Missing N.C. Honor Student Case Baffles Md. Police

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The growing frustration on the lack of progress in finding missing teenager Phylicia Barnes has Baltimore City Police lashing out at the national media.  It's been 22 days since the honor student vanished while visiting family in Baltimore.

Mike Hellgren has new information from tests done at the FBI lab.

Police have gone on network and cable newscasts saying because Barnes is black, the case has not gotten widespread national attention and they desperately need it because they believe she may have been taken against her will across state lines and is in grave danger right now.

Someone knows what happened to Barnes.  Despite an exhaustive investigation, police haven't turned up a shred of evidence and they're pushing for national exposure and getting it.

"This is Baltimore's Natalee Holloway case," said Commissioner Fred Bealefeld.

Police are also getting some blame from Barnes' mother, who spoke to CNN.

"The first 48 hours were crucial and they were ignored from my perspective, from a mother's point of view," said Janice Sallis.

"I know that it's frustrating and when it's frustrating and there are no answers, you look for answers and places to place blame.  It's natural," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

And there really are no answers yet.

The teenager, who's from North Carolina, was visiting her sister's apartment behind Reisterstown Road Plaza when she disappeared.

"My phone still has all the text messages and things from Phylicia," said Kelly Barnes.  "Now if you step back and look at it differently, you may find a new clue."

Police served several search warrants, and FBI crime lab tests on possible evidence revealed no signs of a struggle and no blood.  Among the items the FBI tested was carpet from the basement apartment where Barnes was last seen alive.

Police ruled out she was a runaway and are leaning toward the theory she was abducted.

"We are doing everything we can to bring attention and to put the resources in place to help locate Phylicia Barnes," Rawlings-Blake said.

If the national media didn't catch on quickly enough, regular folks have posted their own videos online.  They're hoping against odds that grow longer with each day, someone will see something that could bring Barnes home.

If you know anything, please call police.