On December 12, 2022, one-year-old A'nyis Little died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a residential fire at 2618 Grimsley Street in Greensboro, North Carolina. A'nyis, his twin brother Aerious (also age 1), and their 4-year-old brother Antonio Little Jr. were all left home alone by their mother, Brandi Sturdivant, when the fire broke out. Sturdivant had left the home around 7:30 a.m. to take her older children to school, though she initially told investigators she was asleep in bed with the boys. Surveillance video showed her car was not in the driveway before the fire started. A neighbor first observed smoke and fire at approximately 7:48 a.m. Child Protective Services had received nine complaints about Sturdivant since 2016, including one filed less than a month before the fire alleging the children were left unsupervised, which was still under investigation. The children had been temporarily removed in September 2022 but were returned to Sturdivant just eight days later. Sturdivant was charged with child abuse and second-degree murder. A subsequent state investigation found Guilford County DSS had failed to adequately address safety concerns, prompting systemic reforms.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
The WFMY News 2 article states: "An autopsy report showed cocaine in the system of one of the children. Police said Sturdivant confessed to keeping drugs in the house." The Greensboro News & Record article also reports that "cocaine was found" during an autopsy of Antonio Little Jr. While this finding was in a sibling (Antonio Little Jr.) rather than A'nyis specifically, it documents child drug exposure in the same household where A'nyis lived.
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Multiple sources confirm the children were left home alone without supervision. The fatality report states: "Three children under the age of five died in a residential fire on Grimsley Street in Greensboro, North Carolina, after being left home alone." The FOX8 article states: "Investigators say their mother left them home alone when the fire broke out." The WFMY article adds: "Witnesses told investigators Sturdivant would constantly go out and leave all of her children alone at night." A CPS complaint filed November 17 alleged "the children were being left unsupervised" and was still under investigation when the fire occurred.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The Greensboro News & Record article reports that Sturdivant told investigators "she and the five children all slept on a queen mattress in the master bedroom of the one-story home." For a 1-year-old infant, co-sleeping on a queen mattress shared with five other people (the mother and four siblings) constitutes an unsafe sleeping environment. Additionally, "she heated the apartment using an electric stove located in the living room because the baseboard heating was expensive," which is a hazardous condition in the sleeping environment.
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Brandi Sturdivant, is directly responsible for the circumstances leading to the death. The fatality report states: "Their mother, Brandi Sturdivant, has been charged with child abuse and second-degree murder." Multiple sources confirm she left the three children (including A'nyis) home alone when the fire occurred. The WFMY article states: "Greensboro police initially charged Sturdivant with child abuse. They said she left the kids home alone. Now, investigators have upgraded the charges to murder."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The Greensboro News & Record article documents extensive CPS history: "Court documents related to the abuse case reveal nine complaints against Sturdivant were filed since 2016 with the Child Protective Services division of the Guilford County Department of Social Services. Seven of the complaints were closed by Child Protective Services — including one that still has criminal charges pending." The most recent complaint was filed November 17, alleging the children were left unsupervised, and was still under investigation at the time of the fire. Family members told investigators they "filed complaints against her 'on multiple occasions'" ranging from "squalor living conditions to nonsupervision or abandonment." A September incident also resulted in CPS opening an investigation and creating a temporary safety plan.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states: "Their mother, Brandi Sturdivant, has been charged with child abuse and second-degree murder." The WFMY article confirms: "Greensboro police initially charged Sturdivant with child abuse... Now, investigators have upgraded the charges to murder." The Greensboro News & Record adds she was "charged with three felony counts of negligent child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury" and "is being held at the Guilford County jail on $170,000 bail."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Greensboro News & Record article describes that shortly after the fire, Sturdivant "jumped into her vehicle and drove toward the end of Grimsley Street 'making suicidal statements.'" The vehicle traveled at high speed toward concrete barriers. While this references an acute crisis reaction rather than a diagnosed mental health condition, making suicidal statements constitutes a reference to the parent's mental health.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Greensboro News & Record article reports that from the September incident (prior to the December fire): "Sturdivant still faces a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor stemming from the incident." This charge arose from a September incident where one of the twins was found in severely neglected condition. This predates and is separate from the fatal fire incident charges.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WFMY News 2 article states: "Police said Sturdivant confessed to keeping drugs in the house." The Greensboro News & Record article reports that "cocaine was found" during an autopsy of one of the children (Antonio Little Jr.), further implicating drug use in the home. These references indicate substance use by the parent/caregiver.
Notable Details
Several substantive systemic and investigative details emerge from the sources. First, the NC Department of Health and Human Services investigation found that "GCDSS workers did not thoroughly address safety, maintain ongoing contact with families and follow up on safety concerns reported" and uncovered "violations in this case and 29 others" (FOX8 article). Despite nine CPS complaints since 2016 — including one just weeks before the fire alleging the children were left unsupervised — children were returned to Sturdivant just eight days after being removed in September (Greensboro News & Record). Second, investigators seized a lighter, gas can, stove, and two cellphones from the charred remains of the home, and the fire cause had not been publicly released as of the last reporting. Third, Sturdivant initially lied to investigators, claiming she was in bed asleep with the children, but changed her story when confronted with evidence that her vehicle was not at the home; she had actually left to take older children to school. Fourth, cocaine was found in the body of sibling Antonio Little Jr. during autopsy, and Sturdivant confessed to keeping drugs in the house. The manner of death was ruled "undetermined" by the medical examiner despite the circumstances.
These fields were populated by an AI model and may contain inaccuracies. Review the links and PDFs provided for verification before citing. Contact [email protected] to report any inaccuracies where corrections are needed.