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November 16, 2009 2:13 PM

Shaniya Davis Found Dead; Mother Turned Little Girl Into Sex Slave, Say Police

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

STORY CONTRIBUTED BY CBS AFFILIATE WRAL

NEW YORK (WRAL) The body of missing 5-year-old Shaniya Nicole Davis was recovered Monday afternoon, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine said.

PICTURES: Shaniya Davis Found Dead

The child was first reported missing from her home by her mother last Tuesday morning. On Friday, Mario Andrette McNeill, 29, was charged with first-degree kidnapping, and late Saturday, her mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, 25, was arrested on accusations that she prostituted her daughter.

Fayetteville police scheduled a 2:30 p.m. news conference at the Benhaven Fire and Rescue Department on Barbeque Church Road.

Fayetteville police received a tip Sunday that Shaniya's body was dumped along Walker Road, off N.C. Highway 87, said Theresa Chance, spokeswoman for the Fayetteville Police Department. About 250 law enforcement agents and volunteers searched the area Monday morning, but they moved farther south after noon.

Searchers focused on an area about 6 miles from the last confirmed sighting of Shaniya. She was seen on security video at the Comfort Suites hotel in Sanford, along with a man who police believe is McNeill, last Tuesday morning.

Shaniya's father and aunt appeared on CBS' "Early Show" Monday to beg for the girl's safe return.

"I just ask that, at this time, please just let her go," said Shaniya's aunt, Carey Lockhart-Davis. "She doesn't deserve this. Have a kind heart."

Lockhart and his sister, who live out of state, cared for the girl until last month, when she went to live with her mother. Davis had worked to get her life together and had been working for at least six months and gotten a place of her own, Lockhart said.

Antoinette Davis is scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon. Police said that arrest documents say that she "knowingly provide[d] Shaniya Davis with the intent that she be held in sexual servitude" and she "permit[ted] an act of prostitution."

Lockhart-Davis, who is not related to the girl's mother, recalled happy times with Shaniya, when the girl would come home from school showing off marks for good behavior.

"She's a precious, little angel, full of joy," Lockhart said. "A little reserved when you first meet her, but once she gets to know you, she just runs around, plays and won't leave you alone."

STORY CONTRIBUTED BY 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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shaniya davis ,
bradley lockhart ,
mario andrette mcneill ,
antoinette nicole davis ,
shaniya davis father
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by diamond-1-6-3 November 20, 2009 1:31 PM EST
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES TO SHANIYA DAVIS AND SAY THAT SHE IS IN GODS HANDS NOW.. AND NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE CAN HURT YOU NOW BABY YOUR SAFE AND YOU CAN LIVE FREE AND HAPPY BABY....AS FOR HER MOTHER AND HER GUY ACQUAINTANCE THEY WILL SUFER MAD CONSEQUENCES AND IM NOT TALKING JUST PIRSON TIME IM TALKING ONE ON ONE GOD TIME AND HE IS GOING TO BREAK THEM DOWN SO BAD SO BAD THEY ARE GOING TO WISH THAT THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE WHEN GOD DEALS WITH THEM HE IS NOT ONLY GOING TO REMIND THEM 24/7 HE IS GOING TO SHOW THEM AND MAKE THEM WALK IN HER SHOES..WHAT SHANIYA DAVIS HAD TO GO THROUGH AT ONLY FIVE I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW HURT SHE WAS EVEN THOUGH SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON.. SHE KNEW IN HER HEART THAT SOMTHING WAS NOT RIGHT..WELL BABY GIRL YOU DONT HAVE TO WORRY NO MORE BECAUSE GOD HAS A PLACE FOR YOU. AND YOU CAN HAVE ANY AND EVERY THING YOU WANT..IT'S LIKE BARBIE HEAVEN MADE FOR A VERY BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS LIKE YOURSELF:) BABY YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART.. YOUR STORY HAS TOUCH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND WE ALL CARE FOR YOU AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU BABY OR ALL THE OTHER BABYS THAT IS THERE WITH YOU.. WE LOVE SHANIYA DAVIS AND WHILE YOU ARE UP THERE BABY DO ME A FAVOR...LIVE/LAUGH/LOVE AND ENJOY LIFE..AS IT IS IN HEAVEN...FOREVER YOU WILL BE IN MY HEART I LOVE YOU BABY..REST IN PEACE LITTLE PRINCESS AND MAY YOUR LOVE WATCH OVER ALL OF US AS WE WATCH YOU GROW IN HEAVEN...R.I.P. SHANIYA DAVIS WE LOVE YOU.....:) :) :) :) :)
Reply to this comment
by Talidan November 20, 2009 12:39 PM EST
How about we cut the bullcrap, acting like this girl will stay in our minds for years. This sort of thing is going to happen again and again. Each time, America gasps in horror. "How could this happen?" "Who would be sick enough to do that?"

