DETROIT, MI – A Michigan woman has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her 3-year-old son, seven years after prosecutors say she and her boyfriend killed the boy to “make room” for a child they could have together.
Amanda Mae Maison, 33, entered her guilty plea Wednesday in connection with the February 2018 death of her son, Matthew Maison. As part of the plea agreement, she will testify against her boyfriend, Maurice Houle, 25, at his upcoming trial.
An autopsy revealed that Matthew died from blunt force trauma and possible suffocation. Prosecutors allege that Maison and Houle conspired to kill the child so they could focus on having a child together without the burden of caring for Matthew.
According to court documents, Houle subjected the toddler to systematic abuse leading up to his death. He would strike the child’s face, force him into timeout positions on his knees while banging his head against drywall, and lock him in his room for extended periods without food or water. Investigators say he also placed a pillow over Matthew’s face on multiple occasions.
Maison admitted to participating in the abuse and actively concealing her son’s injuries from Child Protective Services and law enforcement officials. She also confessed to conspiring with Houle to hide the true circumstances surrounding Matthew’s death.
The couple was arrested in April 2025, more than seven years after the boy’s death. The lengthy delay between the crime and the arrests has not been explained by prosecutors, though cold case investigations often take years to develop sufficient evidence for charges.
As part of her guilty plea, Maison was remanded to jail pending sentencing. She faces up to life in prison for the second-degree murder conviction. Her sentencing date has not been announced, but it will likely occur after Houle’s trial concludes.
Houle faces first-degree murder charges and is being held without bond. His trial date has not been set, but prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on Maison’s testimony to secure a conviction. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case highlights the vulnerabilities of children caught in abusive domestic situations. Child welfare advocates have questioned how the abuse went undetected for so long, particularly given that Maison admitted to concealing injuries from protective services.
Michigan law requires certain professionals, including teachers, medical providers, and social workers, to report suspected child abuse. Failure to report such suspicions can result in criminal charges, though no additional defendants have been charged in connection with Matthew’s death.
The boy’s family has not spoken publicly about the case. It remains unclear who raised concerns that eventually led to the investigation seven years after Matthew’s death or what evidence prompted authorities to reopen the case.
Second-degree murder in Michigan carries a maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they will seek the maximum sentence for Maison or recommend leniency in exchange for her cooperation against Houle.
The trial of Maurice Houle is expected to draw significant attention given the disturbing nature of the allegations and the unusual timeline between the crime and the arrests.
u hope they both will be sterilized= never to have children evef again to abuse