Oneisha Shearin, 30, died in February in Puerto Rico, and her parents from Virginia believe that her friend and her friend’s family killed her. They are asking for a criminal investigation into her death.
Maggie and Timothy Watkins told The North Carolina Beat that they have been fighting for a criminal investigation into their daughter’s death since February. They stated that their daughter left for Puerto Rico with her friend Monica Harris and Monica Harris’ family on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The trip included no blood relatives of Oneisha.
Maggie stated that she spoke with her daughter briefly around 2 p.m. on Friday, February 24. She stated that Oneisha told her she was having a good time and that they would talk later. Maggie stated that she was checking in with her child as a mother would.
Maggie and Timothy received a strange phone call two days later, on Saturday, February 25, which they did not believe was real. They thought they were being pranked, and their daughter was the behind the prank. But they had no idea Oneisha was dead.
A phone call came in that she was gone, that she passed away, Maggie said. It was a nonchalant phone call.
Maggie and Timothy said Monica told them that everyone had been drinking on Friday night and that Oneisha needed to lie down because she was intoxicated. According to Maggie and Timothy, Monica told them that their daughter got up to use the bathroom around 6:45 a.m., and Monica later found her in the bathroom making a funny noise, such as moaning. Maggie stated that Monica informed them that she couldn’t get Oneisha to respond to her commands, so she called [Maggie].
Maggie stated that she told Monica to call 911 first, instead of her. Monica got off the phone and dialed 911. Maggie told The North Carolina Beat that Monica called her back 15 minutes later and asked if Oneisha had any medical issues. Maggie said she told Monica that her daughter had no medical issues. Maggie said Monica then hung up the phone without providing any context for her question about Oneisha’s medical history.
Maggie stated that Monica called her back thirty minutes later and informed her that her daughter was dead.
When she called back thirty minutes later, she said ‘she’s gone’ just like that, Maggie said.
Maggie said Monica was just “so calm, cool and nonchalant” on the phone. She said she told Monica to stop playing and put Oneisha on the phone. Maggie said Monica told her she couldn’t because Oneisha was dead.
It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it, it was just the way she said it, Maggie said. I just knew it was a joke because of how she said it.
Maggie stated that she hung up on Monica and dialed Oneisha’s number. She said she couldn’t keep track of how many times she called and left voicemails. Maggie and her husband couldn’t believe their daughter had died.
Maggie claimed she was able to obtain videos and photos of her daughter taken in Puerto Rico from Monica. She believed her daughter was already dead Friday night after seeing the photos and hearing Monica’s story.
Oneisha can be seen having a good time and appearing to be tipsy in two videos obtained by The North Carolina Beat, but Monica’s family keeps pushing her to take shots. It’s unclear if they were playing a game, but if they were, Monica didn’t mention anything about it when she spoke to Maggie.
Oneisha takes another shot in another video.
Maggie and Timothy believe Monica and her family poisoned their daughter among other things.
The North Carolina Beat also obtained two graphic photos, which we must warn you about. One of the photos shows Oneisha sitting on the couch with a towel across her forehead and blood on her left shirt sleeve. And, as you can see in the videos above, there is no blood on her sleeves.
Another photo shows Oneisha sitting on the toilet, her pants halfway down, appearing dead, and her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and a pillow behind her neck and a washcloth across her forehead.
Maggie and Timothy told The North Carolina Beat that it took a month for Oneisha’s remains to be returned to them. When the couple went to the funeral home to see Oneisha’s remains, they noticed she had fingernail marks on her face, other bruises, and a knot on one side of her head.
Maggie and her husband have yet to receive the results of Oneisha’s autopsy or toxicology, and she believes “Puerto Rico is holding it for some reason.” She claimed she had called Puerto Rico on a daily basis and had received no response or information about her daughter. Maggie said she and her husband went to the Richmond Police Department to file a police report, but they told her it was outside of their jurisdiction and they couldn’t help.
This mother and father are now appealing to the public for assistance in obtaining justice for Oneisha.
We want justice for our child, Maggie said.
The North Carolina Beat reached out to Monica for a statement and she declined to speak with us.
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Are there any updates on this story?
So sad 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 someone should have gotten her medical attention they planned this or something too suspicious
She was dead in the bathroom photo and look at the way she is sitting in the fist one they positioned her right hand to keep her balanced.
Yes ,Jeanine ,I said the same thing…smh…I don’t know why these kids keep leaving the country with these fake friends 😒 sad.
May God be with the family and true friends of this young lady. When I look at the pictures all I can think of is that she was in trouble, she clearly needed help, “they let her down” is a serious understatement. Not one person had the wherewithal to sit her down and tell her ok Oneisha that’s enough. I believe that every person who was there and witnessed her playing this game that she didn’t know how to play; drinking this alcohol that she wasn’t familiar with, knowing she wasn’t really a drinker, is responsible for her death because no one did anything to prevent it. I wonder how serious the situation might’ve been had it been a relative or child of theirs.
When she became unresponsive and could not be brought around they should’ve called for emergency services. Whether she fell and hit her head or because she was just that intoxicated. There’s no way that any adult with an ounce of sense would allow someone who is rendered unconscious to stay that way and just leave them alone. Everyone knows if someone has a head injury, you do not let them go to sleep, they need IMMEDIATE medical attention. Losing consciousness is not a let it go and let’s see what happens sort of thing, it’s an emergency thing and they all knew it or they certainly should have.
I think it was alcohol poisoning. In the video, she’s being encouraged to drink. She can barely make her words clear. She drank way too much and probably had bootleg booze.
Why would they take a photo like that? My wife got really intoxicated one time and fell asleep on the toilet so it can happen. I think she had to use the bathroom and no one wanted to babysit her while she was still intoxicated. Sad but she died because she and her friends didn’t drink responsible. They weren’t sober enough to see the obvious signs.
