Boy who testified mom killed sister speaks out after 17 years

When A.J. Hutto was just 7 years old, he found the courage to testify in court against his mother, Amanda Lewis, after she was accused of causing the death of his younger sister. The young boy’s testimony would ultimately lead to his mother being convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

In 2007, A.J. and his sister Adrianna were living in a difficult and abusive environment. Their mother, Amanda Lewis, had returned home from work one hot August afternoon. The children had been playing outside and wanted to cool off in the family’s pool, but their mother had told them it was off-limits without an adult present. Moments later, A.J. came inside and told his mother that Adrianna was in the pool. He said, “Mama, Adrianna is in the pool,” which seemed innocent at first.

But when Amanda looked outside, she saw her son trying to grab Adrianna from the pool. Tragically, she found Adrianna face down in the water, lifeless. She was airlifted to the hospital but was later declared dead. At first, it was thought to be an accidental drowning.

Six months later, A.J., now 7, testified in court. He said that his mother “dunked” Adrianna in the pool after getting mad. He drew a picture of the scene, showing his mother near the pool with Adrianna floating above it. A.J. described how his mother had “put her hand over her face,” causing Adrianna’s death. His testimony was clear and direct, and it played a key role in the case.

A.J.’s mother, Amanda Lewis, was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. After the trial, A.J. was adopted by a loving family and moved on from the public eye. He later spoke out about the case, stating that he didn’t fully realize the impact of his testimony at the time but was relieved when the ordeal was over.

Now 24, A.J. reflects on his childhood, describing the trauma and abuse he and his sister endured. Despite the darkness of his past, he found happiness with his adopted family.