Posted on Fri, May. 13, 2005





Precious Doe case sparks fraud inquiry

By LAURA BAUER

The Kansas City Star


Two states are investigating Michelle Johnson for welfare fraud, a week after she was charged in the death of her daughter known in Kansas City as Precious Doe.

Welfare officials in Missouri and Oklahoma confirmed Thursday that their states recently opened investigations on Johnson. Officials would not say exactly what they are investigating.

“It appears there may have been welfare fraud,” said Dustin Pyeatt, spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. “The investigation was brought about by the recent media attention in this case.”

Johnson also was receiving welfare benefits in Illinois, according to Kansas City police.

It is not known if Johnson received benefits from more than one state at the same time or which of her children received assistance. Because there isn't a nationwide database for welfare cases, a state would not know if a person is receiving benefits elsewhere.

Michelle and Harrell Johnson were charged May 5 with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Erica Green.

The 3-year-old girl's headless body was found April 28, 2001, in a wooded area near 59th Street and Kensington Avenue. The girl was known as Precious Doe until her identity was learned last week.

Lawanda Driskell, who was renting the Kansas City home four years ago where police say Erica was killed, said Michelle and Harrell Johnson came to her house in April 2001. She said they offered to pay her $300 cash and $200 in food stamps to live there.

A tipster told authorities last year that one of Johnson's children may have been the child whose decapitated body was found in Kansas City four years ago.

Police contacted a Missouri social services investigator, who discovered that Michelle Johnson was receiving welfare benefits for Erica and another child at an address in Aurora, Ill.

If the investigator was correct, that would mean Johnson was receiving Illinois welfare benefits for Erica three years after her 2001 death.

Because Johnson was receiving Illinois welfare benefits for Erica, local authorities stopped pursuing last year's lead in the Precious Doe case, thinking they had accounted for all of her children.

Illinois officials on Thursday would not confirm whether Johnson had ever received welfare there and would not say whether they were investigating Johnson.

Tom Green, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Human Services, said Thursday that state law prohibited him from talking about specific cases or investigations.

“Illinois officials are aware of the situation, I can tell you that,” Green said.

Denise Cross, family support division director with Missouri's Division of Social Services, said she could not disclose any details about Johnson's assistance.

Recent Missouri records show Johnson was not currently receiving benefits.

In Missouri, someone receiving benefits must show proof of residency such as an electric bill or other documentation with the local address on it. If receiving welfare in the name of a child, the person must produce a birth certificate and Social Security card.

“If there was anything questionable, we may do more verification,” Cross said.

But if there weren't any red flags in the application process, and all the necessary proof of residence and children was provided, the case would proceed, she said.




this world just gets sicker by the minute

to kill a child is one thing, to CUT OFF YOUR BABIES HEAD - or to help do it is another, but to MAKE MONEY off your poor baby that you have taken the very life from that you GAVE her to begin with ....


this is a sick, sick bitch !!!!
[Edited 5/13/05 9:20am]

"You have to get a license to drive a car, but they let anyone be a parent."

Nothinbutjoy said:

and a fishing license, a hunting license, a business license...

its never ending...

but fuck and create life that YOU are in charge of their destiny - anybody can do

its heartbreaking.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Actually, we let anyone have a baby. Being a parent takes a whole lot more. This story does not surprise me in the least. Low life slugs like this are a dime a dozen these days. If it were my decision, I'd take her and her man out back and put a bullet in each of them. I wouldn't waste one more dollar on them.

kisscamille said:

im not usually for the death sentence... but in this case, i have had to rethink my stand.

nakedpianoplayer said:

What's truly sad is this will happen again. Fact is, there are too many people in this world with no common sense, morals or decency. There's no law against stupid people having children, and it's the children who suffer. Let these two morons suffer like that little angel did. If there is a God, they will roast for eternity.

nakedpianoplayer said:

I'm not for the death sentence either. I truly believe in CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT. I would take both of them and cut their heads off with a hedgeclipper, just like they did their daughter. If they die because of this, so be it.

M

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

i feel the same way....

it makes me sad that scum like this can shake what i thought i believed in. but, i just cant see any other way to deal with these 'people'. they are beyond help and will never be 'right', the only option is to pay for them to live forever in prison - or get rid of them for good.

i say one meal bought for them is to many....

We were talking about this last night. The last check she has recieved was as late as last week!! LAST WEEK!! I have no words for this...

kisscamille said:

If you have a baby, you are the parent to that baby whether you act like it or not. Being a GOOD parent takes a whole lot more.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Satan is truly busy these days.....and it seems children are his target.

Number23 said:

Do you want to Cruely and unusually punish me? Bring it on....


M