Where was Shaniya Davis Killed? Jurisdiction is Key
Investigators are still searching for clues about why and where a 5-year-old North Carolina girl was killed.
The body of Shaniya Davis was found on Monday on a rural road about in Lee County, about 30 miles northwest of Fayetteville.
Authorities need to determine where the killing occurred to in order to add new charges in the slain girl's case, CNN reports. These charges won't be added until the question of jurisdiction is answered.
Figuring out where the girl was killed and if the case will be prosecuted in Lee County or neighboring Cumberland County, where she lived is key, authorities said.
More charges won't come until jurisdiction is determined.
In the meantime, the girl's mother, Antoinette Davis, has pending charges in the case for human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution.
Following Davis' arrest over the weekend, police spokesperson Teresa Chance said Davis had been "prostituting her child."
The girl's tragic death has recieved national media coverage and calls attention to the widespread problem of human trafficking.
Another suspect, Mario Andrette McNeill has been charge with kidnapping in the case.
McNeill is accused of kidnapping after surveillance footage from a hotel showed him carrying the girl.
Earlier this week, about 200 people began searching for Shaniya Davis' body after "reliable information" indicated that she may be dead, according to Fayetteville police.
Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine said details of the investigation directly impact which county will assume jurisdiction and prosecute this case.
The district attorneys from each jurisdiction are now involved and ultimately will make the decision, the police chief said.
- Police: No new charges now in death of NC girl (Associated Press)
- Slain child's dad says he blames himself (Fayetteville Observer)
- Listen to Antoinette Davis' call to 911 to report her daughter, Shaniya, missing (Fayetteville Observer)
- Classifications of Crimes (provided by Feintuch, Porwich & Feintuch)
- Murder versus Manslaughter (provided by Mark A. Perez)