8-Year-Old Boy Survives Father’s Attack That Left His Mom & Sister Dead; Living With Officer’s Family

In March, 8-year-old Ronnie Blair’s mother and 9-year-old sister were killed at the hands of his father.

Ronnie luckily survived after being stabbed and set on fire by his father.

The father, Ronnie Oneal III, 32, was sentenced to three life sentences, plus 60 years, after a jury found him guilty for killing the boy’s mother, Kenyatta Barron, and sister Ron’Niveya March 18, 2018.

Mike Blair, a veteran homicide detective of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, responded with other officers that tragic night after the mother placed a call to 911, PEOPLE reported.

Following the tragedy, the officer went to visit Ronnie in the hospital.

“It was just devastating to me that he didn’t have a mom to take care of him in that condition,” Danyel Blair, the officer’s wife told the outlet in this week’s issue.

“There was no expectation Ronnie would live,” Mike added.

“After that night, Ronnie was on his mind — “I was surprised that he was even alive because of all his horrific injuries,” Mike continued. The father of five brought the young boy a Tampa Bay Buccaneers jersey signed by players.

He says that when he went to leave, Ronnie asked him to stay and watch a movie with him. That same night he returned with Danyel to watch Power Rangers.

Five months after that night, the Blair family got a call from the guardian overseeing Ronnie’s case. She told them that the boy was in desperate need of a foster home after two foster situations didn’t work out.

“Forty-five seconds before that phone call I still wasn’t interested [in fostering], but I told her, ‘Bring him to me,'” says Mike. “I didn’t even clear it with Danyel because I knew what the answer would be.”

Coincidentally, Danyel and the couple’s children had already tried convincing Mike to consider fostering a child.

“It was something that we felt God had in the works,” says Danyel.

By November 2019, the Blair family had officially adopted Ronnie.

“He quickly became like any other younger brother,” says sibling Hunter Blair, 21. “He’s an extremely strong, funny kid. It’s hard to picture our family without him.”

“Whatever lies ahead for Ronnie, we want him to go after it and do it,” says Mike.

The transition into the family was tough for Ronnie, and he continues to heal from the physical and mental trauma he’s survived.

This past July, Ronnie bravely testified against his father in court.

“It means a lot to me to have a family that can always help me get through the things I need to get through. I feel loved.”