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Shaniya Davis: Family Photo |
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A funeral for Shaniya Davis has been scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 22, 2009 at Manna Church located at 5117 Cliffdale Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The funeral will be open to the public.
Though we are located in Tampa, Florida many here have been deeply touched and saddened by the Shaniya Davis story. I spoke with several people today to get their reaction to the case, as well as the horrific charges that face both Shaniya Davis’ mother, Antoinette Davis and Mario McNeill. Florida is no stranger to child abduction and abuse cases, and those whom I spoke with were genuinely saddened and grieved. Some expressed downright anger and a few put blame on Shaniya’s father, something that hasn’t been vocalized in the media.
When speaking with Tony Barnett of Riverview, he said that he simply couldn’t understand how a grown man could view a child in a sexual way. He felt that Mario McNeil deserved the death penalty, and stated, “He should be put into a cell here in Tampa and let the inmates at him, they’ll show him a thing or two about rape.”
I spoke with Maria Rivera, who is a mother of four and lives in Gibsonton. She put the majority of the blame on the father. She expressed that though Mario McNeill is the one who committed the act, and Antoinette Davis allegedly sold her daughter, it was Shaniya Davis’ father’s responsibility to keep her safe. She said, “When it comes to the safety of your kids, there are no second chances.” She continued, “Apparently, Antoinette Davis couldn’t care for her daughter, she didn’t deserve a second chance.” From Maria’s point of view, Shaniya’s father was just as guilty as Antoinette and Mario McNeill.
Brenda Williams didn’t see it that way. She said, “How was the father to know that this would happen?” It wasn’t his fault. It was the fault of the mother and the monster who raped and murdered Shaniya.”
It was evident that those interviewed were outraged, angered and deeply grieved for the pain that Shaniya endured. Melissa Franks of Valrico said this, “It broke my heart to see those grainy images of that pig carrying that precious angel into that hotel room.” “Just seeing those pictures and knowing what was going to happen to Shaniya ripped my heart.” “I’ve never cried as much as I have in the past week.”
If you would like to donate to Shaniya Davis' family, an account has been established at Wachovia.
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