Quit acting surprised and talking as if you're prayers are going to save the world. Do something more about it if you're so damn concerned, otherwise just cut it out.

There are programs you can join to help people out. Victims of rape, human trafficking, or other seriously traumatic events. Volunteer somewhere and help people. Those who already do, great, you're doing more than most of America.



And to hell with North Carolina. That place is beginning to **** me off. I lived there for 6 months with my girlfriend, and during that time there were 3 bank robberies in the area, several kidnappings, a police standoff about 300 feet away, and a few murders all within 15 miles of where we lived. A pedophile less than a mile from each school in the area, except one. Even a pedophile who lived 100 feet from the house, who happened to be my girlfriend's grandpa. My girlfriend's mom was being raped by him since 3 years old. He doesn't do much of anything anymore except look at child pornography, but he still has control over her mom. The crap he put her mom through has made her mom a little crazy and abusive.

So, I took her away from there. We now live happily together in Washington. She is going to be a vet, and I gave up wanting to be a doctor so I can work hard enough to pay for her to be what she wants.


But the point is if you hate what's going, change it. Or at least help out a bit. And get rid of North Carolina (of course I'm kidding. There are many nice things about the state too).

If anyone has any response to this, please reply via email since I will not be looking back here ever again. Zetalidan@gmail.com
Reply to this comment
by ranman2u November 20, 2009 1:13 AM EST
Rest in Peace our angel. Nobody can hurt you now : (

I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
'cos I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead


And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall

Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

Angels Lyrics
Artist(Band):Robbie Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXVtO7Ol21Y&feature=youtube_gdata
Reply to this comment
by rite777 November 19, 2009 7:25 PM EST
Something just as tragic happened in my family about 30 years ago.My brother and his wife divorced and she became a drug addict and involved with the wrong people. Her new boyfriend was on drugs or something, they both burned "Tony" with cigarettes including groin area of a 5 year old boy. Then drowned him in a bathtub.He survived but was brain dead, he was cared for by California state.He has died a few years back.The people involved rarely thought about him, The boyfriend got 2 years the mother got probation because she was pregnant at the time."Tony" was such a sweet kid,Me and my wife at the time was thinking about raising him along with our own son.Now 30 years later just a distant memory.Don't let this happen to this little girl. There was more to the story about Tony (his real name).Now try and View this Story as if it a play being acted out.The people who were supposed to care for her safety sold her out.As she was being abused and terrorized what was this little lady thinking? The people should be punished for this crime.In this world they'll not get what they deserve. The criminals should be identified ,locked up 23 hours daily. No death sentence , that's too good for them.In some way be reminded what they did to this beautiful, innocent child of God
Reply to this comment
by sue42970 November 19, 2009 6:47 PM EST
Antoinette Davis is pregnant again. I suppose she is one of the people that are allowed to have "uinlimited" kids (on public aid assistance of course) while the healthcare workers get wage cuts, bonuses taken away, etc. because the hospitals are not making enough money (due to charity cases like this one!). I am so tired of this kind of thing and sure wish there was something America could do to resolve these problems. She was a beautiful little girl who had no chance with an AWFUL mother like that. Antoinette Davis, I know for a god-appointed FACT, YOU WILL BURN IN HELL!!!! God rest your soul pretty little Shaniya. So sorry you weren't born to a mommy who would have loved you as you deserved to be. So very very sad. :(
Reply to this comment
by enrapturelj November 19, 2009 12:06 PM EST
Where did they meet? Some crack house? Bet it wasn't the library.
Reply to this comment
by stillunbanable November 19, 2009 11:06 AM EST
"Mother Turned Little Girl Into Sex Slave"

This would not have happened if they were Muslim.
Reply to this comment
by xplorepa November 19, 2009 11:47 PM EST
Yeah they would have strapped a bomb to her
by rrozsa November 19, 2009 10:33 AM EST
I haven't heard what relationship the father had with the mother. Were they married? How long? Did the mother used to be an upstanding citizen and lost her way, or was she already well on the road to ruin when he knew her?
Reply to this comment
by enrapturelj November 19, 2009 11:56 AM EST
She was some one night stand. Sounds like Dad had some poor decision making skills himself. What kind of personal life did he lead that he was out having unprotected sex with some stranger off the street? Nancy Grace has uncovered that she was manufacturing and selling drugs out of her home. Dad needs to keep it in his pants next time.
by enough-already November 19, 2009 10:28 AM EST
by vannuys November 17, 2009 4:05 PM EST
This is why I believe that the federal government should license parenthood before anyone is allowed to bring children into the world.

