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November 11, 2009 10:57 AM

5-Year-Old Shaniya Davis Missing; Foul Play Suspected

Posted by Sammy Rose Saltzman
(Family Photo/WRAL-TV)
Family Photo: Shaniya Davis.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WRAL) Cumberland County authorities say foul play is suspected in the disappearance of Shaniya Nicole Davis. The 5-year-old girl went missing from her home in Fayetteville, N.C. Tuesday morning.

PICTURES: Shaniya Davis Found Dead

An Amber Alert was initiated for Shaniya just before noon, Lt. David Sportsman said.

Police responded to the home around 6:50 a.m., and Shaniya's mother told officers that she last saw her daughter at 5:30 a.m. The mother’s boyfriend and her sister, along with an infant and Shaniya's 7-year-old brother were also in the home when the girl went missing.

“There is definitely something not right about the situation. Foul play is suspected,” Fayetteville police spokeswoman Theresa Chance said Tuesday evening.

It is unclear how the child left the home.

PICTURES: Shaniya Davis Found Dead

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November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Found Dead; Mother Turned Little Girl Into Sex Slave, Say Police
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November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Found Dead; Mother Turned Little Girl Into Sex Slave, Say Police
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Not Found: Cops Fear Missing Child is Dead, Search Focuses on Body
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis: Missing 5-Year-Old Seen in Horrifying Hotel Video
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Missing: Mother Arrested for Human Trafficking, Putting Daughter in "Sexual Servitude"
November 11, 2009 - 5-Year-Old Shaniya Davis Missing; Foul Play Suspected
"The circumstances surrounding her disappearance are very odd. A 5-year-old usually... [is] not awake at 5:30 a.m. normally, and they just wouldn't leave their home," Chance said. "If she would have wandered out of her home, she would be around here somewhere."

Chance said the family has a history with the Department of Social Services.

"There have been major DSS issues with this family – who has custody, switching back and forth," Chance said.

Chance said it's unknown whether the child's disappearance is related to those issues. Police said Shaniya's father flew in from out of state Tuesday afternoon and was talking to investigators.

VIDEO COURTESY OF CBS AFFILIATE WRAL

"We're treating this as a child in danger, with the information we have," Chance said.

Chance said police have been called to the home before. This summer, officers served a search warrant at the home and found a variety of drugs inside.

The family was not allowed inside the home Tuesday evening after it was deemed a health hazard due to extensive sewage leaks, authorities said.
Police K-9s, firefighters and sheriff's deputies searched the area throughout the day Tuesday.

“We are searching for her and hoping to find her alive, but we just don't know at this point,” Chance said.

Chance noted that search dogs did not pick up Shaniya's scent, which they would have if the child was wandering around outside.

Shaniya is described as 3 feet tall and 40 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt with pink underwear. She is thin and has a scar on her foot.

Fayetteville police say three registered sex offenders live in the neighborhood. Chance said the offenders, along with everyone else in the neighborhood, have been interviewed.

The sex offenders are not considered suspects, Chance said.

Anyone with information is urged to call Fayetteville police at 910-433-1856.

MORE AT CBS AFFILIATE WRAL

MEDIA
PICTURES: Shaniya Davis Found Dead

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
November 17, 2009 - Antoinette Davis, Mom Accused of Selling Shaniya Davis as Sex Slave, is Pregnant Again
November 17, 2009 - Shaniya Davis, Fallen "Angel" Remembered In Pictures
November 16, 2009 - Mario Andrette McNeill: Things May Get Much Worse for Man Charged With Kidnapping Shaniya Davis
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Found Dead; Mother Turned Little Girl Into Sex Slave, Say Police
November 16, 2009 - Bradley Lockhart, Shaniya Davis' Father, Pled For Girl's Return in Vain
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Found Dead; Mother Turned Little Girl Into Sex Slave, Say Police
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Not Found: Cops Fear Missing Child is Dead, Search Focuses on Body
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis: Missing 5-Year-Old Seen in Horrifying Hotel Video
November 16, 2009 - Shaniya Davis Missing: Mother Arrested for Human Trafficking, Putting Daughter in "Sexual Servitude"
November 11, 2009 - 5-Year-Old Shaniya Davis Missing; Foul Play Suspected

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Add a Comment See all 13 Comments
by aberdeennc November 18, 2009 1:28 AM EST
SHANIYA


Dear Jesus, please comfort Shaniya.
I pray she knows she was too young to die yet.
Shaniya was only five, tiny years old.
Had she even lost her first tooth?
I shudder to realize how violently she lost her youth.

