A 34-year-old Wisconsin woman will spend the rest of her life behind bars after beating her boyfriend’s 6-year-old son, creating bruises “from head to toe” and resulting in his death from blunt force trauma.
Anitra Burks was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of release on Thursday for Zane McAttee-Adams’ death, according to court records. Burks was found guilty in October of first-degree reckless homicide, neglecting a child resulting to death, and physical abuse of a child, all of which resulted in death.
Burks was Zane’s only caregiver at the time of his death, according to a criminal complaint acquired by Milwaukee Fox station WITI. On July 21, 2024, she took Zane to the local hospital. The hospital’s surveillance video showed Zane “had no ability to walk on his own and appeared to be barely conscious.” When he fainted, Burks grabbed the youngster by the shoulder and took him to the emergency department.
Doctors discovered injuries “head to toe” on the boy’s face, arms, legs, and genitals. They pronounced him dead. An autopsy revealed that the youngster died from serious blunt force injuries. He had many cuts, contusions, and a cracked rib. Zane had a core temperature of 92 degrees.
The defendant offered no explanation for the boy’s injuries. She stated Zane ate some eggs, complained about his stomach, and then vomited before being sent to the hospital. She said Zane had “behavior issues” and was caring for him while his father was in jail for unrelated charges.
Burks had a previous history of child abuse. She served nearly three years in prison after allegedly pouring hot water on a 10-month-old infant.
Zane’s death has left his family heartbroken. His grandmother, Yvette Adams, told WITI it was “just inhumane what she did to him.”
“She had my baby in a complete horror story. “She is a monster,” she stated in an interview with the outlet. “She ripped my heart out. “I’m hurt deep inside.”
