Mario McNeill

RALEIGH – Authorities have charged Mario McNeill with the rape and murder of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis, in addition to earlier charges of kidnapping.

The girl went missing from her mother’s home in Cumberland County Nov. 10. Her body was found Monday in Lee County.

In a press conference Thursday evening, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine said a task force with the Fayetteville Police Department has ruled the girl's death a homicide and said preliminary tests show that she was suffocated. Testing is still under way, so no final report has been filed yet.

The jurisdiction in the case will fall under Cumberland County District Attorney Ed Grannis. Bergamine said the issue of jurisdiction was handled professionally among area law enforcement agencies.

Davis' mother, Antoinette Davis, was charged with felony child abuse involving prostitution, human trafficking and filing a false police report in the case. Police say her charges still stand, but have not added any additional charges so far.

Shaniya Davis

Police said the case was particularly difficult emotionally, but grief counselors on staff helped them to continue their work professionally.

“We had a mission,” said Capt. Charles Kimball. “Our mission was to find Shaniya, and we did.”

Bergamine said he hopes the family can now begin the healing process as the Fayetteville Police Department and the district attorney pursue the case with law enforcement on local, state and federal levels.