Tragic NYC newborn’s family says she died from SIDS,
By Steven Vago and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
Bryan Kohberger’s most disturbing red flags before the Idaho murders
A 1-month-old Queens girl died from sudden infant death syndrome before the family pit bull mauled her face in a tragic incident last week, the child’s parents claimed in an interview with The Post.
The couple — whose six-week-old pit bull mix named Bella “had been put down” after the horrific incident — insisted they had nothing to do with her death.
“I did not kill my child,” mom Lillian Burton said in an interview Thursday.
Joshua Wright and Lillian Burton walking in Queens, NY, with their belongings.
Brigitte Stelzer
Dog mauling
6
Kiyanna Winfield was found dead in her Queens apartment.
Obtained by the NY Post
The baby’s stepfather, who asked to be identified only as Christopher said they didn’t know what happened to the baby until an autopsy this week.
“Our baby was alive when we all went to sleep. That is the last thing we know,” he said.
Explore More
Diddy interviewed assistant in his underwear, attacked Cassie at Prince party, sex assault accuser says in explosive testimony
Burger King employee who worked last-minute shift in graduation clothes after his high school ceremony gets $22K in donations
The insane salary disgraced Harvard 'dishonesty' professor was earning before she was fired, lost tenure
“Our baby died of SIDS, from sudden infant death syndrome,” he said. “She also had medical issues. She had a heart murmur. The dog did eat the baby’s face. It was put down.”
Authorities initially believed little Kiyanna Winfield was killed by Bella – until the city medical examiner revealed Wednesday that the baby was already dead when the pup began biting her face.
Face
6
A pit bull mix was initially accused of ripping the baby’s face off, killing her.
Animal Care Centers of NYC
Undated photo of one-month-old Kiyanna Winfield provided by the Post on May 28, 2025
6
A newborn identified as Kiyanna Winfield is seen in an undated photo provided to the Post Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Obtained by the NY Post
The Medical Examiner has not yet publicly released a cause of death.
The parents said they woke to the gruesome scene shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, with sources saying a “substantial portion” of Kiyanna’s face had been mauled.
“I feed my kids well,” the girl’s mom, Lillian Burton, said Thursday. “They’re well fed. They’re well changed. They’re well put together.
New York City Housing Authority's Queensbridge Houses in Queens, NY on November 26, 2023
6
Real estate of New York City Housing Authority’s Queensbridge Houses on Sunday, November 26, 2023 in Queens, N.Y.
James Keivom
New York police and EMS responders arriving at 41-02 12th Street apartment building in Astoria, bystander Braylon Edwards in view.
6
Neighbors reported hearing screams from the sixth-floor apartment before cops and EMS arrived at the scene.
James Messerschmidt
“I take real good care of my kids,” Burton said. “For someone to say my kids are malnourished, that isn’t true.”
The couple said they’ve now been locked out of their apartment at the Queensbridge Houses public housing complex.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings