Here is the transcription, originally posted by georgiajean.
Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Found Deceased MD - Phylicia Barnes, 16, believed abducted in Baltimore, 28-Dec-2010 - #2
Peas in Their Pods- The whole thing
With all three half-siblings. DB, KB, BB. “Peas” is the main host. “Jan” is the co-host who moderates the chat room and brings in other questions.
I have directly transcribed most of it, with some paraphrasing when things kept getting repeated. I also didn’t type things that were not factual for PB’s story (like the repeated support of the family). I use parentheses () to bracket when I paraphrase, or just stated what was talked about. If it isn’t in parentheses, it is what was actually said, or as close as I could get.
Because this show is victim friendly, and not confrontational at all, they treaded lightly on some sensitive questions, like the one where DB is asked if drugs and alcohol were allowed, she said No, and then the hosts spent 5 minutes thanking her for clearing it up. So Be aware that some questions will not be answered to your full satisfaction…. With that, here you go:
BB- (Wanted to have everyone in one place, to clear up the questions.)
Peas (Asks DB what her side of the story is.)
(Minute 6:30)
DB I am one of PB’s older sisters. I am 27 years old and have been in BM all my life. I am certified pharmacy technician. I am in the process of completing nursing school. I am one class away from entering a nursing program. I am studying to be a midwife.
Peas Wonderful, do you have children of your own?
DB No children of my own.
Peas- So you are a professional woman, an adult. PB came to visit with you. What is your relationship with your baby sister. You are fairly new to her life. She met you what, a couple of years ago?
DB The first time we met PB, she was 7 years old, at a Barnes family reunion we had. They are held every year, in the summer time, in BM. She came to BM with my dad. We met her that one time, and after that we didn’t’ have any contact with her. Until 2 years ago, this May, she contacted us via FB. From that point, we all clicked and we all wanted to get to know each other and spend time with each other. She got contact with us in May, and we (KB and DB) drove to NC to pick her up and bring her to the family reunion in Atlanta that summer..
Peas So this was not the first time she had visited you then in BM.
DB This was her 5th time visiting BM.
Peas How familiar was she with the city?
DB Not at all. Anywhere she would go, we would go together. She’s not familiar with the city, getting on busses or light rail or anything like that.
Peas So she wouldn’t go exploring the city on her own.
DB No, she did not go off. She doesn’t know anybody except us and the family and people we associate with.
(Minute 10)
Peas And how about you, KB? You are PB’s older sister as well, correct?
KB Yes.
Peas Did you live with DB, or elsewhere? How far away were you?
KB We live about ten minutes apart.
Peas So you would spend time with her while she was visiting?
KB I have two jobs, so not as much, but I did see her this time, over Christmas. I was at the house the night before this happened. And of course Christmas, and She came to work with me some.
Peas what was her mood like?
DB Well, we had a count down for her visit. She couldn’t wait to come. And I couldn’t wait for her to come. We were all excited about her coming. While she was visiting, we spent time together as family, mostly. On Christmas day we went to my grandmothers house and opened gifts. We came back to my house, played around, looked at pictures, and went to a movie. We did a lot of things and spent a lot of time with family. I took her to work with me, my sister took her to work with her. We were spending time together.
Peas What was her mood like during her visit? What was her Personality?
DB Happy, bubbly. She communicated with her friends daily in NC, on her phone, FB, Skype…. Her fiends, her little sister back home, her family.
Peas So she was a regular teen on FB, communicating with friends, doing what normal teens do during the day . Did she have any friends in BM? Had she befriended anyone here?
DB Not anybody that we wouldn’t consider close, people we knew. She hadn’t went off and met any friends on her own that we didn’t know.
Peas Tell us about Dec. 28th. Can you bring us through the day?
DB That day I woke up to go to work. PB stayed home. My sister KB was going to pick her up later in the day, because PB had called her that morning to pick her up. She didn’t go to work with me that day. I went to work, and we texted and talked on the phone about getting her hair done and getting some products for her face. So we were texting and talking about that. When I noticed something was wrong was when I got home at 6 pm and she wasn’t there. She was not in the house. I began to call people that she may be with . My sister, brother, my ex boyfriend, his brother… I contacted these individuals and the last time anyone saw her was at 1:30 and they said she was asleep at that time.
