Mystery solved
The week's news at a glance.
Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City police have uncovered the identity of a murdered 4-year-old girl who had been known as Precious Doe since her headless body was found in 2001. Her real name was Erica Michelle Marie Green. Acting on a tip, police last week charged the girl’s mother and stepfather in her death. Her stepfather, Harrell Johnson, admitted to kicking and throwing the child during a drug-fueled rage when she refused to go to sleep. Johnson said that after she died he severed her head with garden shears. Billy Stegall, a retired postal worker who discovered some of the remains, had returned to the site regularly to pray. “I just asked the Lord to say who she is so she could be at peace,” Stegall said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom
speed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
US Supreme Court to tackle gun rights for casual drug users
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Justices are preparing to dive back into the choppy waters of the Second Amendment as the White House pushes to penalize recreational narcotic users
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment
Speed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland