Shaniya Davis' Aunt Lashes Out at System

(CBS/AP)  A day after laying Shaniya Davis to rest, the 5-year-old girl's aunt blasted the justice system for providing her alleged rapist and murderer with a better quality of life than many Americans have.

"We have a lot of people … [who have] lost their jobs, who don't have health care, even children that are in homes don't get three square meals a day. But this man sits with guards protecting him, he's receiving free medical, free meals," Carey Lockhart-Davis said on CBS' "The Early Show" Monday.

Mario McNeill has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape of a child. Authorities say Davis was strangled to death.

The 29-year-old McNeill was charged previously with kidnapping, with authorities saying he took Davis from her Fayetteville home. Her body was found Monday in thick underbrush off a rural North Carolina road after searchers spent nearly a week looking for her.

The girl's mother, Antoinette Davis, is charged with trafficking her daughter and child abuse involving prostitution.

More coverage of the Shaniya Davis case from Crimsider:

Shaniya Davis: "Angel" Found Dead
Vigils for Shaniya Davis
Aunt Says Antoinette Davis Was "Neglectful"
Antoinette Davis Pregnant Again

On Sunday, family members gathered for an emotional funeral service that even drew hundreds of strangers from around the country. A visibly distraught Lockhart-Davis, who helped raise Shaniya with the girl's father, Bradley Lockhart, said the experience has been "overwhelming."

"I spent a lot of special times with Shaniya and it's heartbreaking."

Lockhart-Davis said she's had to take down pictures of her niece because the reminders are too difficult for her and her family to bear.

"My children don't want to be home because that's an emptiness in here without her laughter."

Lockhart-Davis said she's "agitated" that McNeill, who is in custody under suicide watch, is now under state care.

"It disgusts me," she told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "It bothers me a lot. And that's something I just don't understand."

[Mina910]

I've been totally engulfed by this case since first learning of it. I am at a total loss of words about the carelessness surrounding the rearing of this beautiful child. For the last 3 weeks, I've listened to the father maintain he had no idea that her mother was unfit, and at the same time, portraying himself to be the poster father. The same father who had not spoken with his child since she went to live with the supposedly "fit" mother. The clear message I've gotten out of all this is that every adult involved with this child failed her. They all failed to provide an environment that was conducive to her well being, and ultimately, resulted in her demise. The blood of this beautiful child not only rests on the hands of the mother and this Mario character, but her father, her teachers, the child services department of NC, and any other adult who failed to take any type of action to prevent anything like this from happening.

[Humble7]

This is such a tragic case because Shaniya Davis an innocent child was failed by so many adults who were responsible for her safety, health and welfare. Several of the comments posted accurately captured the fact that this child should have had responsible adults who would not make a decision based on feelings but who should have taken the time to thoroughly investigate what was truly in the best interest of this beautiful innocent child. I am perplexed by the fact that the responsible adults who cared for her the first 4+ years of her life would leave her in the care of her mom whom they attested to the fact that they did not know anything about her personal life choices which should have prompted some sort of concern to establish consistent visitation on a consistent and regular basis. It is unimaginable that I could part from a child whom I loved and cared for daily without knowing for certain she was in a good home with caring adults. These past few days as I listen carefully to the responsible adults who my heart goes out to because I know they must be in terrible pain, grief and loss but one question that is troubling to me is why didn't either one of these adults continue to visit this child in person to ensure that her needs were being met and to let this child know that they missed and loved her. This may not have prevented this tragedy but we will never know if just one visit could have saved this innocent child. In closing, in the coming months there is going to be a lot of information that will be revealed to answer some of these disturbing questions but there will be a lot of questions that will not and can not be answered because Shaniya has transitioned from this earthly realm and the adults involved in this case will never reveal all of the facts leading up to her death. It is my hopes that this case will be one that helps us all put systems in place to prevent another child from becoming a victim.

