In a harrowing incident that has shocked the Bronx community, a four-year-old girl named Promise was discovered alive after surviving for days alone in her family’s apartment alongside the bodies of her deceased mother and brother.
On May 2, 2025, Promise’s older sister visited their Bronx residence after growing concerned over the lack of communication from their mother, Lisa Cotton, 38. Upon entering the apartment, she found Lisa and her eight-year-old brother, Nazir Millien, deceased. Promise was found on her mother’s bed, feeding herself chocolate, which she had subsisted on during the ordeal.
The family’s landlord had previously contacted Lisa’s father, 71-year-old Hubert Cotton, inquiring if Lisa had moved out, as she had been unreachable for days. Neighbors reported not seeing Lisa for over two weeks. Despite these concerns, authorities had not acted immediately, citing no signs of a break-in or foul odor.
When police arrived, they found Nazir’s body with “bugs crawling on it,” indicating he had been deceased for some time. Promise was taken to the hospital for evaluation and is now living with her grandfather, Hubert Cotton. The causes of Lisa and Nazir’s deaths remain under investigation.
This tragic event has raised questions about the effectiveness of wellness checks and the need for timely intervention when concerns are raised about individuals’ well-being.