Had this woman been implanted with a birth control device, this tragedy would not have happened.

If this woman had not given birth to this little girl, then whoever murdered her would most likely have just murdered some other little girl.
Forced birth control is not the answer.
Reply to this comment
by enough-already November 19, 2009 10:23 AM EST
I can't understand why some people have to bring "god" into everything. You really think a "god" had anything to do with this kind of behavior? And if there was a god, wouldn't he put a stop to this kind of thing BEFORE IT HAPPENED?!!!! Wake up, people.
Reply to this comment
by rrozsa November 19, 2009 10:28 AM EST
God wanted people to have a choice in whether to accept him or not - that's why he gave us FREE WILL. As long as men have free will, there will be evil. The little girl is in the hands of God now. The family has my prayers.
by castonesgirl1 November 19, 2009 12:49 PM EST
God is being systematically removed from the equation in America. If America doesn't want God around why would he be inclined to protect America and its citizens?
by Steve1134 November 20, 2009 3:02 PM EST
Well Castonesgirl1....I gather from your oh so Christian answer that your all loving god REALLY only likes Christians. So your all powerful and all loving god decided to take out his wrath upon this little 5 year old girl, because a lot of Americans don't fall for your archaic hocus pocus mumbo jumbo out dated voodoo of a religion.
by Vetzero November 18, 2009 6:59 PM EST
I have a sure fire cure for this problem and it WORKS...but Americans worship sex and vilence in movies and in real life so my method is not even considered...but I guarentee my method works...first time...every time....it ends the deviance once and for all...per criminal...per occurance. Just locking these perverts up won't work as they find ways to get out and before long they are at it again. Time and time again has shown us this but we won't do what is neccessary to put a stop to this deviance once and for all because of cowards who won't take the big steps it takes to implement my method of putting a stop to this destroyer of children and women.
Reply to this comment
by rrozsa November 19, 2009 10:29 AM EST
You never said what your cure is. Are you referring to castration?
by Mamamunchkin November 18, 2009 5:37 AM EST
Can we send these things to the Middle East? Let them experience how they dish out justice there.
Reply to this comment
by mari1963 November 17, 2009 10:59 PM EST
I hope they throw the book at this mother and the man they arrested. There isn't a long enough sentence for either one of them. They are animals. I can't wait to hear from this woman's family plead for her life when her sentence comes down. She doesn't deserve to live.
Reply to this comment
by blessbest November 17, 2009 9:08 PM EST
You know our prison system sucks! To the father who took care of his daughter, my heart goes out to you. To the mother god will handle you. Your family can say you were a good mom, but I can't tell. I hope everyday for the rest of your life, you hear your baby calling your name. I can only imagine when this baby was going thur how she was calling for her mother. And now they are saying she is preg. again. This woman is a ghetto sick chic.
Reply to this comment
by unheard1 November 17, 2009 7:50 PM EST
I just cannot wrap my head around this. I cant see how a mother can do this. As I state that I realize this "mother" was never her mother. She did not raise this child. She had no bond to this beautiful angel. Even still I cannot fathom willing sending any child into the arms of a pervert. Did the mom know that the child was going to be killed? Or did she "just" think she was going to be molested ... and I say that very squimishly...My heart aches for this father. I fully understand where his heart was at. He believed the devil. He was trying to do right by the child and her "mother". In the same situation I probabaly would have done the same thing. I mean honestly how many parents would believe that the father/mother of ur child is capable of this? Even in the darkest of imaginations. His heart was in the right place. So sad that it cost him his daughter. But I hope he can find comfort in knowing that Shaniya will never be hurt again. I have prayed for this little angel .. I prayed that she would be found safe. And she was. Not like we would have hoped, but still shes safe now. The only thing that makes this situation better is to know that it will never happen to her again. We dont always like the way prayers are answered but we always get our answer. Thank God that she will never have this happen to her again. Dont blame God, evil is whats to blame. God brought her home and also opened ours eyes to a problem that many of us either were not aware of or never really thought about until now. I have always said that if either of my children was missing that I would much rather find them dead than to think of them living in a situation where they were being tortured. How many years would this baby have lived like this before it was discovered had the events not happened like they did??? May we never forget Shaniya. Unfortunatly, there are still thousands of Shaniyas still here. Still being molested, still being sold, still being killed. I hope this has opened our eyes. I know it has mine. My heart aches when I think about the pain and confusion of what this baby went through before she was finally delivered from this hell on earth.
