Milwaukee Mother Found Living with Decomposed Baby in Cardboard Box

By Savage RoyalT | August 17, 2025 | SavageRoyalT.com

Authorities in Milwaukee have charged 28-year-old Shyanna Brothers with hiding the corpse of her 10-month-old daughter after police discovered the baby’s decomposed body inside a cardboard box in her apartment. The disturbing case unfolded after officers responded to a complaint of a strong odor coming from the residence, which a neighbor described as smelling like death.

According to a criminal complaint, Brothers initially attempted to brush off the odor, telling officers it came from old food. But when confronted with reports that she had told others her baby was “gone,” Brothers admitted she had lost a child. Inside the apartment, she began making conflicting statements at first, blaming an alleged abusive boyfriend, claiming he killed the baby and forced her to hide the body. She pointed officers toward a locked bedroom, where they forced the door open and found a cardboard box in the center of the floor surrounded by hundreds of dead flies. Inside was the body of her infant daughter, badly decomposed and unrecognizable, with fluids seeping into the bottom of the box.

An autopsy later revealed the child had suffered a skull fracture consistent with blunt force trauma. Police said Brothers made a throwing motion while referring to the injury, suggesting the baby had been thrown. Despite her claims, authorities found no evidence that a man lived in or frequented the apartment. Investigators described the unit as nearly empty, containing only an air mattress and a television.

During questioning, the Brothers’ statements grew more erratic. She told detectives she had been raped in her apartment and forced to harm her baby, alleging people had been coming in and out of her home to assault her and steal from her. At one point, she told officers, “I had no control over how she died.” She also made bizarre comments, including “Oh God, we f—ed up today,” before barking repeatedly, and told detectives, “What I’m saying and what you are doing is helping me plead insane, you dumb b—. You might as well send me the f— back upstairs.”

Court records show that Brothers repeatedly covered her mouth as if to stop herself from speaking further. She also insisted, “They already know I did not kill my child. It may look like it’s me, but I’m going to get exonerated.” Police, however, made clear there was no indication of another person’s involvement.

Brothers is currently charged with hiding the corpse of a child and is being held on $50,000 bond. She is undergoing a court ordered mental health evaluation, with results expected next month. Prosecutors have not ruled out additional charges as the investigation continues.

The case has horrified Milwaukee residents, raising questions about how long the infant was dead inside the home before discovery. Detectives stated the child’s body was in an advanced state of decomposition, far beyond recognition, underscoring the time lapse before authorities were notified.

The tragic discovery underscores the darkest side of child abuse investigations and highlights the importance of community vigilance when warning signs surface.

Follow SavageRoyalT.com for continued coverage on this case and other developing true crime stories. Share your thoughts: Do you believe Shyanna Brothers’ claims of abuse, or was this a calculated cover-up?