Shaniya : The grim story of a child sex slave

For almost an entire week, North Carolina had the entire nation holding its breath, with prayer that missing 5 year old child Shaniya Nicole Davis would be found alive and well after her mother Antoinette Davis reported her missing November 10th.

But it was confirmed seven days later, the reality of what police uncovered was far worse than anyone could have imagined.

Investigators report that Shaniya Davis’ mother, 25 year old Antoinette Davis sold her daughter into sexual slavery and that the innocent little girl is dead.

The mother was arrested Saturday and charged her with human trafficking, but even then police say she offered no help in finding her baby.

Then Monday, Shaniya’s lifeless body was found by rescue workers in a wooded area near a highway in Sanford, N.C. (a small town 40 minutes south west of Raleigh and 30 miles from Shaniya Davis’ Fayetteville trailer park home.) the child’s remains were buried amid a thick tangle of brush, downed branches and trees.

The girl’s father, Bradley Lockhart, said he had a one-night stand with Antoinette Davis and mostly brought up their daughter before letting Davis take care of her.

A month later, Shaniya Davis was dead, her body dumped off a rural road and her mother accused of selling her for sex.

He was on CBS’ The Early Show on Monday pleaing for his daughter’s life saying “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,” he said. “She’s a precious, little angel, full of joy … 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.”

Hours later, Shaniya Davis was found dead.

“Lord, I come to you with open arms and it is hard. It is hard,” Lockhart said Monday night as he stood among a crowd of about 500 gathered in a store parking lot for a vigil. “Don’t give up on me and don’t give up on Shaniya. She’s right there with you.”

Davis struggled financially over the years, but she recently got a job and her own place, so Lockhart said he decided to give her a chance with their daughter.

“I should’ve never let her go over there,” he said Saturday night.

Mario Andrette McNeill, 29, has been charged with kidnapping the girl. He was seen on video surveillance carrying Shaniya Davis down the hallway of the Comfort Suites hotel in Sanford on the same day the girl was reported missing. A hotel worker called police, but by the time they had arrived McNeill and Shaniya Davis were gone.

McNeill eventually turned himself in, but refused to help officers find Shaniya Davis. Police claim he admitted to the kidnapping, but his attorney, Allen Rogers, says he will plead not guilty. Interesting.

The relationship between McNeill and Antoinette Davis is not yet clear, although Antoinette Davis’ aunt, Leona Cromartie, told the The Fay Observer on Sunday that she had met McNeill before. She also said that Antoinette Davis is pregnant.

Fayetteville police have not yet said if they will add murder charges for McNeill and Antoinette Davis nor if there are any other suspects in the case.

To View More Pictures of Shaniya Click Here

Nearly a week after mother Antoinette Davis reporting her daughter missing, she is officially charged with human trafficking and felony child abuse.