Kenyatta Barron was only 33 years old when her life was ripped away by her boyfriend. Five months before the killings, he suffered a gunshot wound during a drive-by shooting while attending a BYC event in the Robles Park area of Tampa. This article will deal with the Riverview killings, the help demanding 911 calls, early investigation and finally the court case that followed. On March 18, 2018, in Riverview, Florida, 29-year-old Ronnie Oneal III fatally shot his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron, and beat their 9-year-old daughter, Ron'Niveya Oneal, to death with an axe.He stabbed their 8-year-old son Ronnie Oneal IV, who survived and told detectives "My father shot my mother" before being escorted to a local hospital. A Riverview man has been convicted on two counts of first degree murder in the 2018 deaths of the mother of his children and their disabled daughter after their house was set on fire. 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The conviction on Monday came shortly after Oneal delivered a closing argument where he screamed at jurors, accused prosecutors of fabricating evidence and admitted to killing his girlfriend. ONeal killed his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron and beat his 9-year-old daughter, Ron'Niveya Oneal, to death with an axe. Although Ronnie Oneal III and Kenyatta Barron werent married, they had children together. RonNiveya suffered multiple stab wounds and was already deceased when police found her body, which was still in the burning home. So, what happened to Barron? From his mother, his brother and friends, jurors were told Oneal was sexually abused at age 5 at the hands of extended relatives and that he never knew who his biological father was until adulthood. Ronnie Jr. escaped the home with stab wounds and burns and informed detectives that his father had shot his mother before being transported to a hospital for treatment. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. He said he hadnt planned to speak at Fridays hearing, but felt really, really moved to do so after listening to testimony from Barrons family and his own, including his estranged father and grandmother. Keke (Kenyatta) tried to kill me.. Deputies arrive on scene at 11:49pm, and they immediately discover Kenyatta lying in the front yard. She was missing from her San Antonio home for nearly two weeks when police found her body in a rural area of Bexar County. 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Until adulthood, he was unaware of the identity of his biological father. Hillsborough sheriff's deputies arrested Oneal the night of March 18, 2018, after a series of 911 calls brought them to a home. The 12-person jury spent about three hours deliberating Friday about whether to recommend the death penalty. His son, Ronnie Oneal IV, is named after him. Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren, whose office had sought a death sentence for Oneal, declined to comment as the prosecution team left court. Ronnie Jr. survived the incident although he was stabbed multiple times. Oneal chose to serve as his own defense attorney during the trial and had public defenders for the penalty phase. Ronnie Oneal III, the Hillsborough County man accused of killing his wife and daughter, told prospective jurors he believes in the death penalty while addressing . Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the best of insiderlyfe in your in-box. All Rights Reserved. A Florida man will serve life in prison without parole for the 2018 slayings of his girlfriend and their young special-needs daughter, a judge ruled Friday. Erica Worthy, friend of Kenyatta Barron, said about her, that was a good woman, very sweet. He spoke of how he fixed Barrons car when it was broken and got the oil changed. Siscos voice choked with emotion as she addressed Oneal and delivered three consecutive life sentences and an additional 60 years. Just as his family suspected, convicted killer Ronnie Joe Neal, 39, hoarded his prescription anti-depressants and overdosed on them in June in his cell in Livingston, an autopsy report. During the surgery following the fatal accident, he flatlined four times. On top of this, he was given 90 years, running consecutively. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? He liked music, wrote his own songs and performed as in a hip-hop duo. Therefore, he had to kill her in self-defense. Sisco recalled the testimony of a firefighter, who had carried 9-year-old Ron'niveya's body out of the home. Soon after, a fire emerges from the home, easily noticed since the home had no lights on when police arrived. Ronnie ONeal claimed that "white ghost" were in his home which is why he started screaming Allah Akbar. Scot Machlus, a forensic psychologist, testified that the shooting and childhood abuse led Oneal to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. In the call, the dispatcher could hear an unidentified male voice creaming the words Allah Akbar. Ron'niveya O'Neal Ronnie O'Neal, Ill Ke atta Barron Age at Time of the Incident Age 9 years A e 8 ears A A e 33 ears Circumstances Surrounding Death On March 19, 2018, FSFN #2018477264 was received alleging that the death of 9- year-old Ron'niveya O'Neal and hospitalization of 8-year-old occurred at the hands of their father, Ronnie O'Neal, 111-29. Six minutes later, at 11:49pm, dispatchers received a second call from the same residence, but this time the caller was a male, Ronnie ONeal. Ronnie Oneal murdered his girlfriend and disabled 9-year-old daughter. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! The same jury found Oneal guilty Monday of first-degree murder and several other charges. When he opened the door he saw a black woman on the ground lying helplessly while a black man was standing next to her with shotgun in his hand. The male voice in the background becomes clear enough and says: Eight minutes later, the man in the first 911 call makes a second call claiming white demons attacked him and accused a woman of trying to kill him and that the woman had just killed her (describing the victims daughter). It was a 911 call made by Kenyatta Barron herself. Is Ronnie O'Neal still alive? On March 18, 2018, in the Riverview area of Tampa, Florida, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron and her 9-year-old disabled daughter, RonNiveya, were murdered. This is not a decision on whether Mr. Oneal needs to be punished for his crime, Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Spradley told the jury. Full-thickness burns were present to her total body surface area as well. The detective that rescued Ronnie O'Neal's son, Mike Blair, adopted little Ronnie in 2019. She couldnt defend herself because she was disabled and had cerebral palsy. On March 18, 2018, Kenyatta Barron, 33-years old, and her daughter, RonNiveya, were murdered. He was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder forthe 2018 deaths of his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron, and their disabled 9-year-old daughter RonNiveya Oneal. Thanks for contacting us. Teeth were missing out of her mouth, clear that she was hit there with the shotgun butt. Also, Ronnie IV had burns caused by a fire started by his father. The Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Ronnie Oneal III to three life terms plus 60 years in prison to run consecutively for the gruesome crime. [4]Tampa Bay Times jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_5786_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_5786_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); ONeal identified himself as a member of the organization The Nation of Islam on his Facebook account. The young girl had cerebral palsy and was non-verbal. He used a hatchet to hack her to death. Her mother took shelter in his sister room. He also has a delusional disorder, the psychologist said. The Child Fatality Summary report shows that a penetrating, chop, and blade wound to head, neck, torso was RonNiveyas cause of death. She also suffered from several foot fractures and a fracture of her mandible. I mean, it was so loud it scared me," said Carol Pietraniello, who lives in the house behind Barron's. Prosecutors said the surviving son ran out of the burning house and described what happened. Man who killed New Port Richey woman sentenced to death, again, Top 15 Tampa Bay area events for the week of Jan. 16-22, 800 Florida manatees died in 2022 as starvation lingers but most survived red tide, Biden surprised government records found at old office, Solid reforms for Floridas mental health system | Editorial, Florida commission urges sweeping mental health reforms. The incident was reported by Kenyatta herself on 911 call so police arrested her boyfriend but it was too late to save Kenyatta and her daughter. ONeal forced his son to hold shotgun and shoot his mother but that bullet didnt hit the target. Is Florida getting another Buc-ees location? When the police arrived at the scene, they found a 33-year-old woman, Kenyatta Barron, lying unconscious, a 9-year-old girl, Ron'Niveya ONeal, beaten to death with a hatchet (based on Ronnie O'Neal's daughter autopsy), and a 7-year-old boy, Ronnie ONeal IV, stabbed and critically wounded. Everybody wants to point fingers and play the blame game without knowing actual facts. He struggled in school, but managed to graduate. His father, Ronnie ONeal, was on trial accused of murdering his girlfriend, a 9-year-old daughter, and the attempted murder of his son. He worked in a casino and later as a truck driver. Im so sorry. Diagnosed with autism, she could not speak. Gabriel Kuhn's case and latest updates, Peter Riley bio: net worth, married, wedding, and career, Tamron Hall and Lawrence O'Donnell relationship, split, dating history, Is NBA Youngboy in jail? The deliberations came after the jury heard from family members of the victims, Oneals family members, a psychologist, state prosecutors and defense attorneys the past few days. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The same jury that found Ronnie Oneal guilty earlier this week in the 2018 murders of his girlfriend and daughter, as well as the attempted murder of his son, recommended Friday that the convicted killer serve life in prison without parole. She was a woman of faith and has deep belief in God. The verdict means Oneal will receive a life sentence. Ronnie O'Neal III (left), 29, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, arson and resisting arrest in connection to Sunday's deadly attack on Kenyatta Barron (right) and their two children . These murders are among the most cruel and vicious our community has ever seen, State Attorney Andrew Warren said in a statement after Mondays conviction. Oneal maintains he killed Barron in self-defense after she attacked their children. And he did exactly how you would expect. In 2010, he joined Build Your Community, a local social work group. But in 2012, Kenyatta filed a paternity petition in the family court to decide her sons biological father. The state of Florida had a strong case as they have various witnesses and evidence form 911 calls and autopsy report to support their case. There was a gunshot wound to her right back shoulder and another much larger wound to her right elbow. He recognized the defendant as that black man and testified against him. Oneal showed no reaction as the decision was read. Help me. In the background, Oneal is heard saying, Allahu Akbar! 