Michigan – In a chilling case in Michigan that had gone unresolved for more than seven years, a 33-year-old mother, identified as Amanda M., has now confessed to the murder of her 3-year-old son, identified as Matthew M., marking a turning point in one of the state’s most disturbing child abuse investigations. Amanda pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the 2018 death of her son and agreed to testify against her former boyfriend, identified as Maurice H., who faces a first-degree murder charge in the same case.
The plea deal, accepted in court on Wednesday, reveals the full extent of the brutality inflicted on Matthew over the course of two years. According to the sheriff’s office, Amanda admitted to not only tolerating the abuse but also actively participating in it. The agreement also obligates her to give truthful testimony against Maurice at his forthcoming trial—testimony that could be central to securing a conviction. Amanda told the court she and Maurice were in a relationship from early 2016 until the day of Matthew’s death. During that time, she said Maurice regularly physically abused the boy and she did nothing to stop it. In fact, she confessed to pushing Matthew’s head into a wall during a punishment referred to as a “military time-out,” a discipline tactic frequently used in the home.
Those punishments were reportedly brutal. According to court records and previous testimony, Matthew was often forced to kneel with his hands behind his head in front of a wall for extended periods—a position in which his head would sometimes be slammed into drywall. Both Amanda and Maurice also allegedly attempted to smother the child with a pillow at different times. The abuse culminated on February 18, 2018, when Amanda found Matthew unresponsive in his bed. Emergency responders declared him dead shortly after. The medical examiner concluded that he died from blunt traumatic injuries with signs of asphyxiation and classified the case as a homicide.
Amanda’s confession also confirmed what detectives had long suspected: that the abuse had been hidden from authorities for years. She admitted to intentionally concealing Matthew’s injuries from both Child Protective Services and law enforcement, starting in 2016. One incident was especially telling. Amanda once witnessed Maurice beating Matthew for spilling food and told her father, who reported it to CPS. But when investigators arrived at the home, Amanda retracted her statement and then cut off contact with her father entirely.
During previous hearings, detectives testified that Maurice initially tried to blame Amanda, claiming she was the primary disciplinarian. But under questioning, he admitted to enforcing harsh punishments himself, including the same military-style timeouts that Amanda described. Amanda further alleged that Maurice had killed Matthew and then begged her to “take the fall” for him so he wouldn’t go to prison. Prosecutors added that, at one point, the couple had planned to have a child together but later decided they couldn’t afford another. It was asserted in court that the pair viewed Matthew as an obstacle to having another baby and may have formed a “plan” to kill him for that reason.
A judge has already ruled that this motive, despite objections from Amanda’s defense, may be presented in court due to its relevance and weight in understanding the alleged intent behind the murder. Amanda’s bond was revoked following her plea, and she remains in custody at the county jail. She will be formally sentenced after fulfilling her agreement to testify against Maurice. The second-degree murder charge she pled to carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. As for Maurice, he still awaits trial on first-degree murder charges. If convicted, he faces mandatory life imprisonment without parole.
The sheriff’s office, which has carried this case for nearly seven years, expressed gratitude to the many officers and investigators who never gave up. “Matthew is finally beginning to get the justice he deserves,” said Sheriff M. King. “The dedication to this case is unmatched.” As proceedings continue, the court and the community alike are left grappling with the unimaginable cruelty inflicted on a child — and the long road to justice that followed.
