In a harrowing case that gripped the small town of Esto, Florida, Amanda Lewis, a 27-year-old single mother, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment for the drowning death of her seven-year-old daughter, Adrianna Hutto. The conviction was primarily based on the testimony of her six-year-old son, A.J. Hutto, who claimed he witnessed his mother drowning his sister in a paddling pool as a punishment.
The incident initially appeared to be a tragic accident. On August 8, 2007, Amanda called 911, reporting that she had found Adrianna unresponsive in their backyard pool. Emergency services rushed Adrianna to the hospital, but despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead. It wasn't until A.J. confided in his grandparents, describing how his mother had held Adrianna's head underwater, that the true nature of the event began to surface.
AJ's testimony was a pivotal moment in the trial. Too small to reach the witness stand, he sat in a chair and described a drawing he made depicting the incident. He pointed to a stick figure representing his mother, explaining in a trembling voice, "My mama... killing my sister." This heartbreaking account left the courtroom in stunned silence as AJ detailed how his mother punished Adrianna for spraying window cleaner on the living room TV.
The article is not finished. Click on the next page to continue.