Incredibly beautiful and absolutely innocent.
Did she dream of cheerleading or becoming a pianist?
What fabulous things might have happened for Shaniya?
Please ensure she knows, we so didn't want her to be gone yet.

God, by now you have welcomed Shaniya into your Heavenly Home.
Not once will she be mistreated; Never again will she be alone.
I pray you bless and comfort Shaniya's folks, especially her Daddy.
Please give him and others the peace
You promise that surpasses all understanding.

Dear Jesus, please comfort sweet Shaniya.
It's hard to believe she's really gone. She didn't HAVE to die yet.
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by rurbu214 November 16, 2009 9:03 PM EST
I watch Nancy Grace all the time, I know, I know, she has her umm moments, but it amazes me every day the horrible things that are happening in our country. I cant even fathum what happened to Shaniya Davis. It is worst thing I have ever heard. I cant understand how someone can do this to their own daughter. I dont understand how someone can do this to anyone. It breaks my heart her life was ended so soon and in a such a brutal disgusting way. Im honestly in tears over this. A mother selling her to child to pimp. Sending her baby to her death by some sick pervert that had the state of mind to bring a diaper because he knew what would happen after the child died and didnt want to make a mess. I cant believe i even just wrote that. I wish I could have done something, i wish i could be holding her right now, i wish i could have saved her. i wish humanity wasnt so cruel.
Reply to this comment
by ellbrinson November 16, 2009 7:44 PM EST
Shaniya Davis has been found dead roadside in her hometown of Fayetville, NC. Despite the combined efforts of State and National Law Enforcement and Media. Let this be a reminder to us all that a force greater than and more destuctive than any of us is alive and breathing in this Nation that force destroyed the life of a innocent child today this Nation must destroy that force.
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by ellbrinson November 14, 2009 2:55 AM EST
More news. The second Kidnapper has been booked and jailed but still no sign of where she's at. What's up with India, France and Human Trafficing. Johnny Depp lives in France and starred in the Sleepyhollow Movie. The kid lived on Sleepy Hollow lane. The latest guy booked reminds me of a Black Johnny Depp in someway.....I did a search engine on Child kidnapping and taken to Hotel and something came up about India and France and trafficing. Evidently someone tried to fly a plane out of a 100 kids sometime back and when caught they said they were Orphans.
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by ellbrinson November 13, 2009 6:32 PM EST
I agree with the latest posts but now I don't really know what to think. I'm glad I was right about it being a young black male. Actually two to date but now I'm amiss. I was looking at arials of the geography around the Trailer Park and had even picked up on something that was an area of high interest but just after I located this I got the report that she was driven 40 miles away to Sanford. Oddly enough after viewing the images from the Hotel my sense of Urgency lifted. If you look at how comfortable she feels with Mario (or whatever his name is) she appears to be completely relaxed and she's awake. If this guy was a molicous Killer he would probably have knocked her out of brought her in in a Duffle bag. At worse raped and or killed her and left her there. He holds her in such a way that he demonstrates how precious she is to him. Like a Princess or precious commodity. Notice how she has her left hand upon his shoulder. It signals relationship. Trust. Honor not fear. It's as if she is controling him. The other thing is how large she appears against this guy. He must be rather small. I mean she's 5 years old and only ways 40lbs. Also his mug shot is well if you notice the the slight gleem and surety in his right eye as well as how he has his tongue compressed over his bottom teeth which gives a Copenhagen Chewing Tobacco effect. It's kind of like Hootie from Hootie and the Blow Fish. There was a lady in a Rehab in Greenville, NC that was teaching this exercise as part of one of her therapy sessions but no one ever really understood why. I don't think either of these gentlemen had Rape or Molestation charges. What does concern me is is if she was handed off what is the destination? I can't lie...Human Trafficking did cross my mind.
But I agree with all that the Mother has something to do with this the reason why remains to be seen. In contrast to my initial prediction. I think she is alive but what concerns me is the amount of time they are taking to make contact. The more time that passes the greater the risk that she will not be found. We are not getting anything on this end (WNC) that there has been further contact. I was at Wal-mart in Asheville earlier today and perhaps I am just hypo sensitive to her plot right now but I was picking up her energy there several times. Mountain People are smarter than you think they are. It was as if any second I was going to turn around and see her or Mario(?) would walk out of the bathroom and I would walk in and she would be waiting right there just like I asked. I hope she turns up soon. To the person that has her if you read this. A phone call would make it easier on everyone. She needs clean clothing and a warm place to stay and you both will need food and shelter. Perhaps there are anonymous tip lines you can call to help with this. The most important issue at this time is her safety and your own. Verifying she is alive will help everyone and open the bargaining table to get both your needs met. People care. Hospitals and the like can be drop off points. Catholic Churches are often always open. Asheville has a few incredible ones such as St. Lawrence Basilica. Doors are open from 7 am to 7 pm New York and Washington have them as well. No questions asked.She's a 5 year old girl and regardless of how much good you think you are or are not doing right now if you get caught with her she'll end up just like you found her or worse. Hang Tough. Lori, Asheville, NC
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by sugahma November 13, 2009 9:53 AM EST
I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE ONES THAT WERE IN THE HOME WHEN SHE WENT MISSING. THE WAY THINGS ARE IN THESE DAYS AND TIMES MOTHERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE DOING AWAY WITH THEIR OWN FLESH N BLOOD. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW UNTIL ITS TWO LATE. SO SO SAD
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by get_down November 13, 2009 9:09 AM EST
Hummm, as this story evolves, more and more puzzling events become known. I believe that the mother - a.k.a. Antoinette Davis has a lot of explaining to do. Personally I don't believe it's a normal child kidnapping case at all! The NCDSS might need to take a closer and deeper look into the missing girl's living environment and make a final decision for the child's long-term safety and interest as well!
Reply to this comment
by ellbrinson November 12, 2009 8:32 PM EST
You know for whatever the reason I feel a Kindred to this child. So much so that I sent two emails to our local Chief of Police here in Asheville,NC. Odd things. Like a small pink knit flower that I have had for some time. I searched for it yesterday and found it in a box of children's type toys. There are other things. I was moved to look at a house on Tuesday in the rain. It was a Victorian and has a Window Bench just like the one in the photograph and the flower resemebles the flowers on top of her dress. Then there's this. On Tuesday. I got the Ambert Alert on my MySpace page. I mean I know this is a common thing possibly but I ordered Sleepy Hollow from Netflix before Halloween they sent it last Friday. I was really upset because it was the wrong sleepy hollow. It was sitting in my mailbox outside of my apartment waiting to be picked up when I got that alert on MySpace. What else. The Rocking chair though not white matches one that belonged to my Grandmother that sits in my Living room. The flowers though not white match a small bouguet of pink and lavender ones I have for Crafting. There also came up an issue with a Red Balloon this is a personal signal from My Sister and I. She was killed in December of 1982 tragically because she ran her bicycle out into the path of a Construction truck. She was 7 at the time. I think there's more and since then I continue to talk to whoever has her and attempt to ask him to let her go. I had some kind of Psychic agreement with whatever it was s to just leave her in a Bathroom in a well populated place and no questions but I guess that was just silliness. I also feel like I have been connected with her twice or more yesterday but not today. I've had this condition for several years and I am diagnosed with a DSM diagnosis but many as such are mediums or have psychic abilities.
What I see is a Black male possibly younger that has her and in all honesty I don't think they are going to find her alive now. I said that before and then Spirit did something that made me believe otherwise but the facts are the facts. I also sense child abuse but that also could be inacurate. I would love to connect with her family and let them skim my Facebook and MySpace accounts to see they see anything that would support any of the commanalities I have been feeling. There is a very large community of believers that are on constant guard in situations such as this but what concerns me with this are the physical signs in my life that happened before hand. In the past there have been things such as Deja Vue and in a Murder case a few years back I was actually Privy to the Victim the Christmas before she was killed.
Now if I could just learn the ability to harvest and or harness it all to discern before hand to prevent such situations in the first place. It's the toughest part when then happens for me because I feel and hear Spirit trying to show me something but my gift is not just not there to understand what is happening....Wow....My TV just went off by itself. Earlie today my Computer mysteriously cut off....come on damnit someone is playing with us all.
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by slaaer November 12, 2009 6:45 PM EST
Some of you people need to stop reading into this so much. The father has nothing to do with what happen. If you actually reasearched alil more then you would have found there is a custody battle,meaning father an mother are fighting for rights. yes i know the child i know the father,People need to quite making assumptions because we have no idea what has happened to her an we pray she returns home safely. An to the person stating the parents being a pillar of the community i cant say about her but him i will he served this country very well an as a civilian he still does his part to protect our rights an freedoms. If some of the people who love talking this up so much would put as much effort into the rescue of her an the protection of our children this WOULD NOT HAPPEN. Wake up people all talk an no action will not change things. Get up off your ass an be a part of your local community make it better whatever it takes just dont sit around talking about this an that. DO IT. Ok after reading this i have realized anger has gotten the best of me so i will leave with this. Put Shaniya in your prayers an if not wish for a safe return home to her father.
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by I_am_me1953 November 12, 2009 8:07 AM EST
From the above article, "...There have been major DSS issues with this family ? who has custody, switching back and forth...police have been called to the home before. This summer, officers served a search warrant at the home and found a variety of drugs inside.

The family was not allowed inside the home Tuesday evening after it was deemed a health hazard due to extensive sewage leaks, authorities said."


_____________________________

They sound like such pillars of the community and upright worthy parents don't they. I do hope the little girl is found safe and unharmed, but I seriously doubt it. If she has been murdered, does NC have the death penalty? I am usually not a big proponent for the death sentence, but I may make an exception in this case.
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by unheard1 November 12, 2009 12:03 AM EST
This is a beautiful little girl. I pray that she is found alive and well. We have heard about so much tragedy in the news lately and it would be wonderful for a positive outcome for a change. Unfortunatley, we now live in a world where childrens lives have little or no value. Tougher laws are needed to protect our children. Instead of punishing the parents who discipline their children as opposed to abusing them lets punish the abusers instead of letting them off with a slap on the wrist. Sometimes "the family unit" is not in the best interest of the child. The "alledged" criminal has more rights than the victim. Something drastic needs to happen in this country to protect the children. They are the helpless victims of cowards. And we, the neighbors and school officials, co workers ..etc.. are becoming cowards too. Too cowardly to get involved. Because we know that getting involved may end up with us in jail or being sued.. And thats because thats what our laws are encouraging us to do.
When i was growing up the neighborhood got involved. If I got in trouble at the neighbors house, I got in trouble at home. If a neighbor was struggling people helped and if the kids were being hit on you would get a visit from some neighbors about that too. But the law wasnt called. There was no "alledged" wrongdoer. But that is what we call "vigilante justice" now because we have to be politically correct instead of protecting and helping one another. Lets start looking out for our children again. Lets get involved and protect the children.
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by us_1776 November 11, 2009 4:26 PM EST
First hunch: my money's on the boyfriend. It's usually the least biologically connected person that commits these crimes.
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by MystikOne November 11, 2009 5:14 PM EST
Have you seen any news lately? Biological parents seem to be just as likely as any one else. Sad huh?
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