Children should enjoy their childhood, get the most out of their playtime, and be able to explore the world. That’s how you get a happy and memorable childhood.

Sadly, this wasn’t the case for little Ronnie Oneal.

It was March 2018, in the quiet neighborhood in the Riverview area of Tampa, Florida, something horrible happened. A mother, 33-year-old Kenyatta Baron, her special needs daughter, Ron’Niveya who was just 9 years old, were brutally murdered. Kenyatta’s 8-year-old son, Ronnie, was stabbed multiple times and was then set on fire.

Luckily, the little boy survived.

The little boy witnessed the gruesome murder of his mother and sister. To add to that, the killer was his own father, Ronnie Oneal III.

Detective Mike Blair of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was one of the assigned authorities to respond to the crime scene.

“By the time I arrived that night, we were told there was a child being medevacked to Tampa General, but he was not expected to live,” Mike said in his interview by the sheriff’s office.

At just 8 years old, the little boy suffered burns, stab wounds, and the pain of losing his family. The doctors said that he might not make it, but little Ronnie was a fighter.

Ronnie woke up and made a fast recovery.

Detective Mike visited him to check how he was; the little boy saw him and said:

“Could you watch a movie with me?” Mike recalled.

Mike wasn’t able to say yes, but he promised that he’ll be back later that night, and he kept his promise. He asked his wife if she was willing to change their date night plans, and when she heard the story, she immediately said yes!

When Mike’s wife saw Ronnie, she knew this boy needed a home and a family.

“I had already known that I would want to take Ronnie home with us starting that night,” she said in the interview.

After his recovery, the Guardian ad Litem called Mike to see if he knows someone who would want to adopt the little boy and without hesitation, Mike said that he’ll take him.

In 2019, from a family of 7, the Blair household is now a family of 8.

“I go to like a different church; I have a different brother and sister. I have a different mom and dad. I have a different house,” the little survivor said. “It’s pretty cool to be with them.”

The little boy had gone through so much pain, but he was not just strong, he was also wise beyond his years. He didn’t want to dwell on that event, instead, he wants to remember his mother and sister for the happy memories that they have shared.

“She was nice, pushed me on a swing, made me some good wings, made me all type of food. She was just a good mom,” he said in the interview. “My sister, she couldn’t talk, but she, like, could move her hand. We used to do sign language. She was very nice.”

The brave child even testified against his father via video, even though he knew that he was the one who would cross-examine him. Oneal decided that he would represent himself in court, and he did exactly that.

He even tried to intimidate his own son.

Justice was served as Judge Michelle Sisco handed down her decision.

Ronnie Oneal III was sentenced to 3 life terms without the possibility of parole, plus 90 years for the murder of his girlfriend, his 9-year-old daughter, and arson.

Today, little Ronnie is still healing, but with the help of his new family, he’s enjoying his life just like every other kid.

The Blair family embraced a child who has been through so much, and they are helping him heal and be whole again. Watch his adoption story here, and don’t forget to share this with your loved ones.

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Source: HCSOSheriff, WTSP, Fox 13, Medium