In a story that haunted millions, a 7-year-old boy once bravely testified against his own mother in a Florida courtroom. Now, nearly two decades later, that boy—AJ Hutto—has spoken out for the first time since the 2008 trial that put his mother, Amanda Lewis, behind bars for the drowning of his sister, Adrianna.
“She Did… It Was Scary”: A Child’s Drawing That Shocked the Court
During the trial, AJ provided what would become pivotal testimony. With chilling clarity, he described how Amanda held his 7-year-old sister’s head underwater in their backyard pool. He even submitted a drawing to the court showing three stick figures, annotated with phrases like “She did” and “To Bad” — a haunting childlike translation of what he witnessed.
Despite his age, Judge Allen Register deemed AJ competent to testify. Many believed his memory could have been influenced, but now 24, AJ remains clear: “I stand by every word I said. One hundred percent guilty.”
Amanda Lewis Convicted, But Still Fighting
Amanda Lewis was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 30 years for first-degree murder and child abuse. She has consistently maintained her innocence, claiming Adrianna accidentally fell in the pool. Authorities initially considered the death an accident until AJ’s statements and the autopsy report shifted the investigation.
The medical examiner found bruising consistent with a handprint on Adrianna’s face. AJ told police during a taped interview that “Mama dunked my sister” after a scolding over glass cleaner being sprayed around the home.
“Our Childhood Was Just Darkness”
AJ, now a firefighter and happily married, reflects on his past with pain and clarity. “My childhood with Amanda was… just darkness. Trauma. A lot of abuse,” he said. “Sometimes it came out of nowhere.”
He and Adrianna lived in what investigators called a severely neglected home with very few toys or resources. Since the trial, AJ was adopted into a new family and says the difference is “night and day.”
Amanda Lewis Seeks New Trial
Currently serving time at Homestead Correctional Institution in Florida, Lewis has secured a new attorney and is pursuing an appeal. Reports claim she passed a polygraph test and previously refused a plea deal for a reduced manslaughter charge with a 10-year sentence.
Despite her legal efforts, AJ’s stance has never changed: “I know what I saw. I lived it.”
This tragic case remains one of the most emotionally charged child witness testimonies in modern history — a sobering reminder of how abuse can hide in plain sight, and how one child’s courage brought the truth to light.
