Anitra Burks Sentenced to Life for Murder of Abused Boy, 6

A 6-year-old boy slurps up some noodles off a plate and looks up at his grandmother with a wide smile, approving of the food. His mouth closes, but his smile slightly remains as he makes a “mmm mmm” sound. Zane McAttee-Adams used to love his grandmother’s home-cooked meals, according to his grandmother, Yvette Adams.

When Yvette Adams would visit her grandson, Zane was always quick to run out to her car and offer to help her carry in any bags she was bringing into his home. Zane would refer to his elders as “sir” and “ma’am.” It was easy to see that he was a polite little boy, according to his grandmother.

“He lit my life up,” said Yvette Adams.

Autopsy and Case Details

Zane was pronounced dead by Dr Michael Meyer at Children’s Wisconsin on July 22, 2024. His autopsy noted that injuries covered nearly every part of Zane’s body, from where his curly, brown hair sat on the top of his head, all the way down to his little toes. The list of injuries he suffered was long enough to fill the length of a sheet of paper, including bruising on his legs that matched a hole pattern on a pair of crutches.

The crutches belonged to Anitra Burks, according to a criminal complaint. On Oct. 16, 2025, Burks was found guilty by a jury of one count of 1st-degree reckless homicide, one count of neglecting a child (consequence is death) and one count of physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death. On Nov. 20, 2025, Burks was sentenced to life imprisonment without the eligibility of parole. 

Milwaukee woman gets life in 6-year-old Zane McAttee-Adams' 2024 death https://t.co/J9KcBfcMXA

— Journal Sentinel (@journalsentinel) November 22, 2025

“You wouldn’t treat a dog like this,” Judge Laura Crivello said before giving Burks’ sentence. “How someone treated a 6-year-old like this goes beyond me.”

Matthew Torbenson, representing the State of Wisconsin, spoke at the sentencing on how Burks had previously been in prison for another count of child abuse of a child of her boyfriend at the time. That child, 10 months old, suffered scald burns from flowing water while in Burks’ care.

“Twice she has harmed an innocent child in her care,” Torbenson said.

Burks, 34, dressed in a navy-blue jail jumpsuit, with a gray t-shirt poking out on her arms, hands cuffed to a waist chain, with her dark hair is in a tight bun that rests on the nape of her neck, with black-framed glasses on her face, is escorted to her chair in Room 620 inside of the Milwaukee County Safety Building on Nov. 20. As soon as she enters the room, Yvette Adams jumps up from the bench she is sitting on and throws up her hand, with only her middle finger up at the defendant. Yvette Adams was told to sit down, or she would be kicked out of the room. Burks sits down silently next to her attorney, Russell Jones, and awaits the sentencing that will alter how the rest of her life will unfold.

Torbenson sits at a table separate, but aside Burks and Jones. Crivello takes the stand and begins Burks’ homicide sentencing hearing.

Prosecution and Victim Impact Statements

Zane’s father, Devon Adams, 34, is the first to make a statement in the hearing. Devon Adams is attending the hearing via Zoom, as he is in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon and negligently handling the firearm, resulting in someone being injured. He sits with his arms crossed, wearing a tan shirt. 

“My son did not have the village that he needed when I asked everyone for help with that child,” Devon Adams said.

Prior to entering the courtroom, Yvette Adams said that Devon Adams did not want her to testify against Burks. Devon Adams felt that Yvette Adams was projecting her past behavior onto Burks.

Devon Adams continued to explain that Zane would eat paint, lick the floor and drink water out of the toilet. He said he tried to have Zane admitted to a behavioral health treatment program, but that he would not be taken.

Crivello cut Devon Adams off, saying, “We’re not here to blame the child,” and asked him to make a statement regarding how he believes Burks should be sentenced.

“I don’t agree with this,” Devon Adams said. “I don’t recommend life sentences. I recommend the least amount possible.” 

“His father failed him,” Torbenson said.

When speaking on Burks’ sentencing, Torbenson kept coming back to the same word to describe the case: “haunting.”

