Mother of Missing Girl Arrested

The mother of a five-year-old North Carolina girl missing since last Tuesday has been arrested on charges of human trafficking, child abuse and prostitution, according to police reports. Antoinette Nicole Davis was arrested a day after Mario Andrette McNeill was charged with kidnapping Shaniya Davis.

Fayetteville police would not say if the human trafficking charges were related to Shaniya's disappearance, but reports filed in the case indicated they were.

According to arrest documents, Davis "knowingly provided Shaniya Davis with the intent that she be held in sexual servitude" and she "permitted an act of prostitution."

Seen on Motel Video

Antoinette Davis reported her daughter missing from their mobile home on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The next day Davis' boyfriend was arrested for kidnapping, but those charges were later dropped and he was released.

Following a tip from a hotel employee, police found images of Shaniya on the hotel's surveillance video. They identified the man carrying her into the room, about 40 miles west of Fayetteville, as McNeill. He was arrested Friday, Nov. 13. Police said McNeill admitted taking the girl to the hotel room, but his lawyer said he is not guilty of kidnapping.

On Saturday, police arrested Davis on the human trafficking charges. She was also charged with filing a false police report.

Beginning early Sunday, police began an intense search, saying they were acting on a tip. Multiple police agencies were involved in the search, said Capt. Charles Kimble of the Fayetteville Police Department.

See Also:
Authorities Acting on Tip Search for Missing Girl

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^{Photo: Mug Shot}