A woman and her former partner are facing allegations of causing the death of her three-year-old son to create space for a child they could have together. Young Matthew Maison was discovered dead in his home in Port Huron Township, Michigan, by his caretakers on February 18, 2018. Amanda Maison, his mother, and Maurice Houle, her then-boyfriend, were taken into custody in connection with the incident. A post-mortem examination revealed that Matthew had succumbed to injuries from blunt force trauma and potential suffocation.
The former couple reportedly confessed to mistreating the child when apprehended, according to prosecutors. Maison, 33, has admitted to a second-degree homicide charge related to her son’s demise. During her court appearance on November 5, she acknowledged mistreating Matthew, disclosing that she had a two-year relationship with Houle, who was 28 at the time of his arrest, from early 2016 until the date of the tragedy.
In a statement to the court, Maison disclosed an incident where she pushed Matthew’s head into a wall during a disciplinary moment known as a “military time-out.” She acknowledged enabling Houle’s abusive behavior towards her son and actively participating in concealing it from authorities. Maison also confessed to collaborating with Houle to hide the true cause of Matthew’s death from law enforcement.
Authorities uncovered a disturbing scheme concocted by Houle and Maison to fabricate a false explanation for Matthew’s previous injuries. Details emerged of Houle striking Matthew, confining him without sustenance in his room, and even simulating play while placing a pillow over the child’s face. The prosecuting attorney emphasized the severity of the case, highlighting the prolonged abuse suffered by Matthew at the hands of both defendants.
It was alleged that there was a plan to eliminate Matthew to make way for a child the pair intended to have together. Maison also purportedly avoided seeking medical help for Matthew to prevent doctors from discovering his injuries. Both defendants were initially charged with first-degree murder in April, but Maison changed her plea to guilty for second-degree homicide on November 5. As part of her plea agreement, she is set to testify in Houle’s trial scheduled for early 2026.
