Shaniya Davis father Bradley Lockhart appeared on the Nancy Grace show last night. He spoke about his life since Shaniya’s horrific death and answered several questions from Nancy. He stated that he is not sure what part of the grieving stage he is in. He also expressed feeling at times as if the entire situation was unreal.
He stated that since Shaniya’s murder, he feels as if he is called to focus on human trafficking and help other children who are victimized through the same crime. It was heartbreaking to watch, and it was apparent that Nancy Grace was close to tears. She commented on how those involved with the case and searched for Shaniya Davis desperately hoped that they would find her alive. She mentioned how grief counselors were called to help those who searched for and found Shaniya’s body.
Shaniya Davis was kidnapped from her home on November 10, 2009. Her body was found six days later. Mario McNeill has been charged with kidnapping, rape, and murder. Shaniya’s mother, Antoinette Davis has been charged with trafficking her daughter for the purpose of sexual servitude. It is not yet known whether murder charges will be added to Shaniya Davis’ mother’s list of crimes.
Shaniya Davis’ funeral was aired live and was an emotionally heart wrenching service. Viewers tuned in worldwide and said good-bye to the beautiful little girl who was gone too soon.
Shaniya Davis investigation causes state of North Carolina to review DSS contact with Antoinette Davis
The Shaniya Davis investigation focuses on contact that DSS had with the slain girl’s family. The little five-year-old went missing from her Fayetteville, North Carolina home on November 10, 2009. Her body was discovered in a wooded area on November 16, 2009. Shaniya Davis had been raped and asphyxiated and Mario McNeill has been charged with her kidnapping, rape, and murder. However, her mother, Antoinette Davis faces charges that she sold her daughter into prostitution. Now, DSS wants to see how they missed signs that Antoinette Davis was an unfit mother.
According to reports, DSs had previously investigated Antoinette Davis regarding her care for her seven year old son. The case was closed and Antoinette was allowed to keep custody of her son. Though DSS officials refuse to comment publicly on the case as it is an ongoing criminal investigation, they have stated that are going to review all DSS contact with Antoinette Davis and will provide those results to the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force. The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force documents child deaths in the state of Florida then makes appropriate recommendations based upon the findings. The information is used to create laws that help protect children.
Though Mario McNeill has been arrested and charged, as well as Shaniya Davis’ mother Antoinette Davis, the investigation continues and authorities continue to follow up on leads in the case. The case will be prosecuted through Cumberland County, North Carolina and authorities are working to ensure that they leave no stone unturned.
Shaniya Davis’ father is scheduled to have a one on one interview with HLN’s Nancy Grace on Monday, November 30, 2009.
The father of Shaniya Davis, Bradley Lockhart was on the Today show and spoke with Meredith Viera. You can see the video in the player below. During the interview, Meredith Viera asked Bradley Lockhart if he noticed any signs in retrospect that would have alerted him to the danger Shaniya Davis was in by staying with her mother. He said that he couldn’t recall any red flags or other indicators that would have shown what grave danger Shaniya Davis was in.
Meredith Viera also asked about Carey Lockhart-Davis impressions regarding Antoinette Davis and whether she had shared her concerns with Bradley. Carey Lockhart-Davis has spoken with the media and stated that she did not feel comfortable with Shaniya moving in with her mother. Bradley Lockhart said that Carey had not shared those concerns with him.
Shaniya Davis was kidnapped on November 10, 2009. Investigators believe that she was raped and murdered the same day, by Mario McNeill. Mario McNeill faces first degree kidnapping, first degree rape of a child, and first degree murder charges. If convicted he faces the death penalty. Mario McNeill is expected to make his next court appearance within a few weeks. Shaniya Davis’ mother, Antoinette Davis remains in jail on human trafficking, child abuse involving prostitution, and filing a false police report charges. There is still a possibility that Antoinette Davis may face additional charges as the investigation continues.
Shaniya Davis was laid to rest on November 22, 2009. You may watch the full video of her funeral service here.
. The service lasted a little more than an hour and was planned to be a coming home celebration for Shaniya, rather than a somber event. It wasn’t to be, however. The service was gripped with raw emotion and pain, one of the most emotional parts occurred when Shaniya’s Aunt Carey (Carey Lockhart-Davis) read a poem that she wrote titled, “My Life with Shaniya.”
