Anita Bitri

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{{Notability|Music|date=November 2017}}

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{{Infobox musical artist

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| name = Anita Bitri

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| birth_date = {{birth date |1968|01|08}}

| birth_place = Sarandë, Albania

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| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|10|19|1968|01|08}}

| death_place = Staten Island, New York, U.S.

| genre = Pop music

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Anita Bitri Prapaniku (8 January 1968 – 19 October 2004) was an Albanian-American pop singer.{{citation| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/nyregion/weeks-before-detectors-become-law-fumes-kill-singer-and-family.html| work=The New York Times| title=Weeks Before Detectors Become Law, Fumes Kill Singer and Family| author=Shaila K. Dewan| date=2004-10-20}}{{cite web|url=http://muzika.albasoul.com/terejat.php?id=1550|title=Ndahet nga jeta këngëtarja Anita Bitri|work=albasoul.com|accessdate=4 September 2015}} Bitri had her first music success at the age of sixteen,{{cite news |last1=Heldman |first1=Kevin |title=The big trial: An Albanian-American crime story, from 15 Mile Road to Pearl Street |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2011/06/the-big-trial-an-albanian-american-crime-story-from-15-mile-road-to-pearl-street-067223 |access-date=7 March 2021 |work=Politico |date=June 9, 2011}} and she became popular in Albania with her song "First Love". She emigrated to the United States in 1996.

She was found dead in her Staten Island home along with her 8-year-old daughter Sibora Nini and 60-year-old mother Azbije. The three died due to an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning after boiler ventilators in the basement were stuffed with plastic bags to keep out concrete from construction work.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-20-na-briefs20.4-story.html|title=Carbon Monoxide Kills 3 in Staten Island Family|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=October 20, 2004|accessdate=February 27, 2021}} Her husband, Luan Prapaniku, had recently died from cancer.

At the time of her death, she was in the process of recording two albums, one in Albanian and one in English.{{cite news |last1=Heldman |first1=Kevin |title=Anatomy of an Albanian-mob coup: The challenge, the balk, the murder |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2011/07/anatomy-of-an-albanian-mob-coup-the-challenge-the-balk-the-murder-067223 |access-date=7 March 2021 |work=Politico |date=July 15, 2011}}