History
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On April 28th, 2001, the dismembered body of a small child was discovered at the location of 59th & Kensington in Kansas City, Missouri. Four long years passed and the identity of this little girl from our community remained a mystery. The tragedy captured the entire metropolitan community, and soon she became known to all as "Precious Doe".
During the entire time that Precious Doe remained unidentified, the law enforcement community remained determined to bring those responsible to justice. Additionally, the community at large remained vigilant in their efforts to keep her memory alive. Appeals immediately hit the airwaves asking for anyone who had knowledge of the identity of the child to come forward. Forensic experts were brought in to create clay reconstructions of her face hoping that someone would recognize and claim the child. News organizations broadcast the likeness, nationally and internationally, with no success. Over a thousand leads were meticulously pursued by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department in an effort to identify Precious Doe.
Finally in 2005, Precious Doe was identified as Erica Michelle Marie Green. The subsequent investigation revealed that in April of 2001, three year old Erica Green had come to Kansas City, MO with her mother Michelle and her mother's then-boyfriend, Harrell Johnson. Prosecutors later alleged that Erica died after being kicked in the head by Harrell Johnson while the family maintained a temporary residence in the heart of Kansas City. Prosecutors charged both Michelle and Harrell with consciously refusing medical attention for the child when they knew that she would die without help. Evidence was uncovered that Erica had died several days after the initial assault, and that the couple carried her little body through a church parking lot and then into the woods at 59th & Kensington. It was there that Harrell Johnson decapitated Erica in an effort to hide her identity.
Erica's mother & step-father were eventually arrested in Oklahoma and were extradited to Kansas City for arraignment on charges related to Erica's death. In a plea agreement, Michelle agreed to testify against Harrell Johnson in exchange for a sentence of 25 years in the Missouri Division of Adult Institution. Harrell Johnson was convicted of murder in the first degree in October of 2008. He received life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Although the trial of this case has concluded, the memory of Erica Green is still alive in our community and in our hearts. The Precious Doe Committee was formed to honor Erica and to make sure that every effort is made to prevent such tragedies in the future.