On March 18, 2018, in Riverview, Florida, 29-year-old Ronnie O'Neal III fatally shot his ex girlfriend, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron, and hacked their 9-year-old daughter, Ron'Niveya O'Neal, to death with a hatchet. He stabbed their 8-year-old son Ronnie O'Neal IV, who survived and told detectives "My father shot my mother" before being medevaced to a Tampa hospital.[1][2]
| Riverview murders | |
|---|---|
 Location of Riverview in Hillsborough County | |
| Location | Riverview, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°48′06″N 82°17′56″W / 27.8018°N 82.2990°W |
| Date | March 18, 2018 11:43 – 11:53 p.m. (EDT) |
Attack type | Familicide, double-murder, child murder, uxoricide, filicide, attempted murder, shooting, stabbing, arson |
| Deaths | 2 (Kenyatta Barron, aged 33 Ron'Niveya O'Neal, aged 9) |
| Injured | 1 (Ronnie O'Neal IV) |
| Perpetrator | Ronnie O'Neal III |
| Motive | Unknown |
| Verdict | Guilty on all counts |
| Convictions | |
| Sentence | Three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 90 years |
O'Neal was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, one count of arson, and one count of resisting a law enforcement officer. On July 23, 2021, he was given three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 90 years.
Events
editAt 11:43 p.m. EDT, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office received a 911 emergency call from an unknown woman, now believed to have been Kenyatta. A male caller could be heard in the background saying, "She killed me", "Don’t come outside, call 911 now," and "Allah Akbar".[3] The 911 call ended shortly thereafter.
Eight minutes later, a second 911 call came in at 11:51 p.m., this time featuring a male caller claiming to have been attacked by "white demons" and accusing Kenyatta (addressed as "Ke-Ke" in the call) of trying to kill him, and that he "just killed her."[3][4] Ronnie III gave their home address.
Deputies arrived at the home at 11:49 p.m. to find a woman, later identified as Kenyatta, lying unconscious in the yard of the home at the mentioned address.[1] Prior to killing her, Ronnie III yelled, "Come in here, kill this bitch!"
Ronnie III also beat his daughter Ron'Niveya with a hatchet, killing her, and stabbed his son, Ronnie IV, leaving him critically wounded.[1] Ronnie III then proceeded to set fire to their home. Ronnie IV escaped the home with stab wounds and burns and told a detective, "My father shot my mother," before being promptly transported to a hospital for treatment.
Ronnie III resisted arrest until being tasered by police. While inside the squad car, he called his murdered victim Kenyatta "the devil" and said, "the kids are the devil's kids." He was booked into Hillsborough County Jail the next day.[1]
On March 22, four days after the attack, Ronnie IV told detectives his account of the events of March 18 that left his mother and sister dead.[5]
Trial and sentencing
editThe trial for Ronnie III began on June 16, 2021. Ronnie III served as his own attorney in addition to his counsel, cross-examining his surviving son Ronnie IV, who testified as a witness for the prosecution. Throughout the trial, Ronnie III claimed that his son had lied to investigators about the incident.[6] Ronnie III asked him, "Did I hurt you that night of the incident?" and the boy replied "Yes." Ronnie III then asked him, "How did I hurt you?" The boy replied, "You stabbed me."[5]
Initially, Ronnie III's attorneys filed motions claiming that Ronnie III was acting in self-defense and requesting to defend Ronnie III on the basis of Florida's stand-your-ground law.[7][8] However, the judge rejected this request, finding Ronnie III ineligible for a stand-your-ground defense.[9] On June 21, 2021, Ronnie III was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, one count of arson, and one count of resisting a law enforcement officer.[10] On July 23, 2021, he was given three life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 90 years, running consecutively.
Reflecting on the case during sentencing, Judge Michelle Sisco described it as the "worst case [she's] ever seen" in her nineteen-year judicial career and described Ronnie III's actions toward his daughter as "abject cruelty."[11] State Attorney Andrew Warren's response to the attacks was "These murders are among the most cruel and vicious our community has ever seen."[12]
Aftermath
editOn November 25, 2019, Ronnie IV was adopted by detective Mike Blair, who cared for him the night of the murders.[13][14] Ronnie IV changed his name to Ronnie Blair when he joined the family of seven, including Mike, his wife Danyel, and their five other children, ages 16 to 23. Mike recalled the night of the murders, saying that there was "no expectation Ronnie would live" and that he considers Ronnie's recovery to be a miracle. Of the adoption, Ronnie says that he is "loved" and "part of the family."[15]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Man allegedly kills girlfriend, young daughter". WFTS. March 19, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "'I am safe, I am loved': Detective adopts boy who was stabbed, set on fire by father". FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. July 28, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Deputies: Riverview man yelled 'Allah Akbar' as he carried out attacks on his children, girlfriend". ABC News. March 19, 2018.
- ^ "Neighbors witnessed Riverview man's deadly attack on family". FOX 13 News. March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Mesmer, Aaron (June 16, 2021). "'You stabbed me:' Ronnie Oneal's young son recalls witnessing murders of mom and sister". Fox 13 Tampa Bay. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ "11-year-old cross-examined by father in Florida murder trial". CNN. Cable News Network. June 17, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Sblendorio, Peter (December 1, 2020). "Florida father charged with murder in girlfriend's death bases defense on stand your ground law". NY Daily News. New York Daily News. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Sullivan, Dan (November 30, 2020). "Dad claims stand your ground in Riverview family slaying case". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "'Mark My Words': Man Representing Himself in Alleged Murder of Girlfriend and 9-Year-Old Daughter Vows to Prove 'Who the Liars Are'". Law & Crime. June 14, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Ronnie Oneal found guilty of 2018 double-murder of family; attempted murder of son". FOX 13 News. June 21, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ Cowan, Kellie (July 23, 2021). "'Worst case I've ever seen': Judge sentences Ronnie Oneal to 3 consecutive life sentences plus 90 years". FOX 13 News. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ Montgomery, Blake (June 25, 2021). "Jury Recommends Ronnie Oneal Serve Life Without Parole for Killing Wife, Disabled Daughter". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Charter, David (August 6, 2021). "Detective Mike Blair adopted boy from murder case". The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Limited. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Page, Sydney (August 4, 2021). "A father nearly killed his son in a gruesome crime. One of the detectives on the scene later adopted the child". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Herbst, Diane; Dodd, Johnny (August 20, 2021). "Boy Survived After Dad Killed Mom & Sister — Now with Cop's Family, He Says 'I Feel Loved'". People. Retrieved September 9, 2021.