[meganmahoney10]

Shaniya was a beautiful little girl. She reminded me a lot of my cousin Kiona, she also had died but no one would furthur investigate because she was a black baby. But to make the long story short, her mother gave her to the father and the father gave her to his parents and they had custody of her. Well he came over to watch her and invited his friends over "supposably" and wasn't paying any attention to her and she got out of the house and walked out the back yard and of the little bank into the water and drownded. the story gets better..... the mother had an older boy before this but he has some kind of disease im not so sure about but she wanted nothing to do with him so she gave him to the father. Well then along comes my cousin. he gets involved with her for one night and what do you know she gets pregnant so he does the right thing and stays with her and tries to help her out. well she eventually has Daunte. He is such a sweetheart! after she has him she disides that she doesn't want him, just like all of her other kids. Well my cousin didn't really like her in the first place so he's fine with the situation and gives little daunte to his parent. So my uncle and aunt have had him for three years now and for the past two and a half years we all have been battling custody for him because the mother all of a sudden finds out that my cousin gets back with his high school sweetheart and is jealous so she wants to get back at him for lwaving her so she is trying to take daunte away from my aunt and uncle. so this whole time we have been battling for custody the cout/gouvernment/state whatever you wanna call them say that grandparents have no rights and that all they have done these past three years is just a good deed. Just recently the mother has married a child abuser and had another kid with him. this guy's mother is also a child abuser so she is not allowed to be around any kids even her grand kids. but even though all of this is going on the juge is wanting to give daunte back to his "birth mother". She isn't really a mother because she has NEVER been around and she wouldn't even be able to know that he needs to have his blanky turned a certain way before he drinks his bottle. This just isn't right and we need help to do something about it. We have hired private investigators, spent TONS AND TONS of money but nothing seems to work. i think just to get the word out about his story would maybe help because of shaniya. Her story could also help too. If anyone has any suggestions or anything or anyone they know of that could possible help at all just a little you can contact me at [e-mail]. My name is megan mahoney and i would be very glad to talk to you =]

[enrapturelj]

I agree, the father bears a lot of responsibility in this for his extremely poor judgement. He seems to have exibited poor judgement a lot. First when he had unprotected sex with some crack ho he just met. What was HE doing that put him in a position to meet her in the first place? And it does seem that the aunt and he seemed to be unburdening themselves of her in that he never bothered to check up on her situation or even go inside the place to look at where his child would be living. His daughter said that he KNEW the mother was on cocaine yet he let her go there anyway. Now he's all upset and his sister is mad that the killer gets free health coverage and she doesn't. That sure sounds like concern for Shaniya. There were NO competant adults in this child's life.

[unheard1]

poor judgement call yes... i agree .. responsible for what happened ..no

[enrapturelj]

Responsible in that he was neglectful in properly checking up on the Mom BEFORE placing the child with her and for failing to closely monitor the situation as the mother was already KNOWN to be on drugs. She had JUST got raided a few WEEKS earlier and drugs were found and evidence of DRUG MANUFACTURING!!! I think the ONLY reason she asked for the child in the first place is so that she could use her to pay off her drug debt. I think the whole sex slave thing was premeditated. I don't think she knew the kid would end up dead, but the situation was already spinning out of control so she couldn't reasonably expect a good outcome.

[dronemonk]

The USA has become a zero-sum game. That's why off handed cruelty is the norm in our floundering culture. The end is nigh, repent!

[venicementor]

highhorse313 - "Damned if you do damned if you don't". I bet, highhorse313, if an issue had come up where the father had not given the child to the mother, you would first in line to then persecute the father for being "racist" or whatever for not giving the child to a mother who had "changed her way". You just want to be contrary and blame someone else for a choice that a mother (I use the term loosely), a child rapist/murderer made. Leave the father alone and please get off your high horse. The stupidity of most people is astounding. What ever happened to the educational system in this country?

[highhorse313]

You ignorant fool! You obviously don't think the father should have at least checked on his child during the weeks that she lived there? You are what's wrong with this country. You want to conveniently disregard the facts which are this father did not bother to check on his daughter after he turned her over to the mother. He didn't check on her, you idiot! Yes, he should be damned for NEGLECT of his daughter.

[valopinion]

The rapist/murderer of Shaniya was out on bond waiting trial for shooting three people, one of them in the face. Our justice system is incredibly broken. He should not have been out of jail in the first friggen place.

[jsf14]

If so the problem was letting a dangerous person out on bond. I don't think the US Constitution (or any other law) demands that. But the Constitution does insist that those in control of the government be treated humanely.

[highhorse313]

Why didn't the father check on the daughter once in the weeks she lived with her mother? Let him answer that one. I wouldn't let my dog live in that run down trailer with a questionable mother. He did not value this child or he would have checked on her. The facts don't lie. He can say God did this but that is to alleviate his own guilt for neglecting his duty as a parent. He did not check on this child to see how she was living and now she is dead. The facts are not pretty but they remain the facts.