When watching the Shaniya Davis funeral video, the poem read by Aunt Carey begins at approximately 39 minutes into the service. The poem recounts the moments that Carey Lockhart spent with her niece, Shaniya Davis. As she read the poem, a beautiful painting of Shaniya depicted as an angel was proudly displayed behind her. The poem contained all of the love and attention that a mother would devote on her own child. Carey Lockhart told of how she watched Shaniya play with other children, helped her learn and recite her alphabet, and even called Shaniya Davis’ father so that she could sing her ABC’s to him. Since the investigation has garnered media attention, it has become apparent that Carey Lockhart served as a mother figure to Shaniya.
Shaniya Davis’ own biological mother, Antoinette Davis is charged with selling her daughter into sex slavery and faces child abuse involving child prostitution along with human trafficking and filing a false police report. Mario McNeill has been arrested for kidnapping Shaniya Davis and taking her to a hotel room. She was raped and murdered, according to authorities, the same day that she was kidnapped, November 10, 2009. Her body was found on November 16, 2009.
Carey Lockhart concluded the poem dedicated to Shaniya Davis by stating that they were each other’s soul mates.
Yesterday, at 3:00 p.m. ET, in a Fayetteville, North Carolina church, Manna Church, the world said goodbye to Shaniya Davis. The five year old girl touched the heart of the nation as her story of betrayal by her mother led to her horrific abuse and death. The Shaniya Davis funeral was open to the public and was standing room only. Streaming live on the Internet, many were able to share their grief and sorrow by paying their final respects to this beautiful angel.
As mourners filled the church, a photo display of Shaniya Davis was streamed on the overhead projector. Never before released photos of Shaniya were displayed. These photos showed Shaniya with her father, Bradley Lockhart and her siblings. As the photos were shown, mourners could be seen attending to Bradley Lockhart and offering their sympathies.
Opening with a song, the Shaniya Davis funeral focused greatly on dependence upon Jesus Christ throughout the difficult time that Shaniya’s family and community face. The service was also a call to action for the community as well. Bradley Lockhart spoke directly to the nation and challenged those viewing to get involved with their communities. He referred to those who have addictions and problems that they cannot overcome and requested that people get involved in assisting those to find the help they need. By doing so, the world would be a safer place and tragedies like Shaniya’s wouldn’t happen again.
The Biblical passage focused upon throughout the service was 2 Corinthians chapter 5. The passage focuses on the body being a temporary dwelling-our earthly tent. Much talk was given to the glorious reunion that would one day occur between Shaniya Davis and her family, as well as all believers in the faith. Prayer was offered for forgiveness, and for strength and comfort to help Shaniya’s family through this tragic and overwhelmingly difficult time.
The funeral for Shaniya Davis has been scheduled for this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The funeral will be open to the public and is expected to draw many mourners who wish to pay their final respects and say good-bye to the little 5-year-old girl who touched the nation with her tragic life.
Shaniya Davis was kidnapped from her home on November 10, 2009. At first, it appeared to be a stranger abduction, but suspicion quickly shifted to Shaniya’s mother, Antoinette Davis. She had stated that she last saw Shaniya sleeping on a sofa at 5:30 a.m. then she suddenly vanished from their trailer in the Sleepy Hollow Mobile Home Park in Fayetteville, North Carolina. There is no doubt that many from the Sleepy Hollow Mobile Home park, as well as authorities in Fayetteville, North Carolina will be present at the Shaniya Davis funeral.
Within several days, Shaniya Davis’ mother, Antoinette Davis’ boyfriend was arrested. He was released the following day after surveillance video showed another man, Mario McNeill, carrying little Shaniya Davis into a hotel room. It was later determined that Mario McNeill had taken the child from her home, with the consent and awareness of Antoinette Davis, for the purpose of sexual servitude. When little Shaniya’s body was found, an autopsy confirmed that she had been raped. Antoinette Davis was arrested on November 14, 2009 for child abuse involving prostitution, filing a false police report, and human trafficking. On November 13, 2009 Mario McNeill was arrested for first-degree kidnapping.
It is possible, as in some situations, for a mother to be temporarily allowed to attend the funeral of her child. There has been no word whether or not Antoinette Davis has requested permission to attend the Shaniya Davis funeral. It might be best, if Antoinette Davis has requested to attend the Shaniya Davis funeral, for her to watch via live stream from her cell. With the allegations against her, her life would undoubtedly be in jeopardy should she attend! It has not been verified, but it is quite possible that Mario McNeill made a detailed confession that led to the arrest of Antoinette Davis, as it has not been stated how police came to charge Antoinette Davis with human trafficking.
Searchers who were looking for Shaniya Davis’ body, stated that there was a tip that had led them to the location where Shaniya’s body was found. It has not publicly been released whether Mario McNeill confessed to leaving Shaniya’s body in the woods off of Highway 87 in Sanford, North Carolina.
