Dad, Aunt Plead for Safety of "Angel"

(CBS/ AP)  Searchers returned Monday to a wide area in south-central North Carolina to look for Shaniya Davis, whose mother reported her missing from a Fayetteville mobile home park Nov. 10. Authorities say they went to the area over the weekend based on a tip.

Capt. Charles Kimble of the Fayetteville Police Department said several agencies spent the day looking for signs of Shaniya between Spring Lake and Sanford, which are about 25 miles apart.

A surveillance camera recorded the man charged in the girl's kidnapping carrying her into a hotel room in Sanford, about 30 miles away.

Police arrested Shaniya's mother Sunday and charged 25-year-old Antoinette Davis with human trafficking, felony child abuse involving prostitution and filing a false police report.

Shaniya's father, Bradley Lockhart, had raised her for four years with help from his sister, Carey Lockhart-Davis, who had been like a mother-figure for Shaniya. But Lockhard gave Shaniya to the girl's mother because, he says, she had a job, seemed more stable and told him she wanted the role of Shaniya's mom.

On "The Early Show" Monday, Lockhart and Lockhart-Davis said they're trying to stay optimistic that Shaniya will be safely returned.

"I've been feeling hopeful every day," Lockhart told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez, "that someone out there would do the right thing and take my daughter somewhere to a hospital, police station, just anywhere safe, drop her off at Wal-Mart, anywhere, I don't care. Just so somebody can find her and bring her back to the people that love her."

An emotional Lockhart-Davis said, "I just want you to bring her back. She's an amazing, breathtaking individual. She has a calendar at school, and when you're good, your daily calendar, you get a little blue mark on it. And, every day, she came home with a blue mark. And she would walk in the door and she'd say, 'Aunt Carrie, I got another blue mark, I got another blue mark!' And then she'd get her treat and we'd go out back and we'd play and -- she was smart. And just so happy and full of joy. And I just ask that, at this time, please just let her go. She doesn't deserve this. Have a kind heart."

Lockhart said, when he heard of the accusations against Antoinette Davis, he felt totally numb. "Just everything inside of you falls out," Lockhart said. "You just lose all train of thought. Reaction is none. You just -- you just hope for the best."

He admitted he had some reservations about giving Shaniya back to her mother but, "She had been trying, and I know that she had been working for at least six months, and she had been trying to get her life back on track, and she said she had just recently got her own place. So I was wanting to give her a chance. She had asked if she could be a mother, and I felt that she was sincere in asking. And I figured to give her a chance."

[butterflync]

I was driving to pick up my 2 sweet and wonderful kids from school when I heard this horrible news. I felt a horrible knot in my stomach, and immediately felt like I could vomit. No no no, I could hear myself saying aloud...no no no please no. I had so much hope that this little angel would be found and returned to her Daddy. How?? Why??? Just so many unanswered questions. As a North Carolinian, I am sure that this had just begun, and we will go through the discovery of evidence, the indictment, the trial and the sentencing of the despicable animals responsible. But we will never ever experience even a fraction of the disbelieve, heartache and pain that the Dad, Aunt and family of this innocent child feel. Everyone must keep them in their thoughts and prayers right now. I feel for them that they can make it through this horrible day, and all the days to follow without their precious angel. Hopefully justice will be served and bring them some sense of peace in the end.

[baileytee]

To whomever did this to this perfect little angel---your final resting place is warmed up for you. You've got the perfect spot right next to the beast that you serve. I hope hell welcomes you with gasoline pants on.

To the family, if you are reading this, please put your faith in God and rest well. She's playing in Heaven now and no more harm can come to her.

[booboo1423]

i'm very sorry for that child why it shouln't of been look at before now someone should have kept in check with her specialli the father maybe this would of been prevented because the girl would of told him what were going on i feel for the suffeerng of that kid how she died, also i had a cousin from the samr area got killed same age only she wer kidnapped the same way but the guy took her body ad ran over her repeatly 6 times she were same exact color looks identical as shaynaia and they killed her mom in bed cut and stabbed her 21 times and the baby boy were left in the crib until 6 hours plus12 hrs befor they were found i hope he rot in prison as her mther and guy burn in pure hell its a disgrace god is going to get you fr sure for messin with his angel rest on baby god love you best my heart is heavy on today because their is people out her that want kids and can't have none to kill a pretty kid itss heart stompin i hope they hang a noose round their neck let them suffer too... i love kids i have grown ones and i raise the real grat to see someone hurt kids my heart is cryin for all the ones going trough this sex he shouuld of found a prostitute to have sex with instead a 5 yr old kid they is a sicko.. die to hope that get you burn you up sick dog that what you'll are.

[run2jazz2]

This is so sad! How can anyone think of this little angel in this manner? I tell you, there are those in our society who see children as sexual objects and these sick, low-life trash should receive the highest form of punishment which to me is death. I am a Christian and it saddens me to say this, but this little girl has done nothing to anyone in her lifetime and did not deserve this! She trusted that her Mother would be there to protect her, not sell her as an object of someone's preverted pleasure. Precious little angel, you are with GOD now and nothing else matters as you are in Heaven. Go and play with the other little angels for eternity is yours.

[cochrantwins]

Sadly, the body of this young defenseless child has been found.
All parties should be punished to the maximum allowed by law.

[solosuzie]

they've discovered the body. shaniya's body. i can only hope that when this mother goes to jail that the women/prisoners make her life a living hell for what she's done to her child.

[sallychicago]

I wish the father had an intuitive thought at the time and maybe he should have let the mother have "visitation" with the daughter instead of handing her over to the mother. Surely, there was some legal procedure or document that allowed him to take care of her, to be her guardian.

He will never rest for the rest of his life if some harm was done to the child.
The mother should be strung up and burned at the stake. Sorry, but the mother is not human.

[momof5atl]

As a mother of 5 and a decent human being, I am so tired of hearing stories of children being abused. When will we as a society deside to make a priority of protecting our children? We spend so much time and publicity fighting over issues (insurance, economy, etc.) but there is not enough focus on protecting innocent children. This is hearbreaking and I can't stand to think about what has happened to that baby. May God bless and protect her.

[AvidReader80202]

I'm so sick of seeing these innocent, beautiful children hurt by their own parents! The very people who should want to protect these babies against all evil! Why have children?? They are so defenseless... YOU WILL BURN MS DAVIS! YOU ANIMAL! Shaniya you are an angel... RIP sweetheart... RIP and I pray that God sent a team of His finest angels to confort dad and auntie and all of those who loved you. RIP

[grmav]

I cannot and will not imagine anyone ever hurting a child in any way, BUT...people who intentionally do MUST BE STOPPED!! Iam a grandmother of 4, a mother of 2, and referred to as momma by many.
So, I say bring back MARSHAL LAW and show these LOW-LIFE OXYGEN STEALER's that they are NOT WANTED !!

[AmberlovesBilly]

I agree if this was in Texas the mom would be spending life in prison.If anything happens to this little girl they should seek the death penalty. They also should seek the dealth penalty in the Caleigh Anthony murder trial. It is not okay to let people like this live and breathe fresh air