Shaniya Laid To Rest; Murder Charges Filed

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Shaniya lived in Fayetteville, N.C.

Thousands from the community gathered with 5-year-old Shaniya Davis' father and extended family to bury the child on Sunday, Nov. 22.

In an evening press conference on Nov. 19, 2009, police announced that Mario Andrette McNeill, 29, is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape of a child in the case.

These charges are in addition to the first-degree kidnapping charges filed on Nov. 13 against McNeill.

Police announced that the cause of death was asphyxiation.

Shaniya's mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, 25, reported her missing just before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Charges were filed against Davis on Saturday, Nov. 14. for human trafficking, child abuse involving prostitution and filing a false police report.

She told police she hadn't seen Shaniya since she put her down on the couch at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Police received a tip on Nov. 13 that Shaniya had been spotted in a hotel in Sanford, N.C.

Surveillance footage from the hotel showed McNeill carrying Shaniya into the hotel at 6:11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 -- more than 40 minutes before she was reported missing.

He stayed about an hour, Capt. Mark Bridgeman of the Fayetteville Police Dept. said.

Tragically, Shaniya's body was discovered on Monday, Nov. 16 around 1:30 p.m. off of Walker Rd. in Sanford, N.C. only about seven miles from a hotel where McNeill and Shaniya were seen in surveillance footage.

Police say they received "reliable information" that the girl may have been dumped there.

Team ADAM was on the ground, assisting with a search.

The medical examiner was able to positively identify the body on Nov. 17.

Mobile Home Park Searched For Missing 5-Year-Old

After Shaniya's mother initially phoned police, they immediately responded and began to search.

In addition to the Fayetteville Police Dept., searchers included K-9 teams, the Fayetteville Fire Dept, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, N.C. Highway Patrol, U.S. Marshals and the FBI.

The Highway Patrol and UNC-Chapel Hill Hospital made resources available for a search by air.

Detectives questioned all friends and relatives in the area, hoping for a lead.

Lt. Sportsman said Shaniya's home, in a Fayetteville, N.C. is in the Sleepy Hollow Mobile Home Park, surrounded by large wooded area.

In a news conference, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine thanked his department, the community, the Shaniya Davis task force and all other entities involved in the search and recovery.

Charges Against Original Suspect Dropped

Police made a quick arrest in the case.

On Thursday, Nov. 12 they arrested a 30-year-old man and charged him with first-degree kidnapping.

He was later released when new evidence surfaced.

Missing Child's Body Found Near Highway