A heartless mother subjected her defenseless toddler to horrific abuse, leading to his tragic death in a twisted attempt to create more space in her residence, according to court records.
Amanda Mae Maison, now acknowledging her guilt, confessed to the killing of three-year-old Matthew Maison, seven years after his life was brutally taken. She subjected the child to confinement in rooms for extended periods, physical violence including slamming his head against walls, and allegedly encouraged her then-partner to mistreat the child.
The abusive parent imposed cruel “military time outs” on the vulnerable boy as part of her campaign of terror. Matthew’s lifeless body was discovered in his bed by his caretakers. Amanda Maison and Maurice Houle, her former partner, were apprehended in connection with the heinous crime.
An examination revealed that Matthew succumbed to injuries from blunt force trauma and potential suffocation. Maison struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify truthfully against Houle in his impending trial for first-degree murder in addition to entering a guilty plea.
In her plea on November 5, the 33-year-old mother admitted to mistreating Matthew. Court documents suggest that the duo orchestrated the child’s death to accommodate a future child they planned to have together. Maison acknowledged pushing her son’s head into a wall during a “military time-out” and actively concealing the abuse from authorities.
Maison also confessed to enabling Houle’s abuse of the child and aiding in covering it up from child welfare agencies and law enforcement. Authorities disclosed that she collaborated with Houle to conceal the circumstances of Matthew’s death from the police.
Upon their arrest, authorities uncovered the couple’s scheme to fabricate explanations for the child’s prior injuries, including physical abuse by Houle and neglectful treatment. Sparling, the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, emphasized the severity of the case, emphasizing the prolonged abuse suffered by Matthew at the hands of both defendants.
Maison further admitted to avoiding medical appointments for Matthew to conceal his injuries. Both defendants faced first-degree murder charges, with Maison pleading guilty to second-degree homicide. As part of her plea deal, she committed to testifying in Houle’s trial scheduled for early 2026.