“She used her cell phone as a means to capture the brutality of how she treated the child,” Torbenson said.

Torbenson explained that there was proof on Burks’ cellphone that exhibited her abusive behavior towards Zane, when she treated her biological daughter with care. Torbenson explained Zane lived in a room without furnishings, while his younger sister had a fully furnished room. Zane was forced to eat different foods than his sister, as well.

Torbenson explained that Burks had whipped Zane with a belt for getting pee on the toilet seat. As this statement was made, Burks looked over Torbenson with her mouth wide open.

Torbenson discussed a video that Burks had taken on her cell phone that showed Zane hunched over the toilet and retching, while Burks berated him.

“All you saw was a child who was scared,” Torbenson said.

Torbenson explained how he has thought long and hard about how Burks should be sentenced in this case, reflecting on how “a 6-year-old child had his childhood stolen from him.”

Sitting on the benches behind Torbenson, Yvette Adams muttered, “life.”

Torbenson said that “Zane suffered.” He explained that Zane had been “beaten from head to toe.” He said that the hospital nurses caring for Zane were doubting their equipment because they could not believe how low his heart rate was.

There was evidence on Burks’ phone that indicated she knew that Zane was in critical condition. According to a criminal complaint, searches for “what are these signs loaded (likely meant bloated) stomach, blood in vomiting, stomach pain,” “what does the inside of your stomach look like” and “what are the origins inside your stomach” were found on Burks’ phone. Additionally, Burks had made a call to a nurse at St. Joseph’s, over half an hour before making these searches, according to a criminal complaint. 

Torbenson explained that Burks was aware that Zane needed medical attention, yet she did not act with a sense of urgency. 

“She chose herself, until it was too late,” Torbenson said.

With all of that in his mind, Torbenson suggested Burks be sentenced to life without the eligibility of parole.

“She waited and let him suffer,” Torbenson said towards the end of his statement.

Yvette Adams was escorted from the gallery benches, through a door of a barrier that separates the gallery from the rest of the courtroom to the right beside Torbenson to make her statement on Burks’ sentencing. Around her neck hung a pendant with a picture of Zane in it. 

“This hurts me so bad, what she did,” said Yvette Adams.

Yvette Adams continued explaining that when she would go to Zane’s house, the toys she had bought him would still be in boxes. Yvette Adams said she had to tell him to play with his toys because he was scared to.

“He was a good little boy,” Yvette Adams said. “He was so smart.”

During Yvette Adam’s statement, Devon Adams leapt up from his chair, visibly shouting. His microphone was on mute.

“I loved him,” Yvette Adams said. “You took my pride and joy from me.”

She also addressed her son, saying, “She didn’t like Zane ’cause she didn’t like you.”

“I want to come slap you in the face, you stupid (expletive),” Yvette Adams yelled at Burks, as she was escorted back to her seat in the gallery.

Zane’s maternal grandmother was brought to the microphone next. She wore a bright blue shirt with the words “justice for Zane” across the front, in bold, white letters. She had a button pinned to her shirt that showcased of photo of Zane and his biological mother, MaQuala McAttee and a sticker with a photo of Zane holding up an award he won at school. She chose not to disclose her name and was called by her initials, AM.

McAttee died on June 9, 2021, according to an obituary posted by Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral Home.

“He suffered just like my daughter did,” AM said. 

In her statement, AM explained that when she wanted to see her grandson, Devon Adams would not let her. According to AM, she wanted custody of Zane when Devon Adams went to prison.

AM addressed Devon Adams and said, “You wouldn’t give him to me, you gave him to the devil,” as she motioned towards Burks with her arm.

“Your honor, can you please give her life without parole?” AM begged.

AM returned to the gallery, as tears streamed down her face. Her voice broke as she cried, “I want to say more than that, but I can’t,” AM said as she walked to her seat.

Stephanie Thomas, a cousin from the maternal side of Zane’s family, wore the same shirt as AM. She explained that people had been sending her and her family messages on Facebook, harassing them.

