Authorities in Michigan believe a mother and her former boyfriend are responsible for the abuse that killed her 3-year-old son – Matthew Maison – a little boy who should have been safe in his own home.
Matthew was found unresponsive in his bed in Port Huron Township in 2018 by his babysitters. He would later be pronounced dead. Following a long investigation, police arrested his mother Amanda Maison and her then-boyfriend, Maurice Houle.
According to investigators, the pair harmed Matthew as a way to “make room for a child they planned to have together.”
Amanda, 33, appeared in court on November 5 and accepted her guilty plea. She admitted engaging in episodes of abusive discipline, neglecting warning signs, and failing to report any serious concerns regarding the children to the child protective services or police. Amanda said she tried to cover up what happened as she was afraid of the consequences.
Amanda and Maurice were together for about two years. Amanda conceded in court that she allowed a hazardous home environment to persist and did not protect Matthew when he needed her most. Authorities also exposed that the couple concocted excuses for Matthew’s previous injuries.
Prosecutors called the case devastating, stating Matthew suffered long-term mistreatment no child should ever have to endure.
“This is a very difficult case,” the prosecuting attorney said. “A young child, Matthew, should have been safe and cared for, and instead he experienced many hardships over the years.”
This heartbreaking case serves as a reminder of how vital it is to protect vulnerable children – and how deeply communities feel the loss when a child is failed by the people meant to love them most.
