Precious Doe's Mom Testifies Against Husband
The mother of the 3-year-old girl, who was known as "Precious Doe" as her headless body went unidentified for almost four years, testified this week in the murder trial of her husband. Michelle Johnson told the jury that Harrell Johnson was on drugs when kicked her daughter in the head and the child dropped to the floor unconscious.Prosecutors claim the child's life could have been saved if medical attention was sought.
The 'Precious Doe' case had frustrated police for four years and had been featured on several television crime shows, including "America's Most Wanted." In the end, police say, it was a tip from a family member that led to the identity of Erica Green and the arrest of Michelle M. Johnson, the 30-year-old mother of Erica, and Harrell Johnson, 25, her stepfather.
Michelle Johnson pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder.
Decapitated With Hedge Clippers
During day two of Harrell Johnson's trial, Michelle Johnson told the jury that she watched as her drugged up boyfriend (they married a year later) kicked Erica in the head.
"He just picked up his feet and kicked her on the side of the face. I said, `What the (expletive) did you do?' It shook him out of his high," Johnson said.
She said she tried to revive Erica by putting her in a bathtub of cold water and when the child failed to respond, she put her on the bedroom floor. She said she did not seek medical help for the girl for fear of being arrested on outstanding warrants. The child stayed on the floor for two days before she died.
Police say after the girl died, Harrell Johnson used a pair of hedge clippers to cut off her head. He dumped her body in a wooded area in Kansas City and put her head in a garbage bag nearby. The body was found in April 2001.
Defense attorneys are expected to try to show that Harrell Johnson was drunk and on PCP when he kicked Erica, therefore the murder was not premeditated.
See Also:
Slain Girl's Mom Testifies at Husband's Trial
Earlier Article:
Mother, Stepfather Changed in 'Precious Doe' Case
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Photo: Mug Shot
Comments
Being drunk or high should never be an excuse!!!
He chose to take drugs/get drunk and should be held accountable for his actions.
WAKE UP PEOPLE/ ARE YOUR BOYFREINDS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU CHILD? GET YHE HELL AWAY FROM THEM AT LEAST GET YOUR CHILD AWAY/ THERE ARE SAFE HAVENS AROUND/ HOSPITALS,FIREDEPARTMENYS.IF YOU LIKE TO BE HIT YOU NEED HELP/CHECK OUT A CHURCH NEAR YOU/ PLEASE USE YOUR HEAD NOT YOUR BUT
THAT IS SOME MESSED UP STUFF. I HOPE HE GETS LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. OR THE DEATH SENTENCE. THIS MONSTER HAS NO RIGHT TO REALLY LIVE ANYMORE. HE SHOULD NEVER CAUSE PAIN TO ANYONE AGAIN.
It doesn’t matter that he was high. This is a human and a child no less! The mother should get the death penalty just like this man should. He obviously meant more to her heart than her own child or she wouldn’t have married him AFTER he kicked her baby like that.
There will never be justice that would be adequate for what they did to that little girl. Our children look to us for protection, as one of the other posters mentioned get out if he’s abusive! I am a abuse survivor ( the first time i ended up on life support for 2 days but i never thought of going back) Mothers need to set examples for their children and im sure she pled guilty so they could get the bigger fish. JUST TRAGIC!
Absolutely the most
horriblehorrifying thing I’ve read in a long, long time. The mother deserves the same punishment as the man - leaving that baby to die on the floor like that deserves the same punishment - left on the floor to die & then have their heads cut off with hedge clippers, but neither of the adults will ever serve enough time to pay for this crime. What a shame!There is no excuse for what he did to that child. Drug use is no excuse. He deserves to pay for taking that baby’s life.
OK, so his excuse was that he was ‘high’ when he kicked her but the mom said when it happened it ’shook him out of his high.’ So was he high again when he cut her head off or was he acting from his sick animal-like mind? This is one of the most horrible things I have ever read. This guy ane the mom should both be sent to a third world country prison and tortured for the rest of their life!!
i get so sick of these people who kill and mame crying the blues about how they were drunk or/and high when they committed their crimes.
no one forced them to do the drugs booze or the crime.
p. does killer should fry.so should her so called mother. she had to have had time somewhere to call 911 for help for that poor child.