Police arrested a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, woman August 13 after allegedly discovering her infant daughter’s decomposing remains locked inside a bedroom of her apartment, WISN 12 News reported.
Officers initially responded to reports of a foul smell coming from 28-year-old Shyanna Brothers’ residence, according to the outlet. Brothers first blamed the odor on old food but later told police, “He has me hiding her in there,” pointing to a locked bedroom door, according to documents obtained by WISN.
Inside, officers allegedly found 10-month-old Rayne Taylor’s body decomposing in a “large cardboard box in the center of the floor,” along with maggots and flies, the outlet reported.
Prosecutors charged Brothers with hiding the corpse of a child, according to WISN. The medical examiner found evidence of blunt force trauma to the child’s head, although investigators have not discovered the cause of death, the outlet noted.
Baby found dead and decomposing in Milwaukee apartment, mom arrested | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/6tvbjXLiih
— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) August 19, 2025
A neighbor who requested anonymity claimed she never saw Brothers with a baby and had noticed unusual behavior in recent weeks, the outlet reported.
“I saw her out here. She asked me for some change, and then she stated that it was so stinky in her house, and she couldn’t go in. She couldn’t use the restroom, and I was just wondering why,” the neighbor told the outlet. (RELATED: Mother Arrested After 1-Year-Old Baby Survives In Ditch For Two Days Near Brother’s Dead Body)
Detectives said Brothers allegedly made multiple incoherent statements during her interview and appeared to be “talking to someone else,” WISN reported. A court commissioner asked for a competency examination for Brothers during a weekend court appearance. Brothers’ adoptive mother in Florida told WISN through tears that she was unaware of baby Rayne’s existence. The family had not contacted Brothers in approximately eight years, according to the outlet.
Milwaukee police said they are not seeking additional suspects, the outlet reported. The neighbor urged mothers to seek help, saying, “I have kids of my own. It’s a lot of help out here in Milwaukee. So if you ladies need help, get your resources. These babies need to be safe.”