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Heartbreaking question asked to boy, 7, forced to testify against own mom after watching her drown sister - he's made chilling admission 17 years later
Nearly two decades ago, a seven-year-old boy was called to testify against his own mother, Amanda Lewis, who faced charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
The trial revolved around the tragic death of his younger sister, Adrianna Elaine Hutto, who was found unresponsive in the family pool in August 2007. AJ Hutto’s testimony brought to light disturbing details about what occurred that day, forcing the young boy to confront painful memories of his sister’s death and the actions of his mother.
AJ’s account of the incident would become a crucial part of the prosecution’s case, highlighting a dark chapter of family abuse. While Amanda Lewis initially claimed that Adrianna had accidentally drowned, AJ later revealed the horrifying truth: his mother had drowned his sister as a punishment for misbehaving.
This disclosure led to Amanda Lewis being charged with murder and child abuse, though she has consistently maintained her innocence. AJ’s heartbreaking testimony on the stand would expose the cruelty and violence that had taken place in their home.
The tough question AJ had to answer on the stand
AJ was called to testify at his mother’s trial in February 2008, where he was asked a question that would forever mark the young boy’s life. The courtroom scene was tense as AJ was asked, "I told them today, that Adrianna was dead. Is she dead?"
AJ, visibly emotional, responded with a simple "Yes, sir." The lawyer then inquired, "They want to know how Adrianna died, now I wasn't there AJ was I?" AJ confirmed that he was there, and then came the chilling question: "Can you tell them how she died?"
The young boy’s response was gut-wrenching: "My mama killed my sister." AJ then went on to draw an illustration for the court, depicting stick figures around a pool, with one figure placing another's head under the water. "That’s my mama," he said. "Killing my sister."
He also described how his mother held her hand over his sister’s face. The trauma AJ experienced was evident as he testified, even breaking into tears while recalling the event. His courage in the face of such a horrific experience left an indelible mark on the trial.
AJ’s reflections on the trial and his mother’s actions
Seventeen years later, AJ has opened up to MailOnline, under the condition that his current identity remain confidential. He reaffirmed his original testimony and rejected claims that he had been manipulated or coerced by prosecutors. “I don't believe I was, what they've called, coached or anything like that,” AJ said. “I just told them exactly what I saw, word for word.”
He recalled the emotional weight of testifying at such a young age, saying he didn’t recognize his mother when he entered the courtroom. “It was heartbreaking,” he said. “She's my mother. But there was also some relief that what we were going through at the time was finally coming to an end.”
AJ also revealed he has had no contact with Amanda since her conviction. “It’s court-appointed that we cannot see each other,” he explained, “and I've wanted to keep it that way, just so nothing’s getting brought back up… all the feelings, emotions, and traumas coming back into light.”