A mother and her former partner have been charged with the death of her three-year-old son in a disturbing plot to create space for a child they planned to have together.
The tragic incident occurred in Port Huron Township, Michigan, where the lifeless body of young Matthew Maison was discovered by his caregivers on February 18, 2018. Following the grim discovery, Amanda Maison, the boy’s mother, and Maurice Houle, her then-boyfriend, were taken into custody in connection with the heinous crime. An autopsy revealed that Matthew had succumbed to severe injuries caused by blunt force trauma and potential suffocation.
The accused ex-couple reportedly confessed to mistreating the child at the time of their arrest, as disclosed by prosecutors. Amanda Maison, aged 33, has since pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide charges related to her son’s death. During her court appearance on November 5, she admitted to abusing Matthew, including an incident where she forcefully pushed his head against a wall during what she referred to as a “military time-out.”
In a shocking revelation, Maison confessed to enabling Houle’s abusive behavior towards her son and actively concealing the abuse from child protective services and law enforcement. She also admitted to devising a plan to hide the true cause of Matthew’s death from authorities.
Authorities uncovered a disturbing scheme orchestrated by Maison and Houle to fabricate stories about Matthew’s injuries. The prosecution revealed instances of physical abuse where Matthew was struck across the face, confined without sustenance for prolonged periods, and subjected to a harrowing event where a pillow was placed over his face under the guise of play.
St Clair County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Sparling emphasized the severity of the case, stating that Matthew had endured prolonged abuse at the hands of both defendants. Sparling also alleged a sinister plan to eliminate Matthew to make way for a child the couple intended to have together. Additionally, Maison confessed to evading medical appointments for Matthew to prevent healthcare professionals from discovering his injuries.
Initially charged with first-degree murder, both Maison and Houle entered not guilty pleas in April. However, Maison changed her plea to guilty for second-degree homicide on November 5 and agreed to testify against Houle in the upcoming trial scheduled for early 2026.