Matthew Maison died in February 2018 at just 3 years old. It’s been more than seven years, and his mother, Amanda Mae Maison, has now pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide charges in Matthew’s death. The 33-year-old appeared in a Michigan courtroom on November 5, 2025, and shared horrifying details about the physical abuse she and her then-boyfriend, Maurice Houle, inflicted upon the child. Matthew, who would be 10 years old now, may finally receive justice.
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office shared in a news release that the court arraigned Maison and Houle on murder charges in April 2025. During her recent plea hearing, Maison told the court she knew Houle physically abused Matthew during their two-year relationship. The mother also admitted to intentionally concealing injuries from Child Protective Services and police multiple times.
Prosecutors alleged in court that Maison and Houle had a sick plan for the young boy, WDIV reported in April. The pair apparently wanted a future together but one that didn’t include Matthew. Instead, they “put forth to kill Matthew to make room for a child that the two of them could have together.”
Maison told the court she participated in physically abusing her son. She detailed an incident of pushing Matthew’s head into a wall during what she called a “military time out,” per WDIV. The mother admitted to allowing Matthew to live in an environment where he was “systemically abused.” That abuse eventually led to Matthew’s death. Then, his mother and her boyfriend worked together to conceal the cause from investigators.
The court cancelled Maison’s bond and took her to St. Clair County Jail. If convicted, she could face life in prison.
“Thank you to the many law enforcement officers, family members, and others for bringing us to this day. Matthew is finally beginning to get the justice he deserves. The dedication to this case is unmatched. Although this is not the end, I am confident justice will be served,” Sheriff Mat King shared in the news release.
Amy Osiborski Boone Maison, Matthew’s grandmother, shared an update on the Justice for Matthew Maison Facebook page following the plea hearing. It’s been a very difficult seven years for the family, but they seem to feel a bit of relief now.
“The road ahead will still have its ups and downs, but today, we can breathe just a little easier. Walking out of that courtroom, the air felt lighter… a small but powerful reminder that progress is being made,” she wrote on the page. “To everyone who continues to stand with us, to pray for us, and to fight alongside us — thank you. These little victories may seem small to some, but after all these years, they mean everything.”
Children don’t ask to be born and, unfortunately, can’t pick their parents. We will never understand how someone so much bigger and stronger could hurt an innocent and helpless child, particularly that child’s mother. The silver lining here is that Maison and Houle never did create a second child who likely would have faced the same abuse. It’s truly despicable.
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
