Memorial service held for mother, young son found dead in Wakefield apartment

Police said the bodies of Lisa Cotton and Nazir Mordecia Milien Jr. were found inside their second-floor apartment on East 231st Street.

Tim Harfmann

Jun 2, 2025, 2:02 AM

Updated yesterday

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Family and friends gathered for a memorial service on Sunday to remember a 38-year-old mother and her 8-year-old son, who were found dead inside of their Wakefield apartment on April 18.
“I just remember them happy,” said Tawana Smith-Tention, Cotton’s sister. “I just know that she loved to keep her kids happy. Every time you saw her, you saw her kids. Nazir’s been in and out of the hospital since he was a baby. She had to travel to Brooklyn, and whatever she had to do, she did.”
A wellness check led to the grim discovery, where officials said a 4-year-old girl was also found alive – lying in her bed and surviving off chocolate.
Cotton's sister told News 12 on Sunday that the little girl is now in the custody of her grandparents.
“She’s fine,” Smith-Tention said. “She’s happy. We’re just making sure that she’s content. We’re making sure she’s staying in school.”
The family said the young boy was autistic, non-verbal, used a feeding tube and a wheelchair. Cotton struggled with mental health and had an open case with the Administration for Children’s Services.
“As far as [officials] know, [Cotton died of] cardiac arrest, but they’re still looking into it,” Smith-Tention said.
As of Sunday, the city’s Medical Examiner’s Office had not released an official cause of death for the mother and son.
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