Man Found Guilty For Double-Murder, Stabbing Son: State Attorney

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a Riverview man, Ronnie Oneal III, 32, following a jury's verdict Monday that found him guilty of murdering his girlfriend, daughter and trying to kill his son in March 2018, the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office said.

Oneal shot and beat the mother of his children to death with a shotgun, picked up a hatchet and attacked and killed their 9-year-old daughter, and then used a kitchen knife to slash and stab their 8-year-old son March 18, 2018, investigators said. Oneal tried to set the house on fire, his daughter’s body, and his son, who was still alive. The son, who was able to escape, and is now 11 years old, testified remotely during the trial.

"He hit her in the back with an ax, and then hit her in the head with an ax, and I saw her eyes roll," the son said in the courtroom June 16 about his sister's death, WFLA reported. He told the court he recalls his father shooting his mother that night after they got into an argument.

After deliberating for four-and-a-half hours, the 12-member jury found Oneal guilty as charged on all seven counts: two counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, as well as one count each of arson and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence.

“These murders are among the most cruel and vicious our community has ever seen," Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said. "Sitting in the courtroom with the victims’ family, hearing a mother’s screams, seeing the horrific pictures of her daughter—it’s hard to fathom how someone can do something so barbaric. His punishment—his life—now sits with a jury of his peers, as it should."

Oneal served as his own defense attorney during the 11-day trial.

The same jury will remain in place for the penalty phase of the trial that begins Wednesday. The State will outline for the jurors why the death penalty is appropriate in this case. Prosecutors will present aggravating factors, and the defense is able to present mitigating factors if they wish.

The son was adopted by a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office detective who had limited involvement in the case.

*Patch will not release the name of the son or daughter because they are minors.