A woman and her former partner face allegations of causing the death of her three-year-old son to create space for a child they could have together. The young boy, Matthew Maison, was discovered deceased in his bed at their residence in Port Huron Township, Michigan, by his caretakers on February 18, 2018. Following the incident, Matthew’s mother, Amanda Maison, and her then-boyfriend, Maurice Houle, were taken into custody in connection with the tragedy. Post-mortem examination results revealed that Matthew had succumbed to injuries from blunt force trauma and potential suffocation.
According to previous statements by prosecutors, the ex-couple reportedly confessed to mistreating the child when apprehended. Maison, aged 33, has confessed to second-degree homicide concerning her son’s demise, acknowledging her abusive actions towards Matthew during a court appearance on November 5. She admitted to pushing Matthew’s head against a wall during a disciplinary moment referred to as a “military time-out,” as stated by the St Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Maison disclosed that she and Houle, who was 28 at the time of arrest, had been in a relationship from early 2016 until Matthew’s passing.
During court proceedings, Maison acknowledged her complicity in Houle’s alleged abuse of her son, including actively concealing it from child protection agencies and law enforcement. She also admitted to collaborating in a scheme to hide the circumstances of Matthew’s death from authorities, as per the sheriff’s office report.
The sheriff’s office further stated, “Amanda revealed that Maurice physically harmed Matthew while they were together and that she played a role in concealing Matthew’s injuries from 2016 until the murder inquiry in 2018. Amanda confessed to her involvement in Matthew’s physical abuse, citing an incident where she pushed his head against a wall during a ‘military time out.’ Furthermore, Amanda disclosed that she facilitated an environment where Matthew underwent systematic abuse, leading to his tragic death. She admitted to conspiring with Maurice Houle to hide the truth from law enforcement regarding Matthew’s demise.”
Upon their arrest, authorities uncovered a disturbing plot where Houle and Maison fabricated stories about the origins of Matthew’s prior injuries. The Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Joshua Sparling, disclosed that Houle subjected Matthew to physical abuse, confinement without sustenance, and a chilling incident where a pillow was placed over the child’s face under the guise of a game.
Sparling emphasized the severity of the case, emphasizing the prolonged suffering inflicted on Matthew by both defendants. He alleged a scheme to eliminate Matthew in favor of starting a family together. Maison also confessed to evading medical appointments for Matthew to conceal his injuries.
The couple faced initial charges of first-degree murder in April, with both pleading not guilty. However, Maison altered her plea to second-degree homicide on November 5 and agreed to testify against Houle in his upcoming trial set for early 2026.