“Not a day did I see a tear drop from her face,” Thomas said, referring to Burks’ appearances in court.

Thomas explained that there had been no one present in court that has been on Burks’ side.

After the victim statements concluded, Burks’ lawyer briefly spoke on her sentencing.

Defendant Statements

Jones explained that Burks was maintaining her innocence and that he does not see her as a major threat to society. Based on this, he did not recommend a life sentence. He recommended that she receive a 40-year sentence with the eligibility of parole right before he 75th birthday.

Burks was given the opportunity to make a statement but opted to have her lawyer read a statement she had written prior to entering the courtroom.

“I’m not who the media has painted me out to be,” Jones read from Burk’s statement.

In her statement, Burks explained that she was a good, loving mother. 

“I’m an amazing mother,” Jones read from Burk’s statement. “Anyone knows that.”

Burks refers to Zane as her son, clarifying that she viewed him as her own. In the statement, Burks consistently referred to Zane as her “son” and “baby.”

“I loved him with all my heart,” Jones read from Burks’ statement. 

Burks recalls some memories that she had of Zane, explaining how much she loved him. She shares that at an event held at Zane’s school, she was the only parent volunteer to show up. She expresses how difficult it was to juggle two kids on her own.

“I am someone who loves her family to the stars, moon and back,” Jones read from Burk’s statement.

Burks explained that she cries about Zane’s death every day. She continues to explain that she was a good mother to her baby.

“I’m not who they say I am,” Jones read from Burks’ statement.

Yvette Adams shook her head with disapproval while Burks’ statement was being read by Jones.

Judge’s Ruling

“I was shocked when I saw the letters on behalf of the defendant,” Crivello said.

Crivello explained that anyone who wrote positively on Burks’ behalf must not have sat through the trial and referred to the letters as being “appalling to me.” She read out some lines from the letters written on Burks’ behalf, which testified to her being a wonderful mother and someone who loves her children.

Crivello continued to read over notes from the case, listing out several injuries that Zane had sustained. Silence from the gallery broke, as Yvette Adams burst out crying.

Crivello recalled how Zane’s room only contained a “dirty, ugly” mattress with no sheets. There were no toys or clothes in his bedroom. She compares the room to Burks’ daughter’s room, which had two beds and was filled with toys.

Crivello speaks about seeing pictures of Zane’s body after he died.

“One look at that child had to tell you something was wrong,” Crivello said.

Crivello speaks about how Burks requested to be evaluated for ADHD while at the hospital with Zane.

“Do I see care and compassion you’re giving to this child? I didn’t see that,” Crivello said.

Crivello explained that Zane’s vitals were so low that the hospital workers did not believe their own equipment.

“To think about what this child suffered is horrific,” Crivello said, her voice breaking partially through the sentence.

Crivello summarizes the evidence that was found on Burks’ phone. She recalls a video of Burks forcing Zane to run up and down the stairs. She recalls a video of Burks lying in bed with the child while smoking. She says that in the videos, Zane was acting appropriately for a child.

“What I saw was a little kid doing his damnedest to be polite and not get hurt further,” Crivello said.

Crivello continued to discuss what type of sentencing Burks deserves. She shared that she has been working in violent crime for over 30 years and how “this case got to me.” 

Crivello explained that in her mind, she wants to believe that “somehow everyone is redeemable.” She explains how “it takes a little bit of your soul away.”

“This haunts me,” Crivello said, before sentencing Burks to the maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the eligibility of parole on the count of physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death, along with maximum sentences for all the other counts Burks had been found guilty of. 

Crivello views Burks as a threat to society and sentenced her to the maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the eligibility of parole on the count of physical abuse to a child, repeated acts causing death, along with the maximum prison terms for the other charges. Additionally, Burks was ordered to $5,000 in restitution to the Victim’s Crime Compensation fund. 

Cheers and applause erupted within the courtroom from Zane’s family.

“I can’t wait till they kill your (expletive) in prison,” Yvette Adams shouted as she left the courtroom for good.