Murder Mystery: Who Killed "Baby Bones"

It was March 18, 2005 in Upper Freehold, New Jersey when an individual hunting came across a shocking discovery 50 feet into a wooded area off of route 526. A further search by law enforcement of the area revealed a skull, lower jaw, teeth, a small black sneaker and other bones of a young girl. Law Enforcement working the case believe that whoever killed the young girl was not from the area. The site where she was found is just miles from Interstate 195 and the Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park. Police noted that if the perpetrator(s) responsible for her murder had gone fifty feet further they would have found a swamp that would have made discovery of the body more difficult. They theorize that an accelerant was used to burn the young girl's body and cover up the crime. Other clues left behind included a burnt handbag with a print of the cartoon character Sylvester the Cat. A Medical Examiner noted that the deceased child had a broken rib that was in the process of being healed. Her teeth had no dental decay or real dental work done. As a result, Police theorize that due to this finding it is likely that the young girl lived in an area where fluoride water was accessible and was most likely from an urban area.

The murder victim's height is estimated to be between 3'0 to 4'2 feet height. Her weight could have been between twenty-five and seventy-five pounds pounds. She is believed to be between the ages of five and nine years old and although her race has not been confirmed, her facial structure suggests that she is of African ancestry. Examination of the bones revealed no physical trauma, however, most DNA evidence was damaged because her body was lit on fire.

The Detectives working on her case have named her, "Baby Bones" and she was even featured on a segment on "America's Most Wanted" on March 14, 2009. Despite this publicity her identity is still unknown. Despite this, Alonzo Washington feels her case can still be solved.

Washington knows quite a bit about unidentified murdered children. He was instrumental in helping to solve the cold case murder of three-year-old "Precious Doe". She had been found decapitated in a wooded area in Kansas City on April 28, 2001. Many in the inner city community were horrified about the viciousness of the crime. Washington and a group of supporters worked hard to make sure her case received local and national attention.

"Murdered and missing black children don't receive the same amount of national press that some white children such as Natalie Holloway or Elizabeth Smart receive," Washington said. "To combat this I took out ads in urban newspapers and paid for ads that were placed on taxi cabs."

Soon enough an older gentleman in Oklahoma saw an ad in a Kansas City Newspaper and recognized the girl as being his possible granddaughter. Washington passed the information over to Kansas City Law Enforcement and the girl identified was Erica Green in 2005. Michelle Green and Harrell Johnson were arrested; the mother and stepfather of the child. Green had died after Johnson had kicked her in the head. Both he and Michelle Green left the young girl to die as they denied her medical help for several hours. After Erica's death, Johnson severed her head with hedge clippers and both of them discarded her body in the wooded area behind a church. Michelle Green was given a twenty-five year sentence for her role in the murder. Her husband was given a life term behind bars without any possibility of parole though in court he denied ever committing the murder. Washington admitted that when he finally saw the mother of "Precious Doe", he was surprised. He had seen her before at early prayer vigils for the young murder victim.

As a result of the murder of "Precious Doe", Washington became a criminal justice activist. He has used much of his own money and time to help solve local cases. He blogs about Kansas City area cases on his website and organizes rallies and vigils. It is the plight of missing black children that trouble Washington the most.

"Jahi Turner, Alexis Patterson, Rilya Wilson, Diamond and Tionda Bradley are all young black children that I'm trying to find," Washington stated. "But I help every victim of crime regardless of what their racial background is."

In one case, he arranged to have a wanted murder suspect turn himself into law enforcement. Washington also helped solve a 2005 murder of an Iraqi War Veteran named Jeffrey Dunham. In that particular case a tipster approached him with information pertaining to the homicide. Washington did his own research and was able to locate a witness of that murder. For his fulltime profession, the married father of six sons and one daughter is a comic book maker. Through his business he also makes cards of missing black children. Washington believes that it is very possible to solve the identity and death of "Baby Bones" and has some advice for law enforcement working the case.

"Create a national media campaign around the slain child's case. Also force the community to embrace the child. Organize prayer vigils, marches & ads for tips around her case. Increase the reward in the case. Never let her story die."

If you have any information about the identity and homicide of "Baby Bones" please contact the New Jersey State Police at 1-800-709-7090. To view Alonzo Washington's blog site please visit www.myspace.com/alonzo_washington