Shaniya Davis Oprah, It was 4 p.m. Friday and the first topic on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” was Shaniya Davis, the 5-year-old Fayetteville girl who police say was sexually assaulted and asphyxiated before her body was dumped in woods off a rural road south of Sanford. Shaniya’s body was found Monday.

“This is about to make me cry,” said beauty salon patron Gwen King as photos of Shaniya appeared on the TV.

King’s reactions mirrored the feelings of the others at the shop on Murchison Road, about three miles from where Shaniya lived with her mother, Antoinette Davis.

The only sound filling the shop was the familiar voice of Winfrey, who described the story as one that has us asking, “What is the world coming to?”

Mario Andrette McNeill, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape of a child.

Shaniya’s mother is charged with felony child abuse and human trafficking related to prostitution.

On Friday’s show – the same day Winfrey announced she will be leaving in 2011 – the first guests were Shaniya’s father, Bradley Lockhart, and her aunt, Carey Lockhart-Davis. They appeared together via satellite from Fayetteville.

Winfrey asked Lockhart if he had anything to say to Shaniya’s mother, who is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

“Right now, I just think it’s best that we let the justice system take its course,” Lockhart said. “I try to keep my heart as pure as possible, and I’m sure one day I will be able to sit down and talk to her, try and understand what was going through her mind.”

Lockhart said he had a one-night stand with Shaniya’s mother and mostly raised their daughter before letting Davis care for here. He said he last saw Shaniya on Oct. 2.

“There was so much to be said about this precious angel, as you can see from the outreach and the vigils,” Lockhart said.

Four vigils have been held since Shaniya’s body was discovered.

When questioned about the reported burns on Shaniya’s body, Lockhart-Davis said she was told that Shaniya accidently walked into a cigarette. She said she also was told that Shaniya came too close to a kerosene heater, which fell on her.

Shaniya’s story began receiving national attention shortly after police announced she was missing Nov. 10.

Some women at the salon said they welcome the national publicity, which includes experts discussing the crime on the Larry King and Nancy Grace television shows.

“I think it’s good for them to go on the shows,” said client Amarentha Caldwell. “People think things like this only happen in New York, New Jersey, big cities. But when it knocks on our door, here in Fayetteville, North Carolina, that’s a wake-up call to let people know we need to be careful with our kids.”

Crystal Knowles, a stylist, agreed.

“I think it’s good to have them on TV so everybody can be aware of the situation,” she said. Thanks to