Milwaukee woman sentenced in crash that killed 1-year-old, family offers forgiveness

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee woman who killed a 1-year-old child while driving intoxicated learned her sentence Friday.

Antwineesha Burse was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by eight years of extended supervision for a crash that killed 1-year-old Zarion Robinson.

Zarion’s family spoke in court, offering forgiveness.

The case dates back to January of 2023.

Police say Zarion’s mother parked her car outside her home and briefly stepped inside, leaving her son in the back seat. Investigators say Burse, a family acquaintance who had been sitting in the passenger seat, moved into the driver’s seat and drove away.

“I could go back and choose to never get in the driver's seat to begin with I would,” Burse said in court. “What I did was the worst choice of my entire life.”

The car crashed head-on into a van near 35th Street and Hope Avenue. Zarion died from his injuries.

Prosecutors say Burse was driving without a valid license and had a blood alcohol concentration of .248 at the time of the crash.

Burse apologized to the family during her sentencing.

“I apologize with everything in my heart and soul to the family,” she said. “This will never happen in my life again. Please forgive me. My heart goes out to you. God bless you. My prayers are with you. I'm sorry.”

Police say Burse was hospitalized after the crash but was never taken into custody. Investigators say she later fled and was arrested nearly two years later, in December of 2024.

Zarion’s grandmother said the family continues to feel the loss.

“Holidays and birthdays do bother me but I'm forgiving her,” Janet Mayfield said. “I want the courts to know that.”