Wakefield community holds vigil for mother, son found dead in apartment
Neighbors told News 12 they heard the 4-year-old crying and a disturbing odor coming from a second-floor apartment on East 231st Street.
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Loved ones and community members gathered for a vigil on Friday to remember a 38-year-old mother and her 8-year-old son, whose bodies were discovered on April 18 inside of a Wakefield apartment.
Police said the woman’s 4-year-old daughter was also found alive.
“You didn’t do nothing when you heard [the little girl’s] cries!” said Kay Smith, an emotional family member.
Neighbors told News 12 they heard the 4-year-old crying and a disturbing odor coming from a second-floor apartment on East 231st Street.
“This child was laying in her bed covered with chocolate that she was surviving on.”
Police said alongside the little girl were the bodies of her mother, Lisa Cotton, and brother, Nazir, who had autism and was confined to a wheelchair with a feeding tube.
Police said a wellness check by a family member led to the grim discovery.
“The bodies had already begun to decompose,” said Tyra Ford, a family friend. “So, for two weeks, the little baby was sitting there with her deceased brother and mother.”
Ford said Cotton struggled with mental health, was not taking her medication, and she had an open case with child services.
“Someone should’ve been there making sure they were good,” Ford said. “Period. ACS dropped the ball.”
As of Friday night, the medical examiner had not released the official causes of death.
