Bradley Lockhart: Shaniya’s Mom Trafficked Her to Settle Drug Debt
Bradley Lockhart father of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis told Oprah Winfrey today that the girl’s mother trafficked the child to settle a drug debt.
The allegation was made by Bradley Lockhart a day after Mario Andrette O’Neill was charged with the rape and murder of Shaniya. O’Neill is the man police say is seen on a Sanford, N.C., hotel surveillance camera carrying Shaniya into a hotel room shortly after she was reported missing. He is being held without bond.
The Fayetteville police department released a statement Thursday saying that Shaniya died from asphyxiation but authorities are still waiting on other test results before making a final determination.
Shaniya’s mother, Antoinette Davis, has been arrested and charged with child prostitution. Fayetteville Police spokeswoman Theresa Chance told ABCNews.com that Davis’ 7-year-old son was removed from the home last week and placed in foster care. ABC affiliate WTVD in Raleigh, NC confirmed that Davis is pregnant again.
Bradley Lockhart appeared on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ Friday via satellite and claimed that he was told that Davis trafficked their daughter to pay off a drug debt.
Lockhart told Oprah that Shaniya was the result of a one-night stand and that Davis had raised Shaniya the first year then asked Lockhart to take the child in order to provide a more stable environment.
Custody, he said, “was a verbal agreement between Antoinette and I.”
Shaniya’s aunt, Carey Lockhart-Davis told Winfrey, “I am disgusted, but yet in so much pain at this point. She was such a vibrant child and such an important part of my life. And it’s hard at this point to understand why someone would take this sweet blessing away from me.”
View video below:
here’s the artical mom that I was telling you about….
How could someone do this to a child… She was a baby and I am disgusted and saddened.. She was so innocent…That poor little girl. I hope her mother and the person that she gave her to get what they deserve.