A 4-year-old girl miraculously survived on chocolate for at least two weeks while trapped alone inside a Bronx apartment with the lifeless bodies of her mother and older brother, according to police and family members.
Promise Cotton, 4, was discovered on April 18 in the apartment on East 231st Street after her grandfather, Hubert Cotton, grew concerned when he hadn’t heard from her mother, Lisa Cotton, 38. He sent another family member to check on the home — and what she found was heartbreaking.
According to the New York Post, Promise was found weak and starving, lying on her mother’s bed. The bodies of Lisa Cotton and her 8-year-old son, Nazir Millien, were also in the apartment. Nazir, who was born prematurely and required a feeding tube, had reportedly died along with his mother about two weeks earlier.
“She survived by feeding herself with chocolate,” Hubert Cotton, 71, told reporters. “That’s all she had.”
A Frightening Discovery
After discovering the tragic scene, the relative rushed Promise out of the apartment before alerting authorities. The New York Police Department (NYPD) responded to the 911 call around 8:30 p.m. and found both deceased victims “unconscious and unresponsive.” They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Promise was transported to a nearby hospital for a medical evaluation and is now in the care of child services, according to the NYPD.
Failed Safety Checks?
Neighbors told reporters that both police and representatives from New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) had visited the building earlier that week, while Promise was still trapped inside the unit — but neither agency entered the apartment.
“They were here ringing people’s bells the day before the wellness check,” neighbor Sabrina Coleson said. “ACS didn’t do s—.”
ACS declined to provide details, according to People, citing confidentiality, but said in a statement:
“The safety and well-being of New York City’s children is our top priority. We are investigating this tragedy with the NYPD.”
Unconfirmed Causes of Death
While the official causes of death are pending autopsy results, police sources told the Post that Lisa Cotton may have died from cardiac arrest, and Nazir Millien may have died from starvation due to his feeding dependency.
The NYPD confirmed that no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.
A Tragedy That Could Have Been Prevented?
The case has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of wellness checks and inter-agency coordination in preventing tragedies involving vulnerable children.
It is unclear how long Promise was left alone before agencies responded or why authorities did not force entry during initial visits.
For now, family members are focused on Promise’s recovery and grieving the unimaginable loss of her mother and brother.
