PORT HURON TOWNSHIP, MI – The grim case that shocked Michigan’s St. Clair County has taken a new turn after a mother admitted in court to killing her toddler, bringing fresh focus on years of abuse that authorities say went undetected before the young boy’s tragic death.
Amanda Mae Maison, 33, appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2018 death of her 3-year-old son, Matthew Maison. Under the terms of her plea agreement, she will testify against her ex-boyfriend, Maurice Houle, who is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the same case.
During the hearing, Maison openly described the harrowing environment in which her son lived. She told the court she remained in a relationship with Houle from 2016, and that together they carried on a pattern of hiding suspicious injuries and misleading both child protective services and investigators for more than two years.
The abuse, Maison admitted, was not only inflicted by Houle. She acknowledged her own part in the violence, recalling an incident in which she pushed Matthew’s head against a wall as a form of punishment. Prosecutors detailed that these so-called “military time outs” were regular occurrences, intended to discipline the child, yet often resulting in injury.
Authorities argue Matthew endured relentless cruelty in the Port Huron Township home where he was discovered lifeless on February 18, 2018. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the boy with extensive bruising and a black eye. According to testimony, the warning signs had been present, but intervention efforts fell short.
Testimony from law enforcement painted a disturbing portrait of domestic violence and secrecy. It emerged that Matthew’s grandfather had previously contacted child protection authorities, raising concerns after hearing that Houle had assaulted the toddler over a simple mishap at home. However, Maison later denied the incident to officials and distanced herself from her father, effectively halting the case.
In interviews held years after Matthew’s death, both Maison and Houle leveled accusations of attempted suffocation against each other. Maison also claimed Houle had killed Matthew and pressured her to accept blame in order to protect him from incarceration.
Further revelations in court show the couple’s relationship was fraught with instability. Months before Matthew’s death, Maison became pregnant again, but she and Houle chose to terminate the pregnancy, citing financial hardship. Prosecutors allege the couple saw Matthew as an obstacle to their future and had even discussed ways to remove him from their lives.
As part of the plea agreement, Maison is being held in St. Clair County Jail without bond pending sentencing. She faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Her testimony is expected to play a pivotal role in Houle’s trial.
For years, detectives with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office have labored to uncover the truth behind Matthew Maison’s death. Their efforts culminated in this week’s guilty plea, but officials indicate that the search for full accountability is far from over as the case heads to the next phase in court.
Authorities say Matthew’s story underscores longstanding concerns about the effectiveness of child protection systems and the devastating consequences of silence and concealment in cases of child abuse.