A mother has admitted to killing her three-year-old son, allegedly in an attempt to “make room” in the home for a child she planned to have with her then-boyfriend, according to court documents. Amanda Mae Maison pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide for the death of her son, Matthew Maison, who died in February 2018. Authorities said she subjected Matthew to prolonged confinement, head trauma, and abuse, and encouraged her boyfriend, Maurice Houle, to harm the child.
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office reported that Matthew was subjected to so-called “military time-outs,” during which he was reportedly pushed against walls and restrained for hours. Matthew’s babysitters discovered his body in his bed. An autopsy revealed blunt force trauma injuries and possible suffocation.
Maison’s plea deal requires her to testify truthfully against Houle in his upcoming trial for first-degree murder, scheduled for early 2026. Authorities said Maison admitted to helping conceal her son’s abuse from child protective services and law enforcement and avoiding taking him to medical appointments to hide his injuries.
St. Clair County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Sparling described the case as “extremely serious,” noting that Matthew suffered years of abuse at the hands of both defendants. Houle and Maison were originally charged with first-degree murder, with both pleading not guilty prior to Maison’s plea.
