New Update In Queens: One-Month-Old Baby Kiyanna Winfield Was Not Mauled to Death by Family Puppy, Medical Examiner Confirms

Queens, NY – May 29, 2025 — What was initially reported as a horrifying dog mauling has taken a stunning and sorrowful turn after the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Wednesday that a 1-month-old girl found dead in a Queens apartment was not killed by the family’s six-week-old pit bull-German Shepherd mix puppy. Instead, the infant, identified as Kiyanna Winfield, tragically died of unknown causes prior to the puppy biting her face.

The chilling discovery unfolded early Tuesday morning inside the family’s sixth-floor apartment at the Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing complex in the country, located in Long Island City. Emergency crews rushed to the scene shortly after 6:30 a.m. following a frantic 911 call made by the child’s mother. She told dispatchers that her baby had been attacked by their dog while she and her partner were sleeping.

A Disturbing Scene

Upon arrival, first responders found baby Kiyanna in bed with traumatic facial injuries. The scene was deeply disturbing. According to early police reports, the dog had bitten off a substantial portion of the baby’s face. The mother reportedly said that Kiyanna had been sleeping between her and the baby’s father during the night. When the couple awoke, they found their dog gnawing at the infant’s face.

The baby, born on April 13, was pronounced dead at the scene. Initially, authorities suspected that the young pit bull mix had fatally mauled the child while the parents slept, a horrifying and rare possibility that drew widespread shock and grief across the city.

However, after conducting an autopsy, the Medical Examiner’s Office issued a clarifying and heartbreaking update.

Postmortem Injuries Confirmed

“This is not a death from a dog mauling,” a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement released Wednesday. “The injuries inflicted by the dog were postmortem.”

While the dog had indeed caused visible and significant trauma to the child’s face, the office explained that these injuries occurred after Kiyanna had already died. The cause and manner of her death remain officially “pending further study to include a full pediatric workup.”

Until the full investigation is completed, it is still unclear whether the infant died from natural causes, a medical complication, or another unknown factor.

A Family and Community in Mourning

The revelation has only deepened the sorrow surrounding the case, replacing horror with an air of haunting uncertainty.

“She was a beautiful baby,” said one neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous. “The mom just had her… She showed me the puppy two days ago. It was so small — I never thought it could hurt anyone.”

Photographs released to the media show little Kiyanna peacefully napping in a hospital bassinet and again at home in recent weeks. In other images, the puppy, described by authorities as a pit bull-German Shepherd mix, is seen looking small and innocent, now housed at a city-operated Animal Care Center shelter as the investigation continues.

Dog Taken by Animal Services

Following the incident, the puppy was removed from the home by Animal Care Centers of NYC. The agency confirmed the dog is currently being evaluated and held for observation. No determination has been made about whether the dog will be returned to the family or rehomed.

It is unclear whether the parents will face any charges or legal consequences at this stage. A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed that no arrests have been made, and detectives are working in conjunction with medical investigators to determine the events leading up to the child’s death.

The Queensbridge Complex: A Historic Yet Struggling Community

The Queensbridge Houses have long stood as an iconic yet challenged symbol of New York City’s public housing system. Though known for its historic roots and tight-knit community, residents have often faced scrutiny regarding infrastructure, safety, and social services.

Tragedies like this only reinforce long-standing concerns about access to healthcare, early intervention, and parenting support in under-resourced neighborhoods.

Local leaders are now calling for expanded outreach and mental health services for families coping with traumatic loss.

“This is an unimaginable tragedy,” said a representative from the local community board. “We urge the city to provide grief counseling and family support to those affected. No parent should have to endure this type of trauma, and we must ensure that families have the help they need to prevent future heartbreak.”

Awaiting Answers

As the city awaits the results of the full pediatric autopsy and investigative findings, a family and neighborhood are left reeling — not only from the loss of an innocent life but from the gut-wrenching realization that they may never fully understand what took baby Kiyanna Winfield away so soon.

For now, the family is reportedly cooperating with investigators and mourning in private.

“She was just a month old,” the neighbor added softly. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

If you or someone you know is dealing with the loss of a child or experiencing a crisis, you are not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the NYC Well Hotline at 1-888-NYC-WELL or by texting ‘WELL’ to 65173.