The photographs made from the footage of the camera of a Sanford hotel showed a man holding a girl in both hands. The girl was recognized as Shaniya. As the complaint of her disappearance was filed, police first caught her mother’s boyfriend but later he was released from the custody.

As Shaniya Davis’ dead body has been found, it would be a serious blow to her father Bradley Lockhart, who requested the safe return of the child on the national television.

The man who was holding the girl has been identified as Mario Andrette MCneil. McNeil is in police custody and despite the footage showing him holding Shaniya, his lawyer has said the he would plead not guilty.

The discovery of the footage has raised the hopes of Bradley Lockhart and investigators alike, that she would be found but she was found to be dead. Her dead body was thrown some 100 m away from a road.

Large number of nearby community helped police in the search for Shaniya.

Shaniya used to live with her father – Bradley Lockhart as Shaniya’s mother did not have means to raise her. Just a month ago as Shaniya’s mother obtained a job and a living place, Bradley thought of letting the child to spend some time with her mother.

Bradley Lockhart has said that he should never have let Shaniya go to live with her mother. Antoinette Davis (Shaniya’s mother) is in police custody along with McNeil.

Antoinette Davis appeared composed in the court and requested a court appointed lawyer for her.

Bradley Lockhart Shaniya