Peas Who last saw PB at 1:30?
DB My ex. He saw her at 1:30.
Peas Where was she when he saw her?
DB She was sleeping.
Peas Why was your ex there? Was he living there? Was it customary for him to be around there? What was the deal?
DB (Big pause, whispering in background.) He was actually…moving out at the time. We are going through a break up at this time.
Peas For the week prior, while PB was there, he was there, and you were going through the breakup and he was moving out that day?
DB No, it was ongoing. That was in process before PB even got there. We talked about the move out the beginning of Dec so that was already in process.
Peas Were you aware that he was coming that day? Was that something you found out after the fact? Did he have to clear it with you? Is there any reason he should not have been there?
(Minute 17)
DB No. Because he was still on the lease, he had a key. I did not he was going to be at the apartment that day, except for to pick up his little brother from the apartment. I did know he was picking up the little brother.
Peas We have been doing so much research, one of the reports I read, something I read said she was sleeping on the couch or fell asleep on him on the couch. (GJ-This actually came out of JS’s interview with Peas, iirc…
DB That was a statement about the last time she was seen was asleep on the couch.
Peas But not asleep ON anyone?
DB No, no, no. Asleep on the couch.
Peas At 1:30, your ex…are you able to share his name?
DB No.
Peas Okay, so your ex was there and saw PB asleep on the couch at 1:30. He left. You got home at 6, she wasn’t there, you did your fact finding to see if KB had picked her up..
DB I called my brother, I called my ex, called my ex’s boyfriend, I mean little brother, I’m sorry. I made few phone calls, and when I couldn’t find her with anybody, I knew something was wrong. I called my dad and my uncle, was calmed down by them and then I called the LE.
Peas How much time went by, were you searching for her, when you called the police?
DB Maybe an hour, hour and a half? The call I put in was 7:30-ish or so. And I got home at 6.
Peas Was anything out of place?
DB No.
Peas Her belongings… BB you shared that she had her house slipper boot things on. Would that be normal for her to leave the house with those?
(Minute 20)
DB I actually told her not to go outside with them. We had gone to the mall Sunday prior to her disappearance, and I bought her those slippers and told her not to wear them out of the house. They have a slipper sole, it’s winter time, if you go walking outside, your feet are going to get wet. It’s going to soak right through.
Peas Jan has a question. Go ahead Jan.
Jan DB, you said your ex’s brother was staying there? Do you mind my asking how old he is?
DB (big pause.) Um, uh, He’s he’s he’s young, but I don’t want to really... It’s not….
Jan Okay, that’s fine. And then KB, you were supposed to pick her up, what time were you supposed to pick her up?
KB I was scheduled to get off early from work that day. So in between 1 and 1:30.
Jan Did you go by the house at all, or did you try calling her?
KB I actually texted her before I left work, and that was around 12:30, she didn’t respond. I called her multiple times, starting at 1, and she didn’t answer. I called again around 1:20, I texted her, and finally I called DB to see if maybe she had picked her up at lunch time and they were together and I didn’t know. That’s when I found out it had been told to her that PB was sleeping on the couch at 1:30, so I thought, okay, just let her sleep, she can call me when she gets up.
Jan Okay. Thank you.
Peas since that day, we know that PB is still missing, and that LE is working really hard, searching. There has been more and more press. (talks about media coverage, PB’s face and story. Asks about their day-to-day activities, as a family, to help find PB)
BB The Barnes Family has done everything we could possibly think of. ( talks about the daily search process, the Guardian Angels etc, prayer vigils, searches, flyers, going back to before she came to BM, starting from scratch)
Peas Here’s a question that I have to ask. If you don’t want to answer it, we will move on. Because the police has involved the FBI, they have been doing a thorough investigation. Did that investigation involve a lie detector tests, on any of you, BB, DB, KB or can you share?
BB As of right now the police really are trying to stay away from that because of the legal issues involving the court. So they really don’t want us to take one but I am probably going to try to see if we can talk to them and arrange to take one, just so we can cover ourselves and no one is lying and we are all being totally honest and trying to help find my sister.
