Mother of Missing N.C. Girl Charged

5-Year-Old's Whereabouts Still Unknown; Mom Charged with Human Trafficking

(AP)  The mother of a 5-year-old girl who disappeared in central North Carolina was charged Saturday with human trafficking and other offenses, though authorities said they still did not know the girl's whereabouts.

Antoinette Nicole Davis, the mother of Shaniya Davis, faces a child abuse charge involving prostitution as well as filing a false police report, according to a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department. The release did not say whether the charges were related to her daughter's disappearance. Telephone messages left for police were not immediately returned.

An official at the Cumberland County Detention Center said Davis was still being booked and it was unclear whether she had an attorney. Her first court appearance would likely be Monday.

Authorities have said Mario Andrette McNeill admitted to kidnapping the girl, though his attorney says he will plead not guilty to the charge. Surveillance footage showed McNeill carrying Shaniya into a hotel room Tuesday morning, when she was reported missing from a mobile home park.

Shaniya's father, Bradley Lockhart, told The Associated Press he raised his daughter for several years but last month decided to let her stay with her mother. He said Davis struggled financially over the years, but she recently obtained a job and her own place, so Lockhart decided to give her a chance to raise their daughter.

"I should've never let her go over there," he said Saturday night.

Lockhart said police have not told him whether they are any closer to finding his daughter.

"I just want her to come back safe my friend," he said. "I love her very much and I hope she is OK."

He described his relationship with Davis as a "one-night stand" and said he and Davis never argued about him raising Shaniya.

"Shaniya is a precious young lady and she is special," Lockhart said.

[toldyouso21]

Shaniya is a precious young lady and she is special," Lockhart said. "


Hmmmmm...Shaniya is not a young lady, she is a little girl--look at both the mom and dad on this one.

[underdogcity]

[Quote]: "Mario Andrette McNeill admitted to kidnapping the girl, though his attorney says he will plead not guilty to the charge."[End Quote]

He?s possibly just another one of those stereotyped attorneys who would rather seek the limelight, than to seek justice.

The little girl is missing, and if she is still alive, God only knows what she is going through as we speak. Any proven crimes against children should be dealt with as one of the swiftest and severest of all penalties in a court of law.

[nykaren1555]

I want to know more info before I jumped the gun and judge. We have a justice system. That says: Innocent until proven guilty. Keep the integrity in our system by our believes. Matter. A jury will convict her or exonerated her. And the judge will sentence. That's not our place to do so now.

[get_down]

This "mother" - a.k.a. Antoinette Nicole Davis represents nothing but an evil woman. She deserves nothing short of the death penalty. Justice for her daughter needs to be served and pronto! Our law-abiding society will not and cannot tolerate a woman's evil deeds as hers! Amen!

[tbird6740]

It amazes me how ill-informed the public is about human trafficking! It happens all around us! All the time! 17 yr. old Brittany Drexel from New York who went missing in Myrtle Beach, SC was probably abducted and SOLD! Hayleigh Cummings in FL? Probably SOLD! Natalie Holloway? SOLD! It shouldn't be surprising to know that a great deal of the human trafficking takes place at the Mexico-US border! Abductees (of ALL ages and races, sometimes "kidnapped to order" according to the buyers taste), drugs and guns cross back and forth between the US and Mexico all the time! Watch the movie "Trade" starring Kevin Klein, as well as "Taken" starring Liam Neeson.

[renonv5]

by special-agent-utah November 15, 2009 11:51 AM EST
Unbelievable to say the least sick society where a child can't even trust their own parents ...I am moving to an Islamic country like Iran so I could raise my children away from these sickening people of america....via con dios...

Yes, good idea. All they will do to your daughter is female castration, sans anethesia. good luck with that...............

[writer10]

and train her as a suicide bomber or use her as a human shield...what a quaint upbringing...just exactly where is you live that there is no crime, war and hate special agent utah?

[MissMlk]

I blame the Mother. NO Man would taken my daughter anywhere without me. I hope she gets everything comming to her !!! If that man molested her she will have problems dealing with life. THis is waht is wrong with our world to day. Crazy people ..... THey don't have God in their life NO faith that !!!!. If I could get to the mother I would .... no telling what I would do. This is a messed up world... Pray for her safe return. EVERY ONE !!!!

[drthvader]

As inhuman as all this sounds. Someone just informed me that there are cases of "human trafficing" in children everywhere. There are sites on the internet that tell of the sad story of these children. First they are kidnapped. I hope they find this child safe.

[drthvader]

Is there a solid reason "human trafficking" is brought into this. Did the lady sell her daughter or ?. Such a beautiful child and so bright and intelligent looking. Are they sure the people they have seen her with are not trying to help the child in some way? She doesn't look frightened.
I don't know. This thing is vague and they must have reasons to believe these crimes are involved. A one night stand that results in a child is still a child of great value. If you're a praying person, please say one for Shaniya.

[rondivoo]

Hello. The picture of the girl is a studio produced photograph made some time PRIOR to this event... hence she wouldn't "look frightened." Duh ... I am still amazed at comments made by people who read these news stories.... ??

[js555554]

You don't get out much do you drthvader?

[Sodamary]

It's not Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson's fault that this occurred, so you racist bags of trash out there who want to turn this sadness into some type of politically motivated "Obama is the antichrist" sign from God need to get a life. All types of people like this exist in this country as well as in other countries, and they have existed for centuries. They are black, white,Asian, Indian, wealthy, poor, male and female.The breakdown of the family didn't just start in November of 2008. It's been that way for decades. To the rednecks that post on here, do some digging into your own local area's history. There are many sordid but true stories of families just like this, and they arent one race or one class. If you need something more current, check out the story of the Mohler family in rural Missouri. All white men with good old Christian family values, all charged with revolting crimes against children.It goes to show that dehumanizing children is not limited to one race or class. Its sick no matter who does it.
My heart goes out to this family and I hope this beautiful child is found unharmed.

[2012EOD]

Who said Obama is the anti-Christ?

Rev Al. and Jessie need to be there for moral support, and to be men of the cloth, I thought that was their job.

[writer10]

LOLOL!!!! Yeah! That's it! men of the cloth and 'moral' support'...sheep in the cloth is more like it...and moral??? Teeheehee...that's just what I was thinking about Jackson and Sharpton...not.