Muskogee couple appears in a Kansas City courtroom charged with the death of their daughter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The mother and stepfather from Muskogee accused of beheading the woman's daughter made their first appearance Tuesday in a Kansas City, Missouri, courtroom.<br/><br/>A judge

Tuesday, May 10th 2005, 11:06 am

By: News On 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The mother and stepfather from Muskogee accused of beheading the woman's daughter made their first appearance Tuesday in a Kansas City, Missouri, courtroom.

A judge entered innocent pleas for Michelle Johnson and Harrell Johnson on murder charges in the death of Erica Green. The girl was known only as Precious Doe until last Thursday when a man provided a tip allowing police to identify her and arrest the Johnsons in Muskogee.

Erica Green was nearly 4 when her headless body was found in Kansas City in April 2001. Her head was found several days later, wrapped in a trash bag nearby.

Police say Harrell Johnson admitted he was under the influence of alcohol and PCP when he became angry with Erica when she refused to go to bed. Investigators say he told them he grabbed the girl, kicked her and threw her to the ground, leaving her unconscious.