Murder of Erica Green

Stepfather Beheaded 3-Year-Old Girl Who Went Unidentified for 4 Years

 

On April 28, 2001, the nude, beheaded body of a 3-year-old girl was discovered near an intersection in Kansas City, Missouri. Two days later her head was discovered nearby in a plastic trash bag. It would be more than four years before the girl, given the name "Precious Doe" by police, would be recognized as Erica Green.

Sketches, computer drawings and busts of the child were distributed nationwide and on various television crime programs before a relative came ahead and recognized the victim on May 5, 2005.

 

Mother, Stepfather Charged in Case

The 'Precious Doe' case had baffled police for four years and had been starred on various television crime shows, including "America's Most Wanted." 

 

In the end, police say, it was an advice from a family member that eventually helped authorities recognize the child and also those responsible for her demise. Press reports said a grandfather of one of the principles involved came ahead and gave police with photographs of Erica as well as hair samples from the child and the mother.

 

On May 5, 2005, Michelle M. Johnson, the 30-year-old mother of Erica, and Harrell Johnson, 25, her stepfather, were imprisoned and accused with murder.

Police said Johnson told them he was under the impact of alcohol and PCP when he became furious with Erica when she declined to go to bed. He hit her, threw her on the floor, and left her there unconscious. Erica stayed on the floor unconscious for two days, because the couple rejected to seek medical help because they both had warrants out for their arrest, police said.

 

After Erica died the Johnsons held her to a church parking lot, then into a wooded region where the stepfather cut her head off with hedge clippers. Erica's body was discovered near an intersection and two days later her head was discovered nearby in a plastic garbage bag.

 

On December 3, 2005, prosecutors declared that they would seek the death penalty in the case against Harrell Johnson. Authorities speculated that the child perished while Johnson was decapitating her with hedge clippers.

 

Cousin Sheds Light on the Abuse Suffered by Erica

According to Harrell Johnson's cousin, Lawanda Driskell, The Johnsons strode in with Driskell in April 2001.

 

Michelle Johnson assisted her husband to dispose of Erica by placing the lifeless child in a stroller as if she was sleeping. Later, she said Driskell that she had given Erica to another woman to raise. She narrated Harrell's treatment of Erica as harsh, stating that he whacks her for small offences such as sobbing or not wanting to eat.

One day she listened to a loud bang coming from the child's room and for the next two days, Erica was kept in the room. The couple told Driskell that the child was sick. Michelle Johnson then said Driskell that she took Erica to live with the woman who first raised the child.

 

Michelle Johnson Pleads Guilty 

On September 13, 2007, Michelle Johnson pleaded guilty to the second-degree murdering of her 3-year-old daughter. In a petition deal, she decided to testify against her husband, Harrell Johnson, who was accused of first-degree murder. In return, prosecutors decided to recommend a 25-year-sentence for the mother of the murdered child.

 

Precious Doe's Mom Testifies Against Husband

Michelle Johnson said the jury that Harrell Johnson was on drugs when he hit her daughter in the head and the child fell to the floor unconscious.

 

"He just picked up his feet and hit her on the side of the face. I said, `What the (expletive) did you do?' It jerked him out of his high," Johnson said.

 

She said she put the child in a tub of cold water, but she failed to come around. She then put her on the bedroom floor where she kept up for two days before she perished. Worrying that she might be imprisoned on outstanding warrants, Johnson agreed to not call for medical help.

 

Guilty Verdict

A Kansas City jury contemplated for about three hours before returning a guilty verdict. Harrell Johnson, 29, was accused of the death and the decapitation of three-year-old Erica Green, the daughter of his then-girlfriend who he wedded a year later. 

 

Johnson was also sentenced to threatening the welfare of a child and abuse of a child.

 

During closing arguments, prosecutors told the jury that a guilty verdict would ultimately bring justice for Erica.

 

"This selfish coward decided to put himself before this 3-year-old child's life," said prosecutor Jim Kanatzar.

 

Sentenced

On November 21, 2008, Harrell Johnson was convicted to life without parole.

 

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