13246 Pike Lake Drive in Gibsonton, Florida. Because he does not leave out of that prison, wherever hes taken, unless its in a box.. He also told that they rescued Ronnie Jr. from the crime scene. When it was Oneals turn to cross-examine the boy, he asked his son, Did I hurt you that night?. Kenyatta Barron came in this world on 13th of November 1984. Later, it was found that Oneal was delinquent in child support payments to Barron, hence, a judge ordered him to pay $1,735.32 that was due. He does not take medication. A Florida man on trial for a double homicide turned the proceedings into a circus, as he acted as his own lawyer and cross-examined his 11-year-old son, who responded to his dad by testifying: You stabbed me.. She had two children Ronniveya and Ronnie Jr. with her boyfriend Ronnie ONeal. 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What you heard in that call was an utter indifference to the suffering of Kenyatta Barron.. Ronnie was sentenced to three life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. Oneal was deemed fit to stand trial during psychiatric evaluations and represented himself at trial, presenting a defense marked by loud outbursts and conspiracy theories. Many would agree that such an admission of guilt is not quite common in the courtroom. Even in the ruins of the home, crime scene photos show how the girls mother had worked to make her daughters bedroom like the home of a princess, Sisco said. A forensic psychologist who testified at ONeals trial said that the shooting and childhood abuse led ONeal to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and delusional disorder. the leading news sites Kenya the first get hottest news from our Editor Chief Thank you Check your email and confirm your subscription You are already subscribed our newsletter Check your inbox. His son testified as the prosecution witness, answering his father, "You stabbed me," during cross-examination. Ronnie Oneal was born in 1989 (age 32 years; as of 2021). The Hillsborough judge gave a ruling that Ronnie Oneal IV was Oneals biological son and ordered the elder Oneal to pay monthly child support for the boy and another child. The victim suffered numerous head injuries and fracture to skull due to beating with shotgun. Ronnie O'Neal is an American convicted criminal. Tuko.co.ke recently shared an article with all his details including his whereabouts. The case took place in the judicial court of Hillsborough County, Florida. Ronnie Oneal IV was later adopted by Mike Blair, one of the homicide detectives who assisted in the case. During the penalty phase of Oneals double-murder trial, Oneals sexual abuse as a young boy was revealed in the court for jurors to decide whether to sentence Oneal to death or give him life imprisonment. Ronnie Oneal IIIs stepfather, Billy Smith. On the 23rd of June, his sentence came and he was given life in prison without any kind of parole relaxation. Oneal was allowed to handle his own defense in the first phase of his trial. Second, his closing statement, whereby he boldly stated that he killed his girlfriend, Kenyatta Barron, was quite bizarre. She had multiple trauma marks on her face and gunshot wound on her arm. Nineteen years Ive been in this job, Sisco said. Youll get a remembrance of Tampa Bay residents weve lost, including heartwarming and amusing details about their lives, every Tuesday. According to newly-released court documents, the latter of those charges left O'Neal's arm badly burned and heavily bandaged. A defense lawyer implored the panel to spare Oneals life. Instead, he had a girlfriend named Kenyatta Barron. Alonso said, He would always act like it didnt bother him, But I could tell that it bothered him.. The next-door neighbor James Gray testified that he looked out his front door and saw the elder Oneal beating Barrons battered body on the entryway. So, what went down that caused these horrible murders? Oneal had acted as his own attorney during his trial, but opted toallow his court-appointed attorneys to represent himfor the penalty phase, which started Wednesday. He was defending himself in that court case and pleaded to remove count one of the indictment on the basis of self-defense law. #RonnieOneal III represented himself during his trial, where testimony and evidence showed he viciously beat and shot his girlfriend, Kenyatta Barron, and then used a hatchet to kill their. Choosing to represent himself, Ronnie O'Neal gave his own opening statements on Monday morning claiming officials tampered with evidence. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Paul Bilzerian Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More, Charles Sobhraj Wiki, Age, Girlfriend, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More, Marie-Andre Leclerc Wiki, Age, Death, Boyfriend, Husband, Family, Biography & More, Chantal Compagnon Wiki, Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More, Kellie Chauvin Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Biography & More, Tou Thao Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More. Then the state called Dr. Marry Mainland to put forward the autopsy report. Kekes skull was fractured in 7 places, her jaw and several facial bones were fractured, and she had several fractures to the base of her skull. Either way, I still feel like its a win, said Daisatta Barron, the victims sister. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. After being shot, Barron hid and made a call on a 911 from inside a closet, which was presented to the court during the trial. In 2011, Ronnie and Barron welcomed their second child, a son named Ronnie ONeal IV. Also, he was involved in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, an elective military education program hosted by colleges and universities. He was a Christian and sang in the church choir. However, he defended himself when he went on trial and accused the authorities of setting him up. On top of this, he was given 90 years, running consecutively. