Where is 5-year-old Shaniya Davis?

November 11, 1:42 PM


An Amber Alert was initiated for Shaniya Nicole Davis just before noon on Tuesday. The 5-year-old went missing from her home early Tuesday morning.

Shaniya's mother reported last seeing her inside their Fayettville, NC home around 5:30 a.m. The mother’s boyfriend and her sister, along with an infant and Shaniya’s 7-year-old brother were also at the home at the time of her disappearance.

Shaniya is 3 feet tall and weighs 40 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt with pink underwear.

Fayetteville police spokeswoman Theresa Chance said, “There is definitely something not right about the situation. Foul play is suspected.”

Chance said the family has had contact with the Department of Social Services in the past. "There have been major DSS issues with this family, who has custody, switching back and forth." Chance said it's unknown whether the child's disappearance is related to those issues.

Police, armed with a warrant, searched the house for clues. K-9 search dogs did not pick up Shaniya's scent, which police say they should have if the child wandered away from the home.

Reports indicate a previous search warrant was served at the same house on Jul. 21. That search turned up narcotics.

Police said there are three registered sex offenders that live in the neighborhood, but they are not considered suspects in the investigation.

When asked about the progress of the investigation Chance said, “We are searching for her and hoping to find her alive, but we just don't know at this point.”

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call the Fayetteville police department at 910-433-1856.