The parents of a one-month-old baby who died in a New York apartment on Tuesday have shared their side of the story. They say their daughter, Kiyanna Winfield, died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), not from an attack by their family dog as early reports suggested.
Conflicting Reports About Baby’s Death
Initial news said Kiyanna was mauled by a six-week-old pit bull and German Shepherd mix. However, her stepfather, who asked to be called Christopher, told The New York Post, “Our baby died of SIDS, from sudden infant death syndrome.”
He added that Kiyanna had medical problems, including a heart murmur. “The dog did eat the baby’s face. It was put down,” he said.
But the Animal Care Centers of NYC confirmed to The Independent that the dog was still alive three days after the incident, which happened at Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City.
What Is SIDS?
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also called cot death, is the sudden, unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby. It remains one of the leading causes of death for infants under one year old.
Details of the Incident
When police arrived at the family’s home on Tuesday morning, Kiyanna’s mother, Lillian Burton, told officers that the baby had been sleeping between her and her partner. They woke up to find the dog gnawing at the baby’s face.
Police found Kiyanna unconscious, with a “substantial portion” of her face bitten off.
Parents Deny Any Wrongdoing
In an interview, Kiyanna’s mother said, “I did not kill my child.”
Christopher said, “Our baby was alive when we all went to sleep. That is the last thing we know.”
The family had only owned the puppy, named Bella, for two weeks before the tragedy.
Parents Believe Puppy Was Trying to Help
Christopher suggested the puppy was too young to understand what it was doing. “We think maybe the baby was gasping for air and the puppy didn’t realize it was a part of her, so the puppy was trying to clear whatever was on her face to breathe,” he explained.
He added, “We don’t think the puppy was purposely hurting our child.”
Current Status
The medical examiner has not yet released the official cause of death. No charges have been filed by the New York Police Department.