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Prosecutors allege that on March 18, 2018, he shot his girlfriend in their home in Riverview, a community south of Tampa, chased her . He compared himself to Malcolm X. With the home now in flames, 9-year-old Ronnie ONeal IV stumbles out of the garage. Ronnie experienced childhood trauma when he was young. 2023 Talk Murder To Me. Oneal told the jury cops fabricated the evidence and coached his son to lie. He testified that when he arrived at crime scene he saw the body of the victim with shotgun wounds and the face of victim had trauma marks evidently because of beating with the shotgun. On March 18, 2018 Kenyatta Barron was shot by her boyfriend on arm with shotgun and later brutally beating her to death with the shotgun. If convicted, Oneal could be sentenced to death. Reading through her article will bring both sadness for losing a beautiful child and anger for the monster who killed her, her own father. The declined to do an interview but said the little boy is "strong" and expected to pull through. They tried to present him as an insane person to get his sentence reduced but he was found to be perfectly normal during the investigation. The penalty phase concluded after defense lawyers spent the better part of two days making a portrait of a man the jury had only previously known through his words and unpredictable courtroom antics. O'Neal is also accused of brutally killing his 11-year-old daughter, Ron'Neiva, who had been stabbed multiple times and trying to stab his 9-year-old son to death. During his closing arguments, he shouted at . Everybody wants to talk justice without giving it., Oneal spoke at length to family members in the courtroom, refusing to face the judge even after she ordered him to do so. [8]Tampa Bay Times jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_5786_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_5786_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], }); On June 21, 2021, the panel declared that Oneal was guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of attempted murder, arson, and resisting arrest. In the evening they heard loud noises of screaming outside their house. He said he took the garbage out, opened the car door for his girlfriend, and gave Barron $400 every two weeks to help care for their children. 30% of little Ronnies body had been burned. Oneal was also found guilty on two counts of aggravated child abuse and one count of resisting a law enforcement officer without violence, as well as one count of arson after prosecutors say he tried to set their Riverview home on fire along with his daughters body and his injured son. On cross examination, Harmon criticized the psychologists analysis, saying that much of it was based on things Oneal had told mental health professionals. The crimes occurred the night of March 18, 2018, at the familys home on Pike Lake Drive in Riverview. Ronnie O'Neal was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges after representing himself at trial In his opening statement, he paced and raised his voice while saying that evidence in. On 16 June 2021, ONeals trial began, and the court allowed him to serve as his own attorney but in addition to counsel. Where is Ronnie O'Neal now? As a child he sang in a church choir. The second call was made by James Gray at approximately 11.47 PM on the same night. He flatlined four times during surgery, his mother said. Kenyatta Barron funeral ceremony was held on 7th April 2018. Have you ever been in a courtroom during a trial? The world is filled with menacing people and we witness incidents of brutality all over the world. Michelle Sisco was the sentencing judge of the case. 23, 2021. The accused also killed nine-year-old Ron'Niveya Oneal with an axe before stabbing Ronnie Jr and setting their house on fire. He tried to join the U.S. Marine Corps, but repeatedly failed an entrance exam. She wouldnt have been able like her mother to plead for her life, Harmon said. Did Ronnie ONeal III have a mental illness? He further told that when he got there his father was running behind her mother with shotgun in his hand. His father then in cold-blood murdered his sister with an axe. He then identified himself as Muslim and followed the teachings of The Nation of Islam. Family spoke of him as a child talking to God while standing on roofs and in trees. James told the court that her fiance lived next door to the victim. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. As a result, his penalty was three life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 90 years. That man was his father who had no shame left in him at that moment. Ronnie Oneal III allegedly murdered his girlfriend and their disabled 9-year-old daughter, then stabbed his then 8-year-old boy before setting the familys Tampa home on fire in 2018. A good lawyer could bring a strong self-defense argument. He never received any treatment for the traumas he suffered. She used a wheelchair and sign language to communicate. A post from an Autism Awareness blogger graciously tries to give RonNiveya back some humanity by focusing on her life prior to her horrid death. Friends and family wouldnt take him in after he suffered a gunshot wound during a drive-by shooting, but Barron did in an act of kindness toward the father of her children even though he had left her a single mother. Deputies said he then tried to burn down his house. Who is Steve Perry's wife and how many times has he been married? The group members visited impoverished neighborhoods in Tampa to mentor youth, train them in boxing, and encouraging them to maintain hygiene by picking up trash. His stepfathers name is Billy Smith, and his brothers name is Alonso Kelley. The Supreme Court refusal is an early stage of Neal's appeals.