During a Hillsborough County court cross-examination, 11-year-old Ronnie ONeal IV bravely confessed that his father had stabbed him. Ronnie O’Neal, the accused, stood trial for the murder of his girlfriend, the murder attempt on his son, and the tragic killing of his 9-year-old daughter. However, the murders are only part of the complex story that has haunted Ronnie since his youth.
Ronnie O’Neal IV, an American convicted criminal, gained notoriety as the perpetrator of the Riverview Murders on March 18, 2018, in Riverview, Florida, United States. Using an axe, O’Neal brutally ended his girlfriend’s life, 33-year-old Kenyatta Barron, and inflicted fatal injuries on his 9-year-old daughter, Ron’Niveya Oneal.
O’Neal also nearly killed his son, Ronnie IV, when he stabbed him multiple times. However, he mounted a self-defense argument during the trial, accusing the authorities of orchestrating a setup against him.
In this article, we’ll delve deep into Ronnie O’Neal’s story, detailing his crimes, the events surrounding his trial, and the final sentence he received. Stay informed about one of the most talked-about criminal cases in recent times.
Ronnie O’Neal profile summary
| Full name | Ronnie O’Neal III |
| Date of birth | 27 July 1988 |
| Nationality | American |
| Age | 34 (as of 2022) |
| Place of birth | United States |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Partner | None |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Children | He has two (One is Ronnie O’Neal IV, who now goes by the name Oneal Ronnie Blair Ron’Niveya,) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye color | Black |
| Height in centimeters | 178 |
| School | East Bay High School |
| Height in feet | 5’10” |
| Siblings | Alonso Kelley |
Ronnie ONeal: Early life
I apologize for the error. Here is the corrected version:
Ronnie O’Neal, born on July 27, 1989, at 34 in 2022, did not know his biological father when he was young. Only when he became an adult did he get to know him. However, he grew up caring for his stepfather, Billy Smith and had a brother named Alonso Kelley.
During his early years, Ronnie experienced childhood trauma. At age five, his extended relatives sexually abused him, which had a long-lasting traumatic impact on him. Unfortunately, he did not receive any treatment to address these experiences. Despite this, he had a stable upbringing and actively practiced his Christian faith, including singing in the church choir.
Ronnie then enrolled at East Bay High School, a public high school in Gibsonton, Florida. While there, he played football. He participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, a college program offered by universities and colleges to prepare young adults for future roles as officers in the United States Military.
Despite facing various challenges, including academic struggles, Ronnie O’Neal III successfully graduated from high school. He later attempted to join the United States Marine Corps but faced multiple failures on the entrance exam. However, due to his love for music, he began writing songs and performing as part of a hip-hop duo.
Wife and children
Ronnie, who is unmarried, has two children and was in a relationship with Kenyatta Barron. They resided in Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida. In 2009, they joyfully welcomed their first child, a daughter named Ron’Niveya O’Neal. However, Ron Niveya was born with health issues and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and autism, rendering her unable to speak.
Ron’Niveya utilized a wheelchair and sign language for communication. Ronnie O’Neal IV was born to Ronnie and Barron in 2011; he is their second child.
However, Kenyatta went to the family court in 2012 to establish paternity for their son. The court ruled that Ronnie, also known as O’Neal III, is the biological father of Ronnie O’Neal IV.
The couple decided to live separately in 2016. Consequently, O’Neal III entered a new relationship and had a son named Iesha Robinson. Tragically, on March 18, 2018, O’Neal III committed a heinous act. He killed his girlfriend, Kenyatta Barron, brutally attacked his daughter Ron’Niveya with an axe, causing her death, and stabbed his son, O’Neal IV, nearly taking his life.
Tell me about Ronnie O’Neal.
The story starts on 18 March 2018 in Riverview, Florida, at 11:43 PM EDT when an unknown woman called the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. During the call, the dispatcher heard an unidentified man shouting, “Allah Akbar.”
The woman screamed and apologized to someone named Ronnie. In the background, a male voice became more explicit and said, “She killed me. Don’t come outside; call 911 now.” Suddenly, the 911 call ended.
Eight minutes later, the man from the first call made a second call, claiming that white demons had attacked him. He accused a woman of trying to kill him and said she had just killed her daughter (referring to the victim’s daughter). Eventually, he provided the dispatcher with his address.
When the police arrived, they discovered Kenyatta Barron, a 33-year-old woman, lying unconscious. They also found a 9-year-old girl, Ron’Niveya O’Neal, who had been beaten to death with a hatchet (according to Ronnie O’Neal’s daughter’s autopsy). Additionally, a 7-year-old boy, Ronnie O’Neal IV, was stabbed and is in critical condition. Furthermore, Ronnie IV had burns caused by a fire started by his father.
On 16 June 2021, O’Neal’s trial commenced, and the court allowed him to act as his attorney with additional counsel. During cross-examination, his son testified as a prosecution witness and confronted his father, saying, “You stabbed me.”
On 21 June 2021, the court declared Ronnie III guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, one count of arson, and one count of resisting a law enforcement officer. Consequently, he received a sentence of three life terms without the possibility of parole in addition to 90 years.
Professional career
Ronnie actively pursued various stable jobs during his adult life, starting with employment at a casino and later as a truck driver. In 2010, he joined Build Your Community (BYC), a local social work group. BYC dedicated its efforts to impoverished neighborhoods, mentoring young individuals, offering boxing and hygiene training, and advocating for peace.
Following his conversion to Islam, Ronnie embraced his Muslim identity and adhered to the teachings of The Nation of Islam. In response to the tragic murders, several producers created a documentary about Ronnie O’Neal, while multiple podcasts emerged, discussing his story, which is:
- Family Annihilator by True Crime Cases
- Ronnie O’Neal by Crime and Consequences
- The famous Tragic Murders of Ron’Niveya O’Neal and Kenyatta Barron
Ronnie O’Neal’s fast facts
- O’Neal killed his girlfriend and daughter, but his motive remains unclear. However, during the court proceedings, he confessed that he killed his girlfriend because she had previously murdered their daughter, who had special needs.
- The jury’s decision not to execute Ronnie O’Neal raises the question, why?
After hearing both sides of Ronnie O’Neal’s case, the jury decided that the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating aspects.
- The identity of the 9-1-1 caller in the Riverview Murders remains unknown. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, a woman made the 9-1-1 call at 11:43 p.m. EDT on 18 March 2018, and they believe the victim, Kenyatta Barron, made the call.
- Ronnie O’Neal III, did he have a mental illness? During O’Neal’s trial, a forensic psychologist testified that the shooting and childhood abuse caused O’Neal to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and delusional disorder.
- Is Ronnie O’Neal alive? Yes, Ronnie O’Neal remains active and is currently serving his sentence in prison.
- Ronnie O’Neal resides at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida. He is serving three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, in addition to 90 years.
- Where can we find Ronnie O’Neal’s son at this moment? In 2019, Detective Mike Blair, who saved Ronnie O’Neal’s son, adopted the young Ronnie.
Ronnie O’Neal, an American convicted murderer, gained widespread notoriety for committing the Riverview Murders. With an axe, he killed his girlfriend, Kenyatta Barron murdered his daughter, and nearly killed his son by stabbing him dozens of times.