Peas So none of you have been approached to take lie detector tests.
DB No, none of us have been approached. But we are ALL willing to.
(Minute 25)
KB We don’t know if that is going to come in further down the line, but we are all willing to.
Peas If they are open to it, you are open to it. Okay. How about this. DB, since your ex was the last one reportedly to see PB in the apartment, do you know if he has taken a lie detector test?
DB I am not sure.
Peas Is that something you are comfortable asking the police? Would they not share that with you?
DB Because they are in the middle of an investigation, there’s probably a lot of information they have not shared with us.
Peas How about yourself? You aren’t a specialist in lie detector type stuff, but what kind of questions did you ask your ex? Can you share that with us? Anything that didn’t seem on the up and up?
DB I just asked him the basic questions, have you seen her, when is the last time you talked to her, things like that.
Peas And he has maintained that he last saw her at 1:30 and she was asleep when he left.
DB Yes
Jan DB, you can answer this or not. There has been reports on the news that you had said that PB was drinking alcohol and smoking pot the night before. Is that true or can you say?
DB That is not true.
Peas Thank you for clearing that up. That is something a lot of people have heard and believe. so your account is she was in yoru home and that is not what she was doing.
(Minute 27)
DB Right.
Jan Thank you DB.
DB I have actually, because of those accusations, I have requested that I be given a drug test. I have taken it, and we are awaiting the results, but I am positive that I passed it. The results aren’t back yet though.
Peas That’s on record. You did not observe those types of behavior, nor did you engage in them. That’s on the record. Moving on from that. What is your day to day like now DB?
DB I am trying to, because of the things that are being said, I am staying away from the media. My brother is doing the media. I have been doing some things on FB, but everything else I refer to my brother who sorts them and responds to them.
Peas So BB, you are the family spokesperson, BB?
BB Yes ma’am.
Peas How about you, KB how are you holding up? Tell us about your day to day and your emotions?
KB It has been up and down. Some days are worse than others. (Logistics, getting the story out to everyone. Correcting misperceptions, making sure it’s the truth. Passing out flyers, etc.)
Peas In the beginning there was a lot of misinformation, like the homeless shelter story that was proven to be untrue. That’s why it is great to have family on here to correct things. Here’s one thing that has been said. DB, it has been said that in your home, in your apartment, there was a lot of different people in and out. I believe the number was 20-ish men, in and out. What do you say to that? Is that true, or is that something the media has said and run with?
DB That is another thing the media has said and run with. I have heard things like 20-30 MEN, not 20-30 people, but MEN, in and out frequently, every day. That is not true. The list was made…My dad came the next day from Atlanta, and he came in the house and said “you-all need to write down every single person who has ever been in this apartment since you-all moved into the apartment.” So that list goes back to the summer, and people who had only been there once. That list consists of family, friends, it has men, women, children, teenagers, my brother, my sister, my mother, my aunt, my cousins… it consists of everybody. And Mike’s friends and family. It consists of everybody.
(Minute 31)
Peas So those 20 or so individuals, they were not just men in and out of the apartment as the news reports had stated.
DB No, it’s my family members and friends, and the people who were living in the apartment’s family members or a couple friends..
Peas So in terms of people that had access to the apartment when you were not there, who had keys to the apartment or who slept there or lived there, it is you, your Ex, and of course PB who was there, and your Ex’s brother, is that it?
DB Cousin
Peas Cousin. I’m sorry. His cousin
DB Right.
Peas Those are the only people who would have slept there the night before?
DB Correct.
Peas Thank you for clearing that up. Jan, you wanted to jump in?
Jan Deena, what time was it that you saw PB that morning?
DB I left home at 8:45 in the morning. And that was the last time I saw her. She was still asleep.
Jan She was still asleep. So you went to work, and KB was supposed to pick her up like around 1:30.
DB Yeah.
Jan So did she text anyone like KB or you to say she was up and getting ready?
DB Her and I did text and actually talk that morning. The first text message that I received from her was around 10 am. We were talking about getting her hair done, getting some skin products, I was going to order those for her, and KB I believe stated she and PB had talked about her picking PB up.
