Prosecutor to seek death penalty in "Precious Doe" case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri prosecutor Mike Sanders says he will seek the death penalty against Harrell Johnson, who is charged with beheading his 3-year-old stepdaughter.

Johnson, who is from Muskogee, Oklahoma, had originally been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Erica Michelle Green, who was known for four years as Precious Doe.

But that charge was upgraded in August to first-degree murder, opening the door for the death penalty.

Johnson and his wife, Michelle-M-Johnson, who is also from Muskogee, were arrested May 5th when Kansas City police followed up on a tip from a family member linking them to Erica's death.

Erica was almost four when her body was found in a Kansas City park in 2001. Her head was discovered in a trash bag nearby.