Photo courtesy of WSTP News Tampa.
Ronnie Oneal III was found guilty of the double murders of his girlfriend and their daughter in Tampa, Florida, on June 21.
According to WTSP, Oneal was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron, and the couple’s 9-year-old daughter, Ron’Niveya, who was autistic and had cerebral palsy.
Oneal, 32, stood accused of murdering Barron by shooting and bludgeoning her to death. His daughter, who was unable to walk or scream, was stabbed to death by Oneal with a hatchet. He also stabbed his 11-year-old son and set him on fire, but the child survived. Oneal then set the home on fire. It only took the jury five hours to deliberate.
The father of three was also found guilty of attempted first-degree murder, arson, aggravated child abuse and resisting arrest. He is facing the death penalty or life in prison, and the judge advised him to secure counsel for the sentencing, which began June 23.
Newsonyx reported on Oneal’s bizarre behavior in court during his trial for the double-murders. He served as his own attorney for the trial and yelled at the jury. He also had outbursts and claimed that he was being framed. Oneal said that evidence in the case was fabricated, such as his girlfriend’s 911 call the night she died. It is unclear if Oneal is suffering from some form of mental illness.
“By the time this is all said and done, you will see who is the mass murderers in Tampa Bay,” said O’Neal.
“I want you to know the actual facts. I did kill Kenyatta Barron, but I want you to tell it like it is if you’re going to tell it. Any father would have done the same d*mn thing out of pure instinct and passion,” said O’Neal.
He went on to say it was his girlfriend who killed the couple’s daughter and tried to kill their son, and he protected his son by killing Barron. Oneal’s son, who was 8-years-old at the time of the murders, was a witness for the prosecution and gave his testimony about the double-murders. Oneal questioned his son remotely during the trial.
His son testified that he saw Oneal chase his mother outside with a shotgun. Oneal’s son also said that his father handed him the gun at one point and tried to make him help kill his mother. He said that his mom stumbled outside, and his father followed her and shot her. He said that after Oneal came back inside, he killed the couple’s daughter with a hatchet.
“Yes. He, um, hit her with an ax on the head… and then on the back, the back and then on the head, and then I saw her eyes roll, and there was blood everywhere” he said of his sister’s death.
Oneal then stabbed his son several times and set him on fire. The 11-year-old described his father holding him down and lighting the match. Oneal said that his son wasn’t a valid witness because he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The jury will hear testimony from a psychologist before deciding on Oneal’s sentence.