Ronnie O'Neal Kills Girlfriend, Daughter; Disembowels Son & Sets House on Fire

June 20, 2021- Tampa, Florida

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty if a jury finds Ronnie O’Neal III guilty of murder. His trial wraps up this week, one that made a mockery of the court system and potentially further damaged a victim as O’Neal represented himself in the matter.

The Crime

On March 18, 2018, prosecutors say O’Neal shot his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron, after an argument. When he ran out of bullets, he beat her to death with the gun. O’Neal then retrieved an ax, went into his children’s bedrooms, and killed 9-year-old Ron’Niveya O’Neal before brutally stabbing and disemboweling his 8-year-old son, Ronnie Jr. Ronnie III then doused the house on fire.

O’Neal Represents Himself in Court

O’Neal argued in court that it was Barron who attacked the children and that he was forced to kill her in self-defense.

In his opening statement, O’Neal said, “The evidence is going to show that law enforcement tampered with evidence to meet their high burden of proof because originally it was enough so they had to tamper with evidence.

O’Neal paced the floors and screamed at jurors during his bizarre opening statement.

Ronnie Jr. Takes the Stand

With his emotional support dog beside him, now 11-year-old Ronnie Jr. took the stand to testify against his dad.

Ronnie III asked Ronnie Jr., “Did I hurt you?” A confident Ronnie Jr. replied, “Yes. You stabbed me.”

Ronnie also testified that he saw his dad holding a shotgun and his mother run into his sister’s room in the closet, his dad running close behind. He said his sister had autism and was sitting on the bed.

When Ronnie Sr. saw his son, he ordered him to walk around and say, “Allah Akbar.” He then testified that his dad told him to come to the room and kill his mother and that he made him hold the shotgun with him as O’Neal fired a shot.

O’Neal ordered his son to get a hunting knife from the garage, but Ronnie Jr. could not find one. About this time, Ronnie Sr. seen Kenyatta walking outside. She made it to a neighbor’s house. Ronnie Sr. caught her and beat her so badly on the neighbor’s doorsteps, the gun broke into pieces.

His father returned to the home, he testified, grabbed an ax, and then dragged his sister into a master bedroom. Ronnie Jr. said he hit her in the head with the ax. Ronnie Sr. then doused the children in gasoline and used an unknown item to set them on fire.

Ronnie says the next thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital.

Murder Caught on 911 Call

Assistant State Attorney played the 911 call Barron made on that fateful night moments after O’Neal questioned Ronnie Jr. on the stand.

“I’m shot,” she whispers in the recording. “Help me, I’m shot, help me, please.”

As she speaks, Oneal is heard in the background.

“Allahu Akbar!” he screams. “Get in here and kill this bitch, right now!”

Barron now sounds hysterical as she begins to scream.

“Okay, Ronnie, I’m sorry,” Barron says. “I’m so sorry. Help me. ... I can’t move my arm. My arm is shot up, Ronnie. Please.”

A loud thumping noise is heard in the call.

“You don’t understand,” a male voice later said. “She killed me.”

Detective Adopts Ronnie Jr.

A detective working the case adopted Ronnie Jr. after this incident. That detective, whose name was not released to protect the boy, says that he and Ronnie Jr. developed a close relationship while he was recovering from his injuries in the hospital. He went on to say that Ronnie Jr. has made a remarkable recovery.

When Ronnie III had the opportunity to question the detective, he simply thanked him for adopting the child he nearly killed and announced, “No further questions, your honor.”

Proud Death Penalty Supporter

To further antagonize not only a victim of a heinous crime, but your own child, against a crime that you committed against them, is absolutely disgusting. Courts should have some discretion when defendants represent themselves in court and stop this craziness. It further damages victims and seems our judicial system turns a blind eye.

The death penalty was introduced for scum like Ronnie O’Neal III. I am confident that he will be convicted of the crimes he stands trial for and hope he will meet his fate in my lifetime.

More Information-

https://www.tampabay.com/search/?q=ONEAL