A Milwaukee woman has been ordered to spend more than a decade behind bars for a drunk driving crash that killed a 1-year-old boy on the city’s north side. On Friday, Jan. 16, a judge sentenced Antwineesha Burse to 12 years in prison and eight years of extended supervision for her role in a January 2023 collision that claimed the life of toddler Zarion Robinson. Burse had pleaded guilty in October to homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and to knowingly operating without a valid license, while a separate alcohol-related count was dismissed. The crash happened near North 35th Street and West Hope Avenue when a Pontiac G6 taken from outside a home struck a van head-on. Zarion was rushed to a hospital and later died from his injuries, as reported by FOX6 Milwaukee.
Judge Hands Down 12-Year Prison Term
According to FOX6 Milwaukee, Burse received the 12-year prison sentence on Friday after entering her guilty pleas in October. The station reports that the judge added eight years of extended supervision and that prosecutors agreed to drop a third charge as part of a plea deal. FOX6 notes that its coverage drew on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access records and the criminal complaint filed in the case.
How The Crash Unfolded
The Associated Press reported that the crash took place in late January 2023 after the Pontiac G6 was taken from outside a home with the baby still inside. The stolen car then slammed head-on into a minivan near North 35th Street and West Hope Avenue. First responders found Zarion in an overturned car seat, and he later died at Children's Wisconsin. The AP account cited the medical examiner's investigative narrative along with early statements from police about how the collision happened.
Family Remembers Zarion
Almost a year after the crash, relatives and neighbors gathered at the intersection where it happened for a balloon release in Zarion's memory and to mark what would have been his birthday, CBS 58 reported. Loved ones described the 1-year-old as “a happy kid” who lit up the household and urged anyone who knew more about the case to speak up. The vigil highlighted how the loss continues to weigh on the neighborhood even as the court case moved toward its conclusion.
Prosecutors' Account And Evidence
Prosecutors alleged that Burse was intoxicated at the time of the crash, with a blood-alcohol level described as roughly three times the legal limit, and that she had never been issued a Wisconsin driver's license, according to WISN. Local coverage noted that court filings and public docket entries documented the investigation, and records show Burse was taken to the hospital after the crash before formal charges were filed. The case went through multiple hearings leading up to Burse's October plea and the sentencing that followed.
After The Sentence
The prison term closes the legal chapter of a case that shook Milwaukee's north side, but Zarion's family has been clear that no amount of prison time will bring him back. As FOX6 Milwaukee noted, court records and the criminal complaint formed the backbone of the prosecution's case against Burse. Family members and community leaders say the tragedy remains a stark reminder about both child safety and vehicle security, and they continue to urge anyone who saw the crash or its aftermath to come forward.
