Fayetteville police investigate allegations Shaniya Davis was used to pay drug debt

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The man charged with killing 5-year-old Shaniya Nicole Davis will get a new lawyer to represent him.

Mario Andrette McNeill, 29, of 2613 Pine Springs Drive, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape of a child and first-degree kidnapping in Shaniya's death.

She was reported missing from her Fayetteville 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.

Fayetteville attorney Allen Rogers represented McNeill during his initial court appearances, but he has withdrawn from the case, saying a public defender could provide McNeill with more resources.

McNeill's next court date is set for Jan. 27.

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."

McNeill and Antoinette Davis are being held in state prisons in Raleigh for their own protection, authorities said.

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Even if you tell your lawyer you are guilty of the crime(s), he or she has the duty to provide you with expert legal advise and to make sure you are represented in the court.

This is the backbone of our judicial system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, beyond the shadow of a doubt, in a court of law.

Look up the move 1956 'The Wrong Man', a true story.

Even recently in NC men were sent to prison even when the prosecution had evidence to prove he was innocent and this info was not presented to the court.

james27613
December 10, 2009 6:12 p.m.

Hopefully, the lawyer's conscience got to him.

Tired of thoughtlessness
December 10, 2009 4:46 p.m.

Could anyone diagram this headline?

CrewMax
December 10, 2009 4:38 p.m.

"Our system works because we try to give everyone a fair trial, no matter how disgusting the crime. Didn't you people learn anything from the Duke LAX guys?"

True. Let's also not forget that a different man was arrested for this same crime prior to McNeil. The charges against him were dropped and he was released, but he'd have already been dead if some of the people here had their way.