KB I spoke to her that morning. She initially PB texted me around the same time frame of 10 am. But the last text I received from her was 11:08 that morning, as well. She asked me to come and pick her up after I got off because she knew I was getting off early that day. I had ran down my whole schedule for the week the night prior, on Monday. So Tuesday morning she texted me to see if I would pick her up that day. We conversated about other things, but she knew I was coming to get her.
Jan (directed at DB) So when you got home, did you think KB had taken her shopping or something?
DB Yes, KB was actually the first person I called, because KB texted me around 3:08 pm asking me if PB was with me, because she had been trying to reach her and couldn’t. I said no, the last I had been told by my ex that she was asleep in the apartment. So when I got home, initially I thought KB maybe had gotten a hold of her and had picked her up and they were together.
(Minute 35)
Jan Now did you hear from your Ex any time after 3 pm?
DB Yeah.
Jan Okay, what time was that?
DB It was 6:11 pm.
Jan Okay.
Peas This has got to be the most difficult situation. I can’t imagine having a missing loved one, and I can’t imagine having people scrutinize everything that you say, did, etc. What has that pressure been like? I know you’ve seen reports and comments made. What’s that like?
DB It makes me feel that people are on the outside looking in, they don’t know what is going on, and it takes the focus away from finding my sister. All that negative gets us off track of what we need to do. As a person, it is hurting my image and how people who don’t know me look at me, perceive me. People who know me don’t, because they know me. But outside people are listening to what is reported in the media and making their judgment of me.
Peas Have you had any pressure at work or friends who are treating you differently?
DB No. They know me. They know my personality, they know who I am. They are being supportive and are there for me. I have a great support system, as far as that goes.
Peas Which is good. (bunch of supportive and victim support statements, purpose of show, etc.) Peas BB, since you are the family spokesperson, what would you like to say? What do you need, what do you want us to know?
BB It has been three weeks. It’s a long time. It is really really cold here. Somebody knows where she is. I want everyone to continue in prayer, helping us look, post on FB, or call with any ideas. It has been three weeks of nothing. Keep helping. As far as the negative people, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is she is still missing. (paraphrased, goes around and around the same ideas).
Peas Absolutely. We can’t agree with you more. At the end of the day, it is about bringing PB home. At this point in the show, we have asked you a ton of questions, and you have been gracious. We would like to open up the phone lines to some of the callers who have been waiting. (KB says that DB has to leave).
DB Thank you so much. My last statement is if anyone wants to come out, we need people to help pass out flyers.. any help or support is greatly appreciated. We have worked to set up a reward. If anyone wants to help, anything helps.
Peas We are here to support you, because you are a victim, you are the family of a loved one. Again, no negativity, it is about bringing PB home. (DB leaves). Callers, I want to remind you the purpose and mission is to bring PB home. Under no circumstances will we tolerate any negativity. Phrase your questions respectfully (etc).
(Minute 46)
Caller Rachel Time line. KB, you said you texted around 12:30 or so, 12:20 was the last time and you didn’t hear from her. So then after that you just thought she was asleep, or did you talk to DB and she said yeah she’s asleep right now?
KB I texted her initially around 12:30 because we had spoken that morning to say I was going to pick her up. So I texted her at 12:30 and asked if she was dressed. I work in DC, so I work pretty far from where this all occurred. So of course travel time, I figured if I asked if she was dressed, she would be ready when I got there She didn’t respond. I texted, I called, I left her a voice mail, everything. I eventually called DB and she said she had heard that she was asleep.
Rachel Okay, that makes sense now. I know you don’t want to answer this specifically, but the cousin, is he in the age range of PB, or is he older than her? Is this someone who is still in high school or is he out of school?
KB No, he’s older than her.
Rachel. Okay. The last thing is there was really a descriptive of what she was wearing and what she had on and what was left, so there is a lot of people focused on cameras at home depot and the walking path, but definitively she didn’t go anywhere, she didn’t get something to eat.. She was actually asleep
KB That is something that was told us, so we don’t really know that, because she is not here to answer that..
Rachel Okay. If she was in pajamas when DB left, where did the description of what she was wearing come from? Did that come from the Ex?
KB No, that came from DB. She had gone shopping with PB that Sunday and they decided on new clothes, and the clothes that were missing were the new items they’d bought.
