A Milwaukee neighborhood is reeling after 28-year-old Shyanna Brothers was arrested on Aug. 13, 2025, following the discovery of her 10-month-old daughter’s decomposed body inside her apartment.
According to WISN, officers responded to a disturbing call reporting a strong odor described as “smelling like someone died.” When police arrived, Brothers initially claimed the stench came from rotten food and stated her baby was “gone.”
During questioning, she later alleged that her daughter had died weeks earlier and pointed to her child’s father as responsible, claiming he threatened her to remain silent or face jail time.
Brothers then directed officers to a locked room. Upon entry, they discovered a cardboard box containing the infant’s body in an advanced state of decomposition, infested with maggots and dead flies.
Neighbors expressed shock, with one recalling often seeing Brothers standing outside the building but never suspecting what was unfolding inside.
Authorities have since interviewed Brothers twice, but questions remain about her mental state. Reports indicate she repeatedly spoke as if addressing someone not in the room. Despite this behavior, Brothers insisted she does not suffer from any mental illness.
A preliminary report from the medical examiner revealed the baby suffered blunt force trauma to the head, though a final cause of death has not yet been determined.
On Aug. 17, Brothers appeared in court where her cash bond was set at $50,000. She is now required to undergo a competency test as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.
The case has rattled the local community, raising concerns about child protection and mental health awareness.
