Michigan Couple Charged With Killing Mom’s Toddler ‘to Make Room’ for Child They’d Have Together

A woman from Michigan and her ex-boyfriend face charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of her 3-year-old son over seven years ago. Amanda Maison, 33, and Maurice Houle, 28, were not granted bail during their arraignment on Monday. Houle also faces three counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer during his arrest last Friday, where he reportedly struggled with eight officers, as per WDIV.

The murder charges are related to the passing of Matthew Maison, who was discovered deceased at their residence in February 2018. An examination revealed that he had succumbed to blunt force trauma and possible suffocation.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Sparling of St. Clair County informed the court that both defendants accused each other of mistreating the child, with the alleged plan being to eliminate Matthew to make space for a child they could have together. Sparling detailed instances where Houle reportedly physically harmed the toddler and subjected him to harsh treatment, including putting a pillow over the child’s head.

Maison admitted to investigators that Houle had smothered her son with a pillow on multiple occasions and that she had also been violent towards him. She confessed to providing false information about the abuse, misleading law enforcement in 2018, and lying to Child Protective Services about Houle’s mistreatment of the child before his death. Maison also admitted to avoiding taking her son to the doctor to conceal his injuries.

The pair is scheduled for another court appearance on April 22. The Maison family has a history of child abuse incidents. Amanda Maison’s brother, Andrew Maison, and his wife, Hilery Maison, were convicted in 2018 for the death of Andrew’s 5-year-old daughter in 2015, who weighed only 25 pounds when she passed away. They are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, according to Law&Crime.

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