The Shaniya Davis funeral is certain to be an emotional-grief stricken time as the public, as well as her family, says good-bye to this precious angel who has gone too soon.
Below you’ll find an archive to information regarding the Shaniya Davis tragedy. The case has horrified and shocked, as well as angered the nation. From the desperate search for Shaniya since she went missing on November 10, 2009 to the stunning allegations that her mother, Antoinette Davis sold her as a sex slave, to the final revelation that Shaniya Davis’ body had been found, the nation has been gripped with the details of this tragedy.
There are no words to describe the utter dismay and horror that a mother would turn away from all maternal instincts and knowingly sell her daughter to be brutally raped and murdered, yet that is what has been alleged against Shaniya Davis’ biological mother, Antoinette Davis. Yesterday, it was revealed that Mario McNeill, an ex-boyfriend of Shaniya Davis’ mother’s sister, had picked up Shaniya from her home on November 10, 2009, before taking her to the Comfort Suites hotel in Sanford, North Carolina.
The news of finding Shaniya Davis’ body hit the nation hard and caused an outpouring of emotion stemming from utter grief to downright anger. Why? Why was this senseless tragedy allowed to occur? Could it have been prevented? These questions will be asked for a long time as the finger of blame is pointed in many directions. How could Shaniya Davis have slipped through the cracks to the point that she was taken by a predator (though Mario McNeill has no prior sexual offenses he is beginning to show signs of being a sexual predator), with the awareness of her mother?
Why did no one intervene when Shaniya Davis disappeared from school for five weeks? How could social services come to the home and leave Shaniya in an environment described as filthy? Why was Mario McNeill given an early release from probation? There may, however, be no greater question that must be answered, than how could a mother sell her own child as a sex slave? Antoinette Davis has been charged with human trafficking, child abuse involving prostitution, and filing a false police report.
A press conference was held this morning regarding the Shaniya Davis investigation. Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine began by sending his condolences to Shaniya Davis’ family and he expressed his sorrow regarding the circumstances of Shaniya’s tragic death.
Though many had expected that new charges would be announced and had waited for the Shaniya Davis press conference since yesterday, listeners were told that the case is complex. Due to the fact that Shaniya was kidnapped from Fayetteville, North Carolina in Cumberland County, and her body was located in Sanford, North Carolina located in Lee County, jurisdiction for the case has yet to be decided.
Chief Tom Bergamine stated that he knew the media had a lot of questions but that unfortunately, the Shaniya Davis case was complex. “This is a very complex case, it spans over Fayetteville, counties, and several jurisdictions.” He also stated that the case is an ongoing investigation regarding multiple law enforcement organizations and jurisdictions.
“Several of the details regarding the investigation will have a direct impact upon which county will assume jurisdiction.” Chief Tom Bergamine said today. Chief Bergamine also stated that the district attorneys from each county are currently discussing which county will prosecute the Shaniya Davis case. Once that decision is made, additional charges will be filed. Chief Bergamine also said that until the time of jurisdiction is decided, the Fayetteville Police Department will continue to work diligently bringing the guilty parties to justice.
Chief Bergamine also thanked the multiple agencies that worked tirelessly on the Shaniya Davis case. The results of the autopsy will not be in for nearly a week and it is unclear whether those results will be made public to the media.
Shaniya Davis’ mother, Antoinette Davis faces charges of human trafficking, child abuse involving prostitution, and filing a false police report. Mario McNeil, the ex-boyfriend of Antoinette Davis’ sister, has been charged with first degree kidnapping for taking Shaniya Davis.
On November 17, 2009, the father and aunt of Shaniya Davis held a press conference and spoke with the media. Bradley Lockhart is Shaniya Davis’ father and Carey Lockhart Davis is her aunt. The two stood behind microphones and addressed the country. Bradley spoke first and then Carey stepped up to the microphone.
Bradley Lockhart began the conference by stating that he was humbled and extended his gratitude and appreciation to those who had prayed for Shaniya’s safe return. While Bradley Lockhart spoke, his sister, Carrie Lockhart Davis was visibly upset and took several deep breaths as if to maintain her composure. Bradley Lockhart stated that his heart bleeds, hopes, and prays that the community and country can come together in unity to prevent another horrific tragedy as the fate that befell his daughter, Shaniya Davis.
Bradley Lockhart asked the nation to be vigilant in reporting child abuse and neglect and to not hesitate to contact authorities when a child appears to be in danger. Calling Shaniya his special angel, Bradley Lockhart thanked the volunteers who devoted time, energy, and man power into searching for Shaniya. He said that their great efforts would not go unnoticed by God.