Rachel (Ends call with messages of support for family)
(Minute 50)
Caller Alyssa What was going on… because I hear a lot of speculation about things going on inside that house during the time PB was there, and even that night before she disappeared. Was there any foul play, or anything that was going on that shouldn’t have been going on that DB witnessed or allowed that could have led to harm coming to PB?
Peas Thank you for your question. DB did address it earlier, but BB and KB, go ahead and summarize for our caller.
Alyssa IS DB around to answer that question? Because they weren’t there.
Peas She is not. Let’s go ahead and let BB or KB respond.
KB As far as the activities going on in the house, there were no activities going on in the house besides the basic like watching movies. Doing things sisters and brothers would do. The night before this happened, I was actually over there at the house, due to the three of us were watching a movie and making cookies, just being sisters.
Alyssa I apologize, I cut you off. You were there also the night before the disappearance? You were there also? Is that what you are saying?
KB If I am not mistaken It may have been the night before the night prior to that. Because I have two jobs. But I was there for a couple of hours.
Alyssa Were you there that night? The night before PB went missing, there with DB? Were you there THAT NIGHT?
KB The night before she went missing was the night prior to that. She went missing on Tuesday, so I was more likely there Sunday, now that I think about it.
Peas I think KB has answered your question now. BB and KB, do you find yourselves having to answer the same questions again and again.
KB Yes. The same basic questions about where is she or what do you think happened. If we knew that, we’d know where she was. (sounds like KB starts crying)
Jan (talks about how mind boggling it is to have her disappear) Why did people think she was going to get something to eat from?
KB (Still with tears in her voice) Again, that was something that was told to us. Again, neither myself or DB was there at the time she went missing. The only one who was there was the ex boyfriend, so the initial story is all coming from him. The time frame of her going to sleep, where she was going, all of that comes from him.
Jan Is he helping with the search, or is he low key?
KB He’s low key, I guess. At the same time, DB has been advised not to speak with him because it is an ongoing investigation.
Peas (asks BB what his thoughts about what happened.)
BB As of right now, I haven’t a clue. Only thing I know is that she is not home. I heard a lot of stories. I came there that night and stayed there all night in case she came home. She didn’t. I am not sure who is involved or any of that. I don’t know.
Peas So no speculation. How about you, KB? Do you have a gut feeling about what may have happened that day?
KB My honest feeling is that she trusted whoever she was with. Like She knew them. That’s my honest feeling.
Peas. Thank you for sharing that. She trusted the person. So you think it may be someone she knew.
KB Like they said come with me, and then it went wrong.
Peas Do you have a gut feeling who that might be?
KB No. (hear tears in her voice)
(Minute 58)
Caller Loraine Jones Offers prayers. Asks Do you think the ex-boyfriend has anything to do with it.
KB We honestly do not know.
Loraine Since he was the last person to see her, was that a thought in your mind?
BB Honestly, of course, he was the last person to see her. But there are a lot of people in BM, and a lot of people in the world. If we just focus on one person, we lose site. We need to start from the bottom and investigate everybody. Investigate me. We need to check everybody. I trust LE and that they know what they are doing, even though it has been a long time.
Caller Angel I am not too far from where this happened. Is it possible that she could have walked to a store or anything?
KB the cameras in the surrounding area did not pick her up.
Angel Thank you
Jan Chat room question: did anyone recently move out of the complex?
BB No, not that we know of. We went door to door, and everyone was willing to help. From what I understand, no one had moved out. Everyone in that building was really really helpful. So not to our knowledge.
Caller Grandma Kelly-(friend)- criticizes people calling in and asking questions instead of being full of prayer and support. KB and DB were at work, they can’t know what was going on… (I didn’t transcribe this, it didn’t have factual content, but Peas validated the need to ask questions repeatedly, because sometimes things come out that we didn’t think, but we DO need to listen, and not do false reporting).
Jan reports that chat room folks are sending their support and really grateful for the family coming on to clear up their side.
BB leaves.
Peas reviews the ways people can help.
KB lists many ways people can help.
KB leaves.
Peas wraps things up, with lots of appreciation for the family members who came on.
