Left: Anitra Burks (Milwaukee County Jail). Right: Zane McAttee-Adams (GoFundMe).

The woman, Anitra Burks, was handed the life sentence on Thursday after being found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, neglecting a child causing death, and repeated acts of physical abuse resulting in death. The tragic victim, Zane McAttee-Adams, suffered extensively at the hands of Burks, who was his sole caregiver at the time of his passing, according to court documents.

According to a criminal complaint and reports by Milwaukee Fox affiliate WITI, Burks took Zane to a nearby hospital on July 21, 2024. Surveillance footage from the hospital showed the young boy struggling to walk on his own and appearing barely conscious. At one point, Zane collapsed, prompting Burks to lift him by the shoulder and drag him into the emergency room.

Medical professionals found the boy covered in bruises from head to toe, with injuries to his face, arms, legs, and genitals. Tragically, Zane was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. An autopsy revealed he had suffered from severe blunt force trauma, multiple cuts, contusions, and a broken rib. His core body temperature had dropped to a perilous 92 degrees, underscoring the severity of his injuries.

Doctors noted the boy had bruises “head to toe” including to his face, arms, legs and genitals. They pronounced him dead. An autopsy determined the boy died from extensive blunt force injuries. He was suffering from multiple cuts and contusions along with a broken rib. Zane had a core body temperature of 92 degrees.

The defendant had no explanation for the boy’s injuries. She claimed Zane ate some eggs and complained of a stomach before throwing up before she took him to the hospital. She said Zane had “behavior issues” and she was caring for him after his father was in jail for an unrelated case.

Burks had a prior history of child abuse. She spent about three years in prison after she reportedly poured hot water on a 10-month-old child.

Zane’s death left his family reeling. His grandmother Yvette Adams told WITI it was “just inhumane what she did to him.”

“She had my baby in a whole horror story. She is a monster,” she said in an interview with the outlet. “She ripped my heart away. I’m hurt deep in my soul.”