[unheard1]

who says he didnt have contact with his daughter.. i think he was working out of town which is another reason he decided to allow the mom to "be a mom" ... and i may be wrong on that. But, whose to say he didnt call to check on her. She couldnt tell him anything on the phone. Im sure mommy of the year stood over her like a hawk to monitor that conversation. And at 5 yrs old it wouldnt take much to intimidate her and scare her into not saying anything. If she cried on the phone to her dad maybe he thought she missed him. Maybe if he was out of town he couldnt quit his job and return home.
He obviously did have contact with the mother. He didnt just after 4 years take her to a complete stranger. He believed her and thought she was trying to do right and get on her feet. I think that says a lot about him. He didnt look down on her. He realized sometimes we all have to start over and she was doing the best she could for that moment. He realized that the most important thing for Shaniya would be for her to have her momma... her aunt may have helped raise her .. but she was not her mother. Not all mothers who live in run down trailers are bad moms ... just like not all mothers in big brick homes are good mothers .. Im not defending the mother, she deserves everything thats coming to her. But he is carrying enough guilt right now without everyone blaming him for his daughters death. Do u really think he hasnt already told himself the same exact things. He didnt kill his daughter. Sorry, not trying to sound like Im attacking u .. I just dont believe in my heart that he took care of this child for 4 years and then just dumped her off at her mothers and never looked back. He was decieved. Honest mistake that had very severe consequences.

[highhorse313]

The facts of the case may not please you but they remain the facts of the case. He did not check on the welfare of his child in the weeks she lived with her biological mother. He is guilty of neglect if nothing else.

[Suzee123]

My heart just breaks for Bradley, Carey and all their family. The devastation you must feel cannot be put into words. Whatever the details are, there is no need to point fingers. As normal, healthy parents, we all do the best we can for our children -- As they are truly an extension of ourselves. Clearly, you felt it was in your daughter's best interest to have her mother in her life. That's what truly makes me so sad, you were trying to do the right thing for your daughter ... We all take chances every day, based on the information we have and our instincts. I am so very sorry for your loss. I will wait for justice to be served.

Carey, I heard you speak on the 'Early Show' this morning, and your words brought me to tears. I agree 100% with you; yes I understand the criminal has some basic rights, but something is very wrong in our society. Along with the murderer @ Fort Hood - who is paying for this medical expenses - present and future??? Is he or his family responsible for any of these expenses? There's just no accountability for one's actions. No financial or social consequences for anyone in the criminal's life. If the family had some consequences (besides injury to the values a normal family has) maybe that'd take more interest in the behavoirs of the children they brought into this world are ARE responsible for.....

[highhorse313]

Oh yes, these people are crying now at every opportunity they can capitalize on! There is a book deal in the makings for these hams. How dare this father and aunt cry now after this beautiful child is dead? Why didn't they check on Shaniya once in the weeks she was living in a filthy trailer and being molested? Why didn't they check to make sure she was attending pre-school? They are rotten to the core. I say throw all of them in jail! Not one person was looking out for Shaniya in the last weeks of her life!

[mypatch]

What would we have them do? Take him out in the woods and shoot him in the head?
He has the right to do process of the law. That's what he's getting. Now if we don't like it then we must try to change it. anyone for lobbying in Washington on this?

[Suzee123]

My heart just breaks for Bradley, Carey and all their family. The devastation you must feel cannot be put into words. Whatever the details are, there is no need to point fingers. As normal, healthy parents, we all do the best we can for our children -- As they are truly an extension of ourselves. Clearly, you felt it was in your daughter's best interest to have her mother in her life. That's what truly makes me so sad, you were trying to do the right thing for your daughter ... We all take chances every day, based on the information we have and our instincts. I am so very sorry for your loss. I will wait for justice to be served.

Carey, I heard you speak on the 'Early Show' this morning, and your words brought me to tears. I agree 100% with you; yes I understand the criminal has some basic rights, but something is very wrong in our society. Along with the murderer @ Fort Hood - who is paying for this medical expenses - present and future??? Is he or his family responsible for any of these expenses? There's just no accountability for one's actions. No financial or social consequences for anyone in the criminal's life. If the family had some consequences (besides injury to the values a normal family has) maybe that'd take more interest in the behavoirs of the children they brought into this world are ARE responsible for.....