N.C. student Phylicia Barnes was murdered, say Md. police
(CBS/WJZ/AP) BALTIMORE - Two weeks after her body was found in a river, police say a medical examiner has ruled the death of 16-year-old North Carolina student Phylicia Barnes a homicide.
Barnes, of Monroe, N.C., went missing Dec. 28 while visiting family in Baltimore.
Police worked to keep the search for Barnes in the public's consciousness, but none of the scores of tips they received panned out.
Two weeks ago, workers at the Conowingo Dam spotted Barnes' body in the Susquehanna River dozens of miles from Baltimore.
According to CBS affiliate WJZ, Baltimore and Maryland State Police homicide investigators say they will not release the cause of death so as not to compromise the investigation.
"The investigation is at a sensitive point, a crucial point," Greg Shipley with the Maryland State Police told station. "There is new evidence and information that came as a result of finding her body and so investigators are certainly examining that."
No one has been charged in Barnes' death.
The medical examiner has released the teen's body to her family, who have planned her funeral. The funeral, which will be private, will take place Saturday at Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, Ga.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the crime to call the tips line at 1-855-223-0033.