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Precious Few Clues: The True Crime Investigation of Kansas City's "Precious Doe" Murder
On an unseasonably warm April evening in 2001, the headless body of a tiny girl was found discarded in a makeshift dump site in the woods on the southeast side of Kansas City, Missouri.
One long night turned into four long years for Sgt. David Bernard and the Kansas City Police Department’s 1020 Squad. They followed 1,500 leads, had a replica of the child’s head sculpted from her skull, and ultimately conducted the single most extensive area canvass in the KCPD's history.
Erica Michelle Marie Green, aka “Precious Doe,” captured the hearts of not only the dedicated detectives who fought tirelessly to identify her and her killer but of an entire community.
PRECIOUS FEW CLUES is a candid and touching account of the painful impact that this brutal murder had on Sgt. Bernard, his family, and the KCPD’s 1020 squad. It chronicles the all too frequent story of child abuse, failed social services, a flawed court system, and battered women who sacrificed their own children to shield their abusive lovers, echoing the same preposterous explanations of “…but I love him.”
One long night turned into four long years for Sgt. David Bernard and the Kansas City Police Department’s 1020 Squad. They followed 1,500 leads, had a replica of the child’s head sculpted from her skull, and ultimately conducted the single most extensive area canvass in the KCPD's history.
Erica Michelle Marie Green, aka “Precious Doe,” captured the hearts of not only the dedicated detectives who fought tirelessly to identify her and her killer but of an entire community.
PRECIOUS FEW CLUES is a candid and touching account of the painful impact that this brutal murder had on Sgt. Bernard, his family, and the KCPD’s 1020 squad. It chronicles the all too frequent story of child abuse, failed social services, a flawed court system, and battered women who sacrificed their own children to shield their abusive lovers, echoing the same preposterous explanations of “…but I love him.”
227 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2023
About the author
Marla Bernard
3 books25 followersA former police sergeant, Marla Bernard is a passionate victim’s rights advocate, writer and public speaker. She received her Masters of Arts with honors from Baker University. She serves as adjunct faculty for a national university where she has written several criminal justice courses. Her work has been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and she is currently writing her second book. Marla and her husband, retired Sgt. David Bernard, reside in Kansas City near the loves of their lives – their two children and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 12, 2023
A well written book that shows how abuse, drugs, social services and different agencies can be so busy blaming everyone but themselves that people, children slip through the cracks between.
Horrifying
Horrifying
June 5, 2023
The writing was atrocious, repetitive and honestly poor in every aspect.
June 17, 2023
Precious Few Clues is the story of a little girl who in April 2001 was found headless and discarded in a makeshift dump site in the woods in Kansas City. She was named Precious Doe and captures the hearts of the community and the dedicated detectives who will fight tirelessly over the next 5 years to bring her killers to justice.
There are hardly any clues, and this book is the touching account of the impact this murder has on the 1020 police squad and their family's as they spend 1,000 of hours following the leads that come in. They also must deal with other cases of children being murdered. The police have a replica of the Childs head from a replica and the crime becomes the single most extensive area canvassed during this time.
Erica Michelle Marie Green is Precious Doe, and this is her story. The book is about the incredibly sad details, and you find out Erica Green’s story as her life unfolds. Eria’s mother Michelle Johnson gave birth in jail and Erica was fostered out at birth until Michelle came out of jail. When Michelle came out of prison, she did not pick up Erica up straight away but moved in with her new boyfriend Harrell who is also on drugs and has two children. Eventually after Michelle picks up Erica the problems begin, and Michelle does nothing.
The book sadly reveals how the frequent story of severe child abuse, failed social service departments who end up blaming each other far too often. The Drug use of the mothers and in many circumstances how they become battered women who neglect her duty as parents and will sacrifice their precious children to shield their lovers, husbands, and partners far too often. There is no excuse for both Harrell and Michelle for what happened to Erica and when I read their letters written in jail I was disgusted and angry.
It is absolutely shocking what this poor child went through without anyone to prevent the abuse and it made me sick to my stomach with the evil that these people subject their children to. This book gives a voice to the children who cannot speak any longer but hopefully brings awareness to prevent the next tragedy somewhere in this world of ours. Thanks to WildBlue Press I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There are hardly any clues, and this book is the touching account of the impact this murder has on the 1020 police squad and their family's as they spend 1,000 of hours following the leads that come in. They also must deal with other cases of children being murdered. The police have a replica of the Childs head from a replica and the crime becomes the single most extensive area canvassed during this time.
Erica Michelle Marie Green is Precious Doe, and this is her story. The book is about the incredibly sad details, and you find out Erica Green’s story as her life unfolds. Eria’s mother Michelle Johnson gave birth in jail and Erica was fostered out at birth until Michelle came out of jail. When Michelle came out of prison, she did not pick up Erica up straight away but moved in with her new boyfriend Harrell who is also on drugs and has two children. Eventually after Michelle picks up Erica the problems begin, and Michelle does nothing.
