. News: Goldblatt. Jeff. Slain Mystery Girl Brings Community Together. FOX News Network. 2002-08-08. 2006-06-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20080408162535/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,59905,00.html. 2008-04-08. dead.
  8. News: Police Release New Bust Of 'Precious Doe' . KMBC-TV (TheKansasCityChannel.com) . 2003-09-19 . 2006-06-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051204082522/http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/2497018/detail.html . 2005-12-04.
  9. Web site: Harrell Johnson (Suspected Precious Doe Killer) . America's Most Wanted . Twentieth Century Fox Film . 2005-05-05 . 2006-06-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060823105958/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=31729 . 2006-08-23.
  10. Web site: Michelle Johnson (Suspected Precious Doe Killer) . America's Most Wanted . Twentieth Century Fox Film . 2005-05-04 . 2006-06-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060823105915/http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=31709 . 2006-08-23.
  11. Web site: INSPIRED STORY 1: Hour 60 - Precious Doe. AETV.com. 2011-01-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110621081952/http://www.aetv.com/cold_case_files/ccf_inspired_stories.jsp. 2011-06-21.
  12. News: Charges In 'Precious Doe' Case. CBS Broadcasting. 2005-05-05. 2006-06-30.
  13. News: Mother, stepfather charged in 'Precious Doe' killing. Cable News Network. 2005-05-06. 2006-06-30.
  14. News: Associated Press . Okla. Never Monitored 'Precious Doe' Case . phillyBurbs.com . Calkins Media . 2005-05-10 . 2006-06-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051107022124/http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/278-05102005-487325.html . 2005-11-07.
  15. News: Associated Press . Prosecutor Seeks Death Penalty in 'Precious Doe' Case . FOX News Network . 2005-12-03 . 2006-06-30.
  16. News: Duarte Jr . Hector . Cousin of Harrell Johnson Details Final Days Of Precious Doe . All Headline News . 2005-05-07 . 2006-06-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060422074952/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/2230953560 . April 22, 2006.
  17. News: Man Convicted of Murder in Mo. 'Precious Doe' Case. Gross. Andale. October 8, 2008. Associated Press, via Fox News. 2008-12-19.
  18. News: 'Precious Doe' mother gets 25 years. 2008-10-22. Associated Press. Muskogee Phoenix.

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