Im not trying to turn this into a sermon, sorry. And I know I will be attacked by ppl who do not believe in God. But this is not about religion, black/white, etc... It about a child named Shaniya Davis and all the other Shaniyas still out there. Lets focus on that. What can we do in our own community to help?? Lets not let her death be in vain. Lets not let her memory remain on the side of the road amongst the trash and deer carcasses.
Thank you Shaniya Davis that you have brought to light an evil that we have closed our eyes to. You were an angel on earth and now will forever be an angel in heaven. Mr Lockhart just know that your daughter was a vessel for a larger purpose. It doesnt make it hurt any less I know. But because of your daughter now thousands will be saved.... and a little child shall lead them. Isiah 11:6
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by faboge November 17, 2009 7:11 PM EST
Lets take race out of this! What does race have to do with this sad and horrible situation? If you can tie race to this, then you're whats wrong with us and that should be fixed too!
Reply to this comment
by faboge November 17, 2009 7:02 PM EST
If there was ever a case for torture until death, this is one I would vote for and gladly watch this woman tortured to death! A mother can stop the rain, to any 5 year old little girl and for this woman to do this to her kid!
Reply to this comment
by November 17, 2009 6:28 PM EST
I am a 51 year old single parent and I have an 8 year old Bi-Racial daughter that is the spitting image of Shaniya. I have read all the comments that many leave here and them questioning God, but to really be proactive here is the answer. I sought to volunteer for a children advocacy group that allow you to speak on the behalf of the child. I had enough of people talking. It is time we as a human race take back our children. I hosted my own radio show, had a kids day weekend for children with a proclamation from the city, coached a little league basketball team and never sought anything but to see a child smile. I saw my daughter who I cherish in the face of Shaniya. The poor little angel went willingly for she was so innocent. How many more Shaniya's in the world. I urge all of you to stop talking and start acting. Take backour kids. I know God have his reasons for such tragedies and this tragedy have stirred in me a new hope and it begins with me. I want to end this message with a quote from one of my favorite people, Edmond Burke. " All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. I was active in the group Save The Children in the 80's but over the course of time organizations like that phase out of existence. I ask each of you to Save The Children,it is not about money.. It is your time and from your comments many of you have Hearts of Gold. If we save just one from the same fate as Shaniya this have not been in vain. I know Shaniya is looking down from heaven and smiling from the emotional stir she has caused. I encourage you to get active and productive and you shall see the difference you can make in a child's life, a family life, a community life and how that change affect your life. It takes a village to raise a child.. Let us now become that village.
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by squeakof2006 November 17, 2009 5:40 PM EST
Too bad the mother got her back. This child was alive and well. with a loving father and aunt last month and this month, she's dead. Somehow, I doubt that it's a coincidence. My heart and prayers go out to the father and the aunt in their time of grief. May they get justice for the little girl and if the mother had anything to do with this, may she rot for a very long time before suffering a slow, painful death. If a man did this, may the same happen to him.
Reply to this comment
by heavynne November 17, 2009 5:27 PM EST
First of all, there is something missing from this story. This story is printed with no facts. The mother was working two jobs and had her own place. She was not on drugs, obviously. Drug addicts don't even pretend to work. The police have stated what they believe was going on, but without any facts to back that charge. Something is definitely missing, so people should stop jumping to conclusions. For example, where in this story did they say the mother was a prostitute, drug addict or in such desperate need she had to sell her daughter? The police did not say the little girl was raped, they did not say how she died. Just like a lot of people on here, they have jumped to and printed their own conclusions without any facts to back them. It's obvious that many of you on here have come to your own conclusions also. It's sad that this baby was killed by someone, but the who and the reasoning behind it are at best an opinion until the facts are brought in.
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