Shaniya Davis' cause of death has been determined to be asphyxiation. She was essentially strangled. Two people have been arrested in the crime including, horrifically, her mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, 25. Davis was arrested last Saturday on accusations of human trafficking, filing a false police report, and felony child abuse with respect to Shaniya, whom police say was rented out as a sex slave by her mother.
Also arrested was Mario Andrette McNeill, 29, who was initially charged with first-degree kidnapping. Police said surveillance footage from a Sanford Comfort Suites hotel showed McNeill carrying Shaniya there. The autopsy, besides confirming a Shaniya Davis' cause of death, also confirmed that Shaniya Davis had been raped, so the charges of first degree murder, and rape of a child charges have been added.
Bradley Lockhart, Shaniya Davis' father today appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show. He told Oprah that the girl's mother trafficked the child to pay off a drug debt.
While police were clear that Shaniya Davis' cauae of death was asphyxiation, the toxicology results have not been returned yet. Police were also quick to point out that the investigation into her death continues. Meanwhile, it has been decided that the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
Posted November 20th, 2009 by Michael Santo
