Left: Anitra Burks (Milwaukee County Jail). Right: Zane McAttee-Adams (GoFundMe).
In October, Anitra Burks was found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, child neglect resulting in death, and repeated physical abuse causing death. Consequently, on Thursday, she received a life sentence, as documented in court records.
The criminal complaint, as reported by Milwaukee Fox affiliate WITI, revealed that Burks was the sole caretaker for young Zane McAttee-Adams at the time of his tragic death. On July 21, 2024, Burks took Zane to a nearby hospital. Surveillance footage showed the boy was unable to walk independently and seemed barely conscious. At one point, he collapsed, prompting Burks to lift him by the shoulder and drag him into the emergency room.
Medical professionals observed that Zane was covered in bruises from head to toe, including marks on his face, arms, legs, and genitals. Tragically, he was declared dead shortly after. An autopsy confirmed that Zane died from extensive blunt force injuries, sustaining numerous cuts, contusions, and a broken rib. His core body temperature was alarmingly low, at 92 degrees.
Burks could not provide a plausible explanation for Zane’s severe injuries. She mentioned that the boy had eaten eggs and complained of a stomach ache before vomiting, which prompted her hospital visit. She also noted that Zane had “behavior issues” and that she was responsible for his care while his father was incarcerated on unrelated charges.
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.”
