Mom and her ex allegedly killed 3-year-old to 'make room for a child' they could have together

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. (TCN) -- A mother and her former boyfriend stand accused of killing a toddler nearly seven years ago.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office announced April 14 that 33-year-old Amanda Maison and 28-year-old Maurice Houle were both arraigned on a charge each of first-degree murder and denied bond. Maison and Houle were initially arrested on April 11, but the sheriff’s office did not disclose their names or any further details at the time.

According to WDIV-TV, Houle also faces three counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer because he was allegedly violent with law enforcement personnel and injured one of them during his arrest.

The victim, identified by WDIV as Matthew Maison, was found dead in February 2018, and an autopsy later revealed that he died of blunt force trauma injuries and possible suffocation.

St. Clair County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Sparling reportedly said that when the suspects were brought in for questioning, Houle and Amanda Maison came up with a plan to lie about how the toddler incurred some of his past injuries.

In a statement obtained by WDIV, Sparling said, "This case is an extremely serious case. Obviously, we have charges of felony murder substantiated by child abuse in the first degree. We have a young child who was the victim here. This young child, Matthew, suffered years of abuse at the hands of both defendants."

Houle and Maison allegedly admitted to officials that the other abused the victim.

Prosecutors allege Houle struck Matthew Maison in the face and put a pillow over his face "and pretended like he was playing." According to WDIV, the child was also locked in his room without food or water for hours at a time, and he would be placed in timeout on his knees.

Child Protective Services reportedly investigated Houle over the boy’s injuries throughout his life.

Sparling allegedly said the suspects planned to "kill Matthew to make room for a child that the two of them could have together."

The boy’s mother reportedly lied about the abuse inflicted on her son. WDIV reports that she told investigators she shoved the boy’s head into the drywall "forceful enough to remove the backing of the drywall itself."

Houle and Maison are set to appear in court again on April 22 and April 29. They remain held in the St. Clair County Jail.

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