I think they was having a good time she got to drunk maybe they pop a pill to get high and she over drunk to much I think she fell and hit her head hard her friends got scared because they might of gave her a pill to get high they took her to the room and was scared to call police because they gave her the drugs so they try to get her in the couch thinking she just got a bump from falling and thought she was going to be ok and left her in the room alone came back to check on her then realized she wasn’t responding and it was worst than what they thought it was and noticed she died and they were scared because they were the one who got her drunk and high and left her in the room alone while they keep partying when they check up on her again she was dead and they stage the bathroom part to make it look like they were helping her because they know they f**k up by not calling the police when they should of called them and know they know the could be held responsible for what happened to her.
You give details like if you were there or someone told you all that. That’s someone’s child don’t make wild a*s assumptions about this woman. How do you even know she popped pills or got high
I first want to offer my deepest condolences to her family. I pray they get answers. Father God, please help this family get answers to what caused their daughter’s death in Puerto Rico. In Jesus’ name amen.
I think it’s alcohol poisoning. She could have fallen and bumped her head, causing the knot. If everyone is trying to pick her up (she appears to be a big girl) could have caused the scratches or her scratching herself. Why haven’t her parents ordered their private autopsy? Have they contacted the FBI? She does look dead in the second picture. Why are they taking pictures of her dead body? Ask Monica why didn’t they call for help when she passed out or try to get her to spit up. Did she eat before they started drinking? She needs to talk to everyone there separately and record their responses. Look at all the pictures and videos from this trip. And, get a private investigator to help. Maybe she can sue for wrongful death.
This is bullshit! This is foul play and someone should be held responsible. There’s no way in hell she just died like that. If you drunk you are throwing up or something. Her family is doing the right thing and don’t give up. God bless and the true will come out.
A mother’s nightmare my condolences the noise she was making that is someone who is over dosing dying.why did she have towel on her head but family saw bump on her forehead was that to put on a bruise blunt trauma to her head scratch mark was she fighting someone for her life. Could be too much alcohol strong level. This sounds to familiar with Shquila case. Why not call for rescue you call her mom. She needed medical attention a.s.a.p. I pray for justice. God sees all it will come to light. I’m a mother of 4 grown kids 7 grandkids I feel the family pain they are your babies till 99yrs. Grant Justice for her.Yes P.R.is on’US soil
This sad, definitely looks like Oniesha was deceased on the toilet. Why were these pictures taken? They should’ve called 911 asap. The word “friend” is starting sound like “danger” Prayers to her mom, father, and family. My deepest condolences…I pray she gets Justice.
Based on those 2 pictures sofa, and restroom. The young lady appears to already be dead. Why would someone take these pictures in compromising positions. Monica said in interview they found her in restroom unconscious. Someone gave her a pillow, and towel. This is typical amongst friend groups when others are pressuring you to turn up ie drinks and drugs. I believe she suffered alcohol poisoning.
This is starting to go around with friends now because of the first thing that happened in mexico to Shaquila Robinson. People are going to have to start going out with family. Friends can not be trusted any longer with everything that’s going on in this world 💯 lord 🙏🏾 may her rest in peace and lord give the fam strength to fine out what happened to her daughter. Sad how they just left her to die and came with so sad story like they did to Shaquila Robinson mother and family members. Justice ⚖️ she be done. Much love Carmen
Anybody notice the discoloration of her lips in the bathroom photo, something clearly wasn’t right
I am a nurse and she was dead in the second photo maybe the first one also but definitely passed away in the second picture. The towel and washcloth hid the bleeding bruises etc. Definitely stagged. You dhon’t put a dry washcloth on anyone’s head. I believe she passed away in the first picture time passed with the bathroom picture because the color of her lips are white.
Puerto Rico is in the USA.
Exactly
Clearly they was having a fun time drinking and we all been there with our friends boosting us up to drink. Let’s think about the fact that they were in another country and we know how the alcohol is different in other countries..maybe her body couldn’t handle the alcohol…where is the autopsy?? Where all the facts?
PR is the United States
You said it all different countries with different alcohol content and all
I was thinking alcohol poisoning too, because the body can only consume so much alcohol before it becomes toxic, & I know someone who nearly died from alcohol poisoning. So sad this is tragic
These people definitely need to be investigated, you can hear the one guy say I can handle mine, it’s something in that cup. They poisoned her. I guarantee if they investigate and the investigator knows their job well, they will find criminal activity.
I think he was referring to being able to handle his liquor. I have used those exact words before.
This doesn’t appear alcohol related. I know alcoholics who been in and out of rehab for years and still alive. Maybe they went to La Perla and got something that was laced and she unknowingly consumed a high dosage. Puerto Rico cant afford to go viral again they’re still recovering from hurricane Maria. Something is definitely off here.
Why were they so insistent on her drinking that cup, they kept pointing out that one specific cup, and the thing is, why wasn’t an ambulance called?? Why didn’t they seek medical attention, when they first found her on the floor in the bathroom?? It just sounds to crazy, I pray you find justice and closure. GB
Okay so they left her on the toilet pants down took a picture eyes rolled in the back of her head with a pillow behind her head seems very sketchy to me
If I am not mistaken it is a game called dirty cup which is when other players tap the cups in a specific order then the player who’s turn it is has to drop a line in each cup in the same order if they mess up they take all the shots if they get it then the person that tapped the cup takes them all which is probably why you heard him say I can handle mine.. but I could be wrong
Who took the pictures and who moved her to the sofa?
How they can’t get an accurate report when Puerto Rico is part of the UNITED STATES!!! I call bullshit!!!
Exactly