Fayetteville police continue to probe child's death

Fayetteville, N.C. — Fayetteville police continue to follow up on leads in the death of 5-year-old Shaniya Nicole Davis, Chief Tom Bergamine said Wednesday.

The child was reported missing from her home on Nov. 10. Her body was found in a patch of kudzu off a rural road near the Lee-Harnett County line six days later.

She died of asphyxiation, according to preliminary autopsy results.

Mario Andrette McNeill, 29, of 2613 Pine Springs Drive, has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape of a child and first-degree kidnapping in the case. Police have characterized him as a family acquaintance.

Shaniya's mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, 25, has been charged with human trafficking, felony child abuse–prostitution, filing a false police report and obstructing a police investigation. Arrest warrants state that Davis "did knowingly provide Shaniya with the intent that she be held in sexual servitude" and "did permit an act of prostitution with Shaniya."

Bergamine wouldn’t comment on whether more charges will be filed.

“We just have to see where the investigation takes us,” Bergamine said.

Bergamine said counselors have been brought in to help the department deal with the tragedy of Shaniya’s death and the murder-suicide of a local family earlier this month.

Police said Billy Maxwell Jr., 47, killed his family at 314 West Park Drive on Nov. 2. The victims included his wife, Kathryn Maxwell, 43, daughter Connor Maxwell, 17, and son Cameron Maxwell, 15.

Billy Maxwell was suffering from mental illness, according to Rev. John Cook, pastor of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church.

18 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 18 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

I was surprised when I heard this morning on other local news that Shaquille O'Neal paid for Shaniya's funeral. He said he felt touched by her story.

itsmyownopinion
November 26, 2009 8:07 a.m.

I think Davis's "boyfriend" is guilty in this as well, how could he not know what was going on.

justafella
November 25, 2009 5:30 p.m.

The investigators should continue to track all possible leads since I am almost positive that there were others involved with abusing the child.

What bothers me is reading that there is only one charge of prostitution on Shaniya, to that I say, Baloney!

There had to be other men and women involved hurting Shaniya and those are the people that need to be investigated, apprehended and charged.

airbornemonty
November 25, 2009 5:22 p.m.

to mewvvbb - You site the failings of the mother, the DSS, the killer (devil) and others but make no mention of the so-called Dad. Each time I see him on TV, I think "If you hadn't handed that baby over and then left town, none of this would have happened."

Is it correct that he has 8 kids with 4 different women, none of whom live with him??????? Some one told me that.

Brogden
November 25, 2009 5:18 p.m.

to don't-b-a-hater

This story was largelyy about the stress the Fayetteville PD has had this month dealing first with the Maxwell case and then the Davis case. Two very difficult, very heart wrenching cases in such a short period for one PD to deal with.

That's why the Maxwell's were mentioned.

Brogden
November 25, 2009 5:16 p.m.