Bradley Lockhart extended a special thanks to all of the authorities that searched for Shaniya, including the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited children. Though he thanked the groups for bringing Shaniya home, he stated that it was not the result that he wanted; nor was it what any father or family would want for their children. He stated that God has a greater calling for all of us and said that he hoped the Joy of the Lord would fill each heart.
When asked about information given him from police regarding Shaniya’s killer, he chose not to answer the question and said that he has been given limited information. He did say that he is appalled and disgusted by the allegations against Antoinette Davis. He also said that he was not aware whether or not social services were involved with Shaniya Davis and her mother, Antoinette Davis.
Bradley Lockhart spoke greatly of forgiveness and said that he believed God would give him the strength to forgive. When asked of a good memory of Shaniya, or a special moment or day that resonates in his heart, he replied that every day with Shaniya was a beautiful day. He was asked what he would say to Shaniyah if she were looking down from heaven at him. He stated, “Sorry baby, that you have to do this but you’re in a better place, you’re in better hands. You don’t have to hurt no more.” It was after those words, that Bradley began to become visibly upset. He raised his hand to the media, signaling that he has had enough questions.
The 911 call made by Antoinette Davis, one week ago today, were released. Antoinette Davis called 911 to report her daughter, Shaniya Davis, had been kidnapped on November 10, 2009.
Today, police state that those calls were faked and that Antoinette Davis not only knew where her daughter was, but had pimped her daughter out for sex. Antoinette Davis sounded sincere and was crying during her call to 911, but according to authorities, it was all an act.
You can listen to the video player below and hear the 911 call that was made.
Here is a transcript of the call:
ANTIONETTE DAVIS: I woke up this morning and my daughter was not in the house. I don’t know if she walked out or I don’t know what’s going on but she’s not here.
911 OPERATOR: How old is your daughter?
ANTIONETTE DAVIS: She’s five.
911 OPERATOR: Five?
ANTIONETTE DAVIS: Yes, ma’am.
911 OPERATOR: Ok, what time did you wake up? When did you last see her?
ANTIONETTE DAVIS: I saw her at 5:30 last night.
911 OPERATOR: 5:30 last night, is that when you put her to bed?
ANTIONETTE DAVIS: Yes, ma’am. No, when she went back to bed
911 OPERATOR: That was 5 this morning, is that what you’re telling me?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: Yes ma’am.
911 OPERATOR: Ok, were there any doors open or anything like that?
ANTIONETTE: She knows how to unlock the front door.
911 OPERATOR: What is her name?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: Shaniya Davis.
(spells out the name)
911 OPERATOR: Is she white, black or Hispanic?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: She’s mixed. She’s bi-racial.
911: What was she wearing?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: She’s wearing just a blue, big old blue shirt with designs on the front, but her hair is out.
911 OPERATOR: Did she have on any pants?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: No, she didn’t take no shoes, no pants, no nothing.
911 OPERATOR: Did she have on underwear?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: Yes ma’am.
911 OPERATOR: Do you know what color?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: They’re white and they’ve got pink…I guess, I can’t really remember. They’re like white with pink designs on them.
911 OPERATOR: You said none of the doors were open?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: No ma’am they were locked, but she knows how to unlock the front door.
911 OPERATOR: Was it closed this morning?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: Yes ma’am.
911 OPERATOR: You say that was around 5:30?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: Yes ma’am.
911 OPERATOR: Have you checked the neighborhood?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: I’ve checked everywhere. I haven’t checked the back end of the neighborhood yet, but I’ve checked the front end. I’m just…I don’t know what else to do, I’m so…I don’t know what else to do.
911 OPERATOR: Are there any more juveniles inside the home?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: There’s my son, but he’s here.
911 OPERATOR: And your door was not unlocked, that’s what you’re telling me?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: No it was not unlocked, but I’m telling you she knows how to unlock it. I’m hoping that she didn’t unlock it and walk out.
911 OPERATOR: What’s the number you’re calling me from ma’am?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: It’s my cell number.
911 OPERATOR: We’ve already got your call in we’re going to get someone out. You said her hair was out?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: Yeah, just like a bushy afro.
911 OPERATOR: How much does she weigh, do you know?
ANTOINETTE DAVIS: I don’t know ma’am, I don’t remember.
Shaniya Davis father Bradley Lockhart appeared on the Nancy Grace show last night. He spoke about his life since Shaniya’s horrific death and answered several questions from Nancy. He stated that he is not sure what part of the grieving stage he is in. He also expressed feeling at times as if the entire situation was unreal.
