Amarah Banks, Zahria, and Zarriah—Three Lives Stolen in One Night

The name Amarah “Jerica” Banks and her two beautiful daughters, Zahria, 5, and Zarriah, 4, are etched into the heart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as an enduring symbol of unthinkable tragedy. Their collective, brutal loss, occurring the very night Amarah had just buried her baby boy, represents a failure of protection and a shocking escalation of violence. Three innocent lives were extinguished in a single, devastating act.

The Unthinkable Scream: A Mother’s Desperate Plea

The days following their disappearance began with unanswered family calls and an urgent Amber Alert. Yet, the most heartbreaking detail came from a neighbor who recalled hearing Amarah’s final, terrified plea: “No, no, please don’t kill me!” This testimony reveals the terrifying moments of a mother’s fight for her life. The eventual confession by Arzel Ivery unveiled the chilling sequence of events: he admitted to killing Amarah after an argument, then murdering Zahria and Zarriah, allegedly so they “wouldn’t live without their mother,” before committing the final, desecrating act of burning their bodies in a garage.

A Warning That Still Echoes: The Speed of Fatal Violence

The Banks family tragedy serves as a profound and devastating warning about how fast violence can turn fatal. This was a multi-layered crime: the loss of a mother who tried desperately to run, and the murder of two little girls who never had a chance to grow up. The city of Milwaukee continues to mourn three lives lost in one night, acknowledging the profound societal failure to intervene before deadly violence erupted within the home.

Zahria and Zarriah: Innocence Lost

The pain is sharpest for Zahria and Zarriah. Their lives, defined by the brief, beautiful innocence of childhood, were mercilessly cut short. The community is united in demanding justice for this horrific triple homicide, praying that the memory of Amarah and her daughters drives a societal commitment to protecting all vulnerable women and children from the horrors of domestic violence.