The book sadly reveals how the frequent story of severe child abuse, failed social service departments who end up blaming each other far too often. The Drug use of the mothers and in many circumstances how they become battered women who neglect her duty as parents and will sacrifice their precious children to shield their lovers, husbands, and partners far too often. There is no excuse for both Harrell and Michelle for what happened to Erica and when I read their letters written in jail I was disgusted and angry.
It is absolutely shocking what this poor child went through without anyone to prevent the abuse and it made me sick to my stomach with the evil that these people subject their children to. This book gives a voice to the children who cannot speak any longer but hopefully brings awareness to prevent the next tragedy somewhere in this world of ours. Thanks to WildBlue Press I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2023
One of the most horrific crimes ever!
Marla Bernard writes about the “Precious Doe” Murder in PRECIOUS FEW CLUES: The True Crime Investigation Of Kansas City’s “Precious Doe” Murder. I am a fan of true crime stories, but this one really broke my heart, especially as being a mother, and having been a survivor of domestic violence. This is the first book written by this author that I've read. The story goes back to 2001, the story of Erica Green, but for most she was referred to as Precious Doe, because when her tiny body was found, she had been decapitated, so she wasn't identified right away. This book was written very well, details about not just the case, the clues, the perpetrators, but how everyone involved in this case was affected. I have heard stories of a broken system, abused children that are reported to social services, but yet, go on being abused. This struck me not just as terrifying and almost screaming how can someone do this to a child? but as a mother and a survivor, who would die first before letting any of my children be harmed. A few days after her body was found, her head was found wrapped in a trash bag! Yes, a trash bag. In 2005, her mother and stepfather were arrested, and in 2008, they were both convicted and sent to prison. This is a case that hit home for a lot of people, especially Sgt. David Bernard, and his wife, the author of this book. PRECIOUS FEW CLUES is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. I look forward to reading many more titles by this author. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
Marla Bernard writes about the “Precious Doe” Murder in PRECIOUS FEW CLUES: The True Crime Investigation Of Kansas City’s “Precious Doe” Murder. I am a fan of true crime stories, but this one really broke my heart, especially as being a mother, and having been a survivor of domestic violence. This is the first book written by this author that I've read. The story goes back to 2001, the story of Erica Green, but for most she was referred to as Precious Doe, because when her tiny body was found, she had been decapitated, so she wasn't identified right away. This book was written very well, details about not just the case, the clues, the perpetrators, but how everyone involved in this case was affected. I have heard stories of a broken system, abused children that are reported to social services, but yet, go on being abused. This struck me not just as terrifying and almost screaming how can someone do this to a child? but as a mother and a survivor, who would die first before letting any of my children be harmed. A few days after her body was found, her head was found wrapped in a trash bag! Yes, a trash bag. In 2005, her mother and stepfather were arrested, and in 2008, they were both convicted and sent to prison. This is a case that hit home for a lot of people, especially Sgt. David Bernard, and his wife, the author of this book. PRECIOUS FEW CLUES is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. I look forward to reading many more titles by this author. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
July 28, 2023
The case of Precious Doe enthralled Kansas City for a very long time. The little girl who was discarded as nothing more than garbage had no name, no family looking for her, and an entire city who wanted to know what happened to her.
The police worked leads, trying to solve the case. It would take a very long time to come to a conclusion, and the ending would be as heartbreaking as the case itself.
A good read, but hard in many places. For parents, this will be a harder read, as we think about our own children. If you are not angry at the mother of this young girl as the story unfolds, you will be as it continues.
The police worked leads, trying to solve the case. It would take a very long time to come to a conclusion, and the ending would be as heartbreaking as the case itself.
A good read, but hard in many places. For parents, this will be a harder read, as we think about our own children. If you are not angry at the mother of this young girl as the story unfolds, you will be as it continues.
April 28, 2024
A tragic story with a somewhat satisfying ending, but it was hard to get there because of all the random tangents and obscure pop-culture references that interrupted the flow of the narrative without adding meaning. It was reassuring to see the outpouring of concern and support for the little girl -- after it was far too late of course. RIP Precious Doe.
May 18, 2023
Such a heartbreaking tales
This book was given to me in exchange for a honest review. And I will be honest when I say it was difficult getting trough the book. It is a heartbreaking case, however the way it is presented makes it a dull read
This book was given to me in exchange for a honest review. And I will be honest when I say it was difficult getting trough the book. It is a heartbreaking case, however the way it is presented makes it a dull read
February 22, 2024
Harrowing
February 12, 2024
This book needs a good editor. There was so much repetition, that I felt like I was reading the same page over and over.
May 29, 2023
This is the story behind the Precious Doe case, which dragged on for four years. It seemed like they would never learn who the little girl was, and who she belonged to, let alone who had murdered her. Learn about the sad details behind her case, and how she ended up in such dire circumstances when she had been in a foster home where she was loved.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews