Posted: 6:31 PM Mar 17, 2008
Last Updated: 9:43 AM Mar 18, 2008
Reporter: bobeth yates
Email Address: bobeth.yates@wjhg.com
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Life in Prison
A Holmes County woman convicted last month of killing her young daughter was back in court today for sentencing.
Amanda Lewis faced life in prison for drowning her seven-year-old daughter. It was an emotional response for Amanda Lewis as Judge Allen Register announced her sentence.
"This court adjudged you to be guilty of that crime and sentences you to imprisonment for the remainder of your life."
Under Florida law the life sentence was mandatory. The judge says that left him no discretion in the matter.
"The state determined in its review of your case not to seek the death penalty so the only possible penalty is life imprisonment."
But before the judge sentenced Amanda Lewis to life in prison, there was a motion to completely dismiss the case; the defense said the star witness was not credible. That witness was Lewis' own son, now age seven himself, who claimed his mother drown Adrianna in the above ground pool in their backyard.
"What we have is a bold allegation that says I didn't see it, I wasn't there, and where I was I couldn't have seen what I said, but my momma killed my sister."
But the prosecution disagreed, State Attorney Larry Basford says no error was made during the trial that resulted in a guilty verdict of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
"The defense seems to forget that there was 27 other pieces of evidence to support AJ Hutto's statements."
Judge register sided with the prosecution, sentencing Lewis to life. Lewis will be in court again Tuesday to determine the custody of her son.
Last Updated: 9:43 AM Mar 18, 2008
Reporter: bobeth yates
Email Address: bobeth.yates@wjhg.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life in Prison
A Holmes County woman convicted last month of killing her young daughter was back in court today for sentencing.
Amanda Lewis faced life in prison for drowning her seven-year-old daughter. It was an emotional response for Amanda Lewis as Judge Allen Register announced her sentence.
"This court adjudged you to be guilty of that crime and sentences you to imprisonment for the remainder of your life."
Under Florida law the life sentence was mandatory. The judge says that left him no discretion in the matter.
"The state determined in its review of your case not to seek the death penalty so the only possible penalty is life imprisonment."
But before the judge sentenced Amanda Lewis to life in prison, there was a motion to completely dismiss the case; the defense said the star witness was not credible. That witness was Lewis' own son, now age seven himself, who claimed his mother drown Adrianna in the above ground pool in their backyard.
"What we have is a bold allegation that says I didn't see it, I wasn't there, and where I was I couldn't have seen what I said, but my momma killed my sister."
But the prosecution disagreed, State Attorney Larry Basford says no error was made during the trial that resulted in a guilty verdict of first degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
"The defense seems to forget that there was 27 other pieces of evidence to support AJ Hutto's statements."
Judge register sided with the prosecution, sentencing Lewis to life. Lewis will be in court again Tuesday to determine the custody of her son.
I think this case will be overturned, there is just to much that the 7 year old changed his story on. We have seen children change thier stories when they get older before.
ReplyDeleteLanny, Keizer, OR.
I agree with you, lannymh. I also think it was child abuse to put the little guy through all this. If they had 27 other pieces of evidence that they say is so good then why use A.J.? Mom may be locked up for life but so is A.J. and all he was doing that day was playing. God bless A.J. How very sad!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with anonymous. AJ has also been given a life sentence. I feel so bad for him.
ReplyDeleteTalk about child abuse!!! The state has just abused this child in the worst possible way. They have put this child on the ultimate guilt trip. Now do we watch until he is a teenager and starts acting up, due to the feelings of guilt, because he was forced to betray his own mother? Whether she is guilty or not, he will still feel like he is to blame. Shame on you, whomever you are, that caused this child to be abused in this way. Pray for A.J.!
ReplyDeleteAJ did it, look close
ReplyDeleteAll I have to say is that either this woman is a cunning calculating killer or she has very bad luck with losing her children to "accidental death" the jury were unaware that she has already been a suspect in another "accidental death" of her 18 month old son. While she was taking a shower (how convienent) she left her son unattended on a couch and low and behold when she came out to check on him he was face down on the couch and died of suffication!! Now how is it that an 18 month old who can walk and certainly turn over sufficate on a couch. Once again she is in the shower when her daughter "falls" into the pool hmmm. I'll tell you what if my daughter was floating face down in a pool I wouldn't be standing talking on the phone telling my boyfriend what was going on I'd be in that pool getting her out not standing by the side trying to reach her foot! I believe this woman has gotten away with one murder and she got what she deserved. A.J. though this will haunt him forvevr I believe is better off away from her for his own saftey by the way why is this child in foster care where is his father or grandparents? I am also a nurse and in all the times I've had to do CPR, and thats quite a few times, I have never seen fingerprint bruises on anyones forehead like seen in the photos. The defense wants you to believe the paramedics did that not true my friends it was mommy dearest!
ReplyDeleteYour a fucking retard. The evidence does not support the charges!! If you can't see that then your blind and need to keep your fucking mouth shut. You do t have the schooling or the experience to side with the prosecution. You just want to see innocent ppl suffer for something they did not do. How bout you take her place in that jail cell. I believe that she's innocent and a victim of entrapment. She passed the polygraph. By law she should have been left alone after that. The evidence is circumstantial at best. And more importantly a child is HARDLY A CREDIBLE WITNESS!! This entire trial is a sham, and the federal government needs to come down on the state of Florida and prosecute the prosecution. You absolutely cannot use the testimony of a traumatized 6 year old child who may very well have been coached against his mother!!!
DeleteA lie detector is not admissable.in court. It's laughable that you think by law they have to clear her after a lie detector.
DeleteYour facts are so wrong, it would take me too long to write them out. Wrong.
Deletei must agree about the suspect's previous history with her other suffocated child - did the jury get to hear about that, probably not...
ReplyDeleteShe's guilty. I have very vivid memories when I was five or six. That child was credible, I think. Especially, since he told the story, unprompted, in his grandmother's boyfriend's car, directly after the event.
Her son gave 13 different stories all conflicting and was not credible. His story first was adrianna fell n and mommy pulled her out. Not until amandas step father had private time with the boy.did this fabricated story came. Her step father.hated her and made no attempts to hide it. Get all the facts before u pass a judgement. Not to mention she passed a polygraph and the coroner lost his job for many other false autopsies.
DeleteThe doctor on the autopsy was a woman.
DeleteSuffocated child? Where are you getting that from, because it's flat wrong.
DeleteJust the fact that you say “I think” right after “That child was credible” says it all.
DeleteShe is Innocent!!! AJ testified that he saw his sister fall in the pool off the little red wagon, also, having testified that his mother drowned her. His story is all over the place. That kid would agree with anything suggested to him.
ReplyDeleteI was stunned by the guilty verdict in Amanda Lewis' trial.
ReplyDeleteHow could a jury listen to that little 7-year-old boy tell opposing versions of what he allegedly saw and come back with a guilty verdict? He 'saw' his mother drown his sister TWICE?? His mother threw Adrianna into the water and also saw Adrianna fall in the water from her red wagon.
Please! This child was far too young and too traumatized to have testified.
AJ wasn't even tall enough to 'see' into the pool to witness his mother putting her hand over Adrianna's face. The prosecutor lead the witness by asking the same question until he solicited the response he wanted. And, even when that didn't work he answer the question himself! How is this allowed?
I would really like to know where the defence lawyer was. Why didn't he object and why weren't defence witnesses called?
I sincerely hope this verdict is overturned ASAP.
Okay, whoever said that AJ did it is absolutely out of their minds. Do you honestly think that a 7-year-old boy could successfully murder his older sister and conjur up a story that is credible enough to fool a jury?? Get real. Amanda is entirely guilty, you can see it on her (and her idiot boyfriend's) face. Also, for the record, they didn't base the verdict on the testimony of AJ, there was 27 pieces of evidence backing up his statement. Kids don't just make up stories about things of this magnitude, especially if it will get their parents in trouble. I believe AJ over anyone that I saw testify in this trial.
ReplyDeleteSo much was wrong with this case. AJ changed his story too many times, he told a social worker a totally different story that did not include his mother killing his sister.
ReplyDeleteThe bruises on the forehead, the police may have missed a crucial peice of evidence because they rushed to judgment. They beleived Amanda killed her child so they didn't seek to find what may have put those bruises on that girls forehead.
That type of pool is a soft bottom pool, there is a tarp layed right over the ground, and then the pool is filled, and what you end up with is a hard bottom that has bumps and lumps from the ground and grass. That pool should have been drained and checked near the wagon for a lump that matched the marks on her forehead. Had they found a lump there that matched, then it would have more supported AJ's second story that she slipped and fell face first into the pool.
There will be an appeal, and this case will roll over.
aj saw and knew what happened. what possible motivation could that little boy have for saying his mother drowned his sister? i'm sure he's been questioned to the point that he questions himself, but the fact remains that he told his grandmother that his mother drowned his sister, UNPROMPTED. a mother who "DUNKS" her daughter, who is deathly afraid of putting her face in the water, is not a mother, and i have no doubt that she did this...i watched this trial, having never heard of this case before, and started out believing the defense, but my mind was changed by the EVIDENCE in this case, and all i can say is thank god none of you were on the jury. Adrianna deserved the justice that she got. May she now rest in peace and may her brother live out his life in a safer environment.
ReplyDeleteWhich one of his 27 total stories, 13 in court, are you believing? lol
DeleteWhoever left the comment and misspelled defense over and over again, is obviously to uneducated for their opinion to matter. Get a job or go back to second grade and learn to spell. You look like an idiot. Now, as an ER nurse I have seen many cases of abuse and suspicious deaths. The bruises on the head were not caused during CPR. The paramedics use a device called an ambu bag that only centers around the mouth and nose, not the head. Also I want to know why the jury was not allowed to hear about this womens first murder of her 18 month old child. Suffocated on the couch? WHATEVER!
ReplyDeleteActually it was found he had a seizure disorder that caused his death and he was 16 months not 18
DeleteIf you tell a child something over and over they will remember. Poor AJ and idk about this mom. No sheets on the beds no toys. Mommie Dearest type.
DeleteI think the woman is guilty of at the very least, aggravated child abuse. I don't think she meant to kill the little girl, but she was punishing her and things went too far and then it was too late. She got lucky the first time and she needs to get some serious counseling. Maybe if she can admit to herself what she has done she can do some good with what is left of her life.
ReplyDeleteName one case where the child was taken out to the yard, in broad daylight,and killed their child? lol Not one, because nobody does that. And, what was she punishing her for? What did she get lucky of the first time? That the state didn't come after her for the baby that died of a seizure disorder? Too many want to convict her of murder because she wasn't Mary Poppins, and that's not what we're talking about. Murder is what we're talking about. Something the state didn't prove.
Deleteok well i know this girl and her boyfriend well,and i know she did this. the little girl walked around saying that her mother did not love her,both kids was not potty trained at the age 6 & 7.and all so they investagated them a year before.for child adbuse,so holmes county is at falt too.amanda did not love her kids she want to be free,allways talking about the things she wanted and never was the kids in her dreams.she was evil.thank god she can't hurt A.J. because she would have done so because he would have been in her way.i hope that he will be ok now as well as her boyfriends children.thank god that he has moved on to.maybe all thier life's can get back too normal and get this evil woman out of their head.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe you because your info on potty training is wrong. Adrianna was having accidents too much, but we have to consider her issues as well. AJ had an accident here and there at night. A lot of kids do. They wouldn't be able to attend school if they weren't potty trained, and the school would have gotten involved anyway. They also would have mentioned prior issues with cps. If Adrianna walked around saying that, where are those witnesses? Nice try.
Deleteit was obvious she drowned her daughter, too much evidence against her, facts not even brought up in the case and statements made by her son who actually saw her do it. i know for a fact that if she would have been let loose, aj would have been next.
ReplyDeleteHow was it obvious? Because to me, it was far from obvious. What evidence are you referring to? All of what evidence? lol A 6 year old's revolving story that changed 13 times in court? Come on.
DeleteI hope this verdict is correct for AJ's future sake.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless You AJ
Shame on the adults that had him testify against his own mother.
This should be illegal
Shame on his mother for putting him in that position in the first place. Had it been me, guilty or not I would have taken that plea to save my son from the ensuing trial.
DeleteThe girl could have stood up. Why was the pool so far from the house? I do now think she snapped. She never bonded w the little girl.
Delete25% of children that drown, CAN stand up.
DeleteI agree that the mother would NEVER make "mother of the year" however, I do not believe for one moment that she committed this crime! The testimony of a 5 yr. old (6 at time of trial) should NEVER be allowed..! A child of that age is not credible. I have a child that age that knows truth from lie and right from wrong and still tells stories that are not accurate. AJ tells that his sister was in the pool not moving and he went to get mom from the house.... So how did she do this if she was in the house? The "dunking" could have been from another date all together. Children run dates and incidents together. This is truly injustice for all including poor little AJ - God Bless this family
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't anyone investigate the vaginal tear and blood in the daughters pants?
ReplyDeleteDid the defense attorney even look at the older son and see if he or another family member was abusing this girl?
It is very typical for an abused child to act out and to mess their pants...
Did anyone try to reinact the child falling into the pool to see if the top was weak enough?
I feel that the prosecutors and the defense attorney's failed this woman in getting a fair trial.
I hope it gets reversed and they come in with full disclosure on all the physical evidence that I didn't see brought in.
Everyone who asked "who made AJ Hutto testify?" The answer to that question is...his own mother. The prosecutor offered Amanda a deal and she wouldn't take it, which would have spared AJ.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm not sure if she's guilty or not. Thank God I wasn't on that jury. There was a mountain of evidence against her, but she was not defended very well. I believe she will get an appeal.
I, too, want to know why AJ is in foster care (I guess his foster parents have adopted him now), rather than with his family.
Because she wouldn't admit to something she didn't do, she failed him? The prosecutor put a SIX year old boy up there, knowing all of his revolving stories of "what happened." That is child abuse. Repetitiously questioning this child over the course of going to trial, so his story didn't change, is abuse. You must not be seeing the big picture here.
DeleteI have to comment on this trial that I just can't get out of my mind. I have sat and watched for 2 days straight. The look of love in that little boy's eyes when he noticed his mother sitting in court. Twice looking over at her and then losing it.
ReplyDeleteI have a son who was colic and he never bonded with his father, he's 22 now and my ex never once spanked him so not bonding with your child doesn't make for being a murderer.
I could only hope this lady get's another trial. If I were on that jury there is no way in hell she'd of been convicted of murder. Two reasons why I wouldn't of.
1st. AJ stated he threw a white bucket at his sister while she was in the pool. If Amanda was murdering her child, how could this little boy be in a tree and throwing a white bucket at her at the same time?
The second reason would be the medical examiner. God forbid I hope I never step foot in Holmes County. If a loved one of mine would possibly of have to be treated in that county, you bet I'd be requesting a new ME to examine my loved one. No college degree in that field of work? Absolutely ridiculous!
6 jurors for a high profile case? Insane!
That little boy needs his mother not some adoptive parents and she him.
How can you believe a 7 year old who has many different versions of the same incident? also, not withstanding a valid cross-examination how can a witness "AJ" not sworn in to testify be "CREDIBLE" without the worry of perjury? That's a valid reason for an appeal! Ineffective assistance of counsel will also be grounds for her appeal. Give me a break, the prosecution actually called all her witnesses but used standard cross-examination methods to elicit answers that the prosecution used to convict her. Her lawyer should have recalled all the same witnesses for the defense. They built a new "railroad" with Amanda and it will take a good appeals lawyer to get this reversed.........
ReplyDeleteI'd believe a child any day over an adult and most certainly a defense lawyer! Unfortunately many criminals have gone, and will continue to go unpunished, because children do not lie about what they experience first hand. Of course they cannot communicate their experiences in an adult manner and should not be expected to because they are not adults. My heart aches for this precious little boy that in no way can know the impact this will have on his own future for just telling the truth. His sister died at the hands of her own mother but this little's boy's innocence died too at her hands so hopefully her next life sentence will be in hell.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most rediculous case I have seen yet. I cannot believe that they allowed this little boy to testify against his mother. He will live with that forever. I am almost sure that he has no idea what he saw at this point. He is confused and willing to agree to anything that is suggested to him. I just isnt right. Also as far as her being guilty of this crime, I am still unsure. The evidence does not show beyond doubt that she did this. I wasnt aware of her previous toddler dying. That of course makes you wonder..I heard something about the medical examiner not having a degree? And WHY isnt anyone concerned with the fact she may have been sexually assaulted????? Could this have been the older boy or the step father????? Why has none of that angle been investigated. I too used to believe in our justice system...but if OJ can be found innocent..and this woman can be found guilty...what is this really saying about our system...Is it really Justice???
ReplyDeleteThank God this woman was convicted and sentenced to "life" in prison. A.J. can live out his life in peace and safety. No mother in her right mind would EVER say she could KILL her child!
ReplyDeleteDidn't they say Adrianna was found without her shorts/underwear? I never heard any questions of why her shorts would be off. Maybe she had an accident and her mom was punishing her?
ReplyDeleteI have never heard this anywhere? If true, it Def should have been investigated.
DeleteWhere did my comment go?
ReplyDeleteHow come it wasn't allowed in court that Amanda Lewis had another child die suspiciously before Adrianna?
ReplyDeleteAlso - those who blame the prosecution for "allowing" AJ to testify, his mother could have prevented that... but she chose not take a deal that would have prevented AJ even coming into the court room.
I read on another website from last spring that Amanda was trying to sleep and sent the children outside, Adrianna kept coming in, and as punishment Amanda made her get in the pool to scoop out bugs and said she'd dunk her under if she came inside again. In that line of thinking, maybe AJ witnessed THAT, and when/if Adrianna then drowned accidentally, he connected the two incidents.
Because it was not suspicious. It was determined that the 16. Month old child (not18) had a seizure disorder that led to the death.
DeleteThis is a very sad case. I too did not know she had an 18 month old child who died in her care, it does make you wonder. She seemed to be stressed with her children, I believe she should have sought help in dealing with her children and if she did maybe her and her 3 children could be together
ReplyDeleteI think Amanda is guilty of being a disconnected and neglectful parent. Probably due to stress of being a single parent. But I was not convinced that she is guilty of murder.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the prosecuters had it out for her, and her defense team was a joke. I hope she wins an appeal to get a new trial with a defense team that actually defends her.
The whole situation is tragic. I pray for all involved.
Hey miss hot shot grammar police ER nurse....guess what defense can be spelled with a C or an S. Actually the CORRECT English spelling is defence. You do realise that we Americans are not the inventors of the English language and have done nothing but become lazy with spelling and grammar? It's called English because it came from England...where they spell it DEFENCE, so you go back to school and get an education outside of your small world and stop insulting others.
ReplyDeleteBtw...I am a HEAD nurse in the ER in a very large hospital and if you behaved at work in the manner you behave here, you'd be out on your butt.
The woman is not guilty. The kid was coached and abused by a bunch of bullies out to get someone so they could look good.
I'm cracking up at hot shot nurse too because she bashes that other person and then uses the wrong form of "to" instead of "too!" LOL how educated!!!!
DeleteWhat the kid said first is the truth.
ReplyDeleteI was his age when an old man french kissed me on the way to school. Immediately told my friends, who told my teacher, who called the police. Told them what I told everyone else, beginning to get nervous.
Only after I realized what a big deal it was and how much trouble he was going to get into and how people BEGGED me to be lying did my story change. To this day, I have a clear visual memory of his face and what he did. But I lied because his daughter was crying at the police station, looking at me. I lied and told the police I wasn't sure it was him.
If a kid has a detailed bizarro story on the spot and they repeat the details the same way to different people within an hour or so of the event, it's the truth.
Mom did it. Kid saw it. Hopefully, he'll overcome it.
She murdered her 18-month-old son by smothering him, and she murdered her 7-year-old daughter by drowning her.
ReplyDeleteBy witnessing the murder of his sister, little AJ saved his own life because eventually he would be next on Amanda's hit list.
She reminds me of Mary Beth Tinning, who murdered all nine of her children, all babies. Yeah, she said they had "seizures," too - no, she smothered them. Just as Amanda smothered her baby son.
She's a sociopath and belongs in the slammer. It's too bad no one stepped in to save the two children before Amanda murdered them.
I have a son who recently turned 8 and is so easily coerced into saying whatever the person talking to him wants him to say. He lies when he thinks he's going to be in trouble and changes his story every 15 seconds. He is a normal 8 year old but I don't trust his stories any more than I would trust a broom. AJ was apparently developmentally delayed which makes his stories even harder to believe. Anyone with a child that age knows that make up things, have very vivid imaginations and their days all run together. What he said happened 'yesterday' could have very easily happened last week, last year or never at all.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteAll of you people who are screaming about how could AJ have been believed are missing the point entirely. HE WAS NOT THE ONLY EVIDENCE AGAINST THIS WOMAN! There was much more. A jury heard the evidence and found based on ALL the evidence that she was guilty. In May 2010 the appellate court affirmed the conviction. Amanda Lewis is where she belongs and AJ is safe. Get over it!
ReplyDeleteDisagree. The only evidence was AJ.
DeleteAnd the 27 pieces of physical evidence that supported his version of events.
DeleteAJ was clearly developmentally delayed (how could you not be in a home that didn't have toys). The vocabulary he used during his testimony (i.e., "escape," "bold allegation") is clearly not his own personal terminology. Sounds more like cop/prosecutor lingo.
ReplyDeleteVery shaky case. Shame on the jurors who listened to this BS and convicted the poor girl. I hope this gets overturned before too many years. Surely The Innocence Project is looking at taking this on.
I only saw this on 20/20 and they didn't mention any possible sexual abuse or an older brother or stepfather. Can someone enlighten me more?
ReplyDeleteI think aj saw mom trying to reach in and trying to grab her looked like drowning to a child ..Also if she was trying to do cpr and all the chaos that easily could have looked like she was holding her face down it would make sence of why he said mommy killed her in the pool and out of the pool ..the bruises would be from all the people and the hospital very easily ...I don't believe shes guilty ..I think she had her hands full but not guilty ..More important is what they did to that child ..and then he was adopted with out even notifying her HORRIBLE laws SICK !
ReplyDeleteShe is in prison for life. Was he supposed to just hang in the system giving up any chance of a future while this gets figured out?
DeleteGlad he was adopted. He will someday be 18 and if he chooses will pursue a relationship with his mother.
She put him though this. She could have spared an already traumatized young boy and taken the plea, for him.....
BTW she would be out soon had she taken the plea deal.
I have listened to these comments for years now and never spoken up. I have shed many tears because the words"Daddy I want to go home with you" have haunted me for years. Those words came out of Adianna's mouth over a year before her death. Why didnt i let her come with me? I had no legal rights. You see I was only her step-dad. I helped raise her and AJ from the time she was 1 and AJ was 5 months. Amanda and I were married and seperated after her unfaithfullness to our marraige. We had been seperated over 2 years before the tradegy of Adrianna's death,but my love for Adrianna,AJ, and even Amanda has never ended. I do not know what type of person Amanda became between our seperation and Adrianna's death,but my love for her never left my heart.That love keeps me from believing that Amanda committed this crime. At least not intensionally.
ReplyDeletePrayers that someday you will.find peace and those words will no longer haunt you.
DeleteI read all the comments..Therefore find her guilty and sentence her to burn in Hell....
ReplyDeleteOk this woman was my sunday school teacher when I was little and there was always something off about her. I remember when her first child died. But anways im not here to accuse her of something when I know very little. But I have to ask....who gets a pool with no fence around it and leaves her kids outside playing by it while she is in the shower? Obviously everyone knows you don't leave kids by a pool if they can't swim...especially long enough to take a shower. If that is the case, that in itself has its own issues. So assume she could swim, she would not have drowned. I don't want to say guilty about someone who used to be someone I looked up to, but this just stand out to me and I hope it was brought up in court. That poor little boys life has been crushed by this and it breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteAlso. If AJ were making up a story, when the Prosecutor asked him to demonstrate his mother holding her hand over his sisters mouth and nose to keep her quiet, etc, the boy recoiled in horror. 'NO SOO..NO'..if he were making up.stories, I'm sure he would have demonstrated with sound effects, to.boot
DeleteI think she needs to be put to death! What kind of parent would leave their children outside unattended? She had the 18 month old die while she was in the shower, go figure. She is a killer and someone needs to drown her sorry ass! What a piece of crap!
ReplyDeleteAre you serious?! What kind of person leaves their child outside unattended?! People make mistakes. People are not perfect. That is neglect. That is not murder.
DeleteSome people here seem to be inferring that police coerced AJ's statement. That's not true--he actually spoke first to his grandfather, who relayed his claims to the grandmother. A grandmother who basically admitted that it just wasn't that out of character for Amanda. If your own mother can believe you could kill your child, you're in trouble. That initial video is just too damning. And for the person who said AJ's testimony seemed coached, you are misreading the article. That was a defense attorney's quote. Poorly edited article is all.
ReplyDeleteWhere there's smoke, there's fire. Mom who admits she doesn't love her daughter. Undisputed claims of abuse and neglect. Threats to kill her. Child who died suspiciously in the past. Signs of abuse. Torn vagina. Bedwetting issues in both children. Either Amanda killed Adrianna or is covering for someone who did. I believe the former. There was evidence beyond AJ, but after watching video of that first interview, I completely believe he was relaying it as he had witnessed it.
I know she didnt do it!!! So sad!!! A little boy is confused after how many times he was asked those questions! They have no real evidence!!! If she was rapped then it wasnt her!! I would like to write to her I really do I support her
ReplyDeleteI WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE MORE DOCUMENTS FROM THE TRIAL...
ReplyDeleteIt's terrible that the rape issue continues to be completely avoided. It sounds like 2 crimes took place. The rape may have been the stepdad or another person at another time, but clearly this woman didnt like her daughter much. So she wouldn't have faith in her her if the child would have said. Not would she have cared. Its terrible to think of all the abuse that child went through during her short life.
ReplyDeleteis there any way to get to read the trial transcripts? Or at least get some more information about this?
ReplyDeletewhen you are young you are dum and her she trusted telling them no and they are kid and still played in water and I do beleave little girl fell in hit head and her brother was trying to get her out could not and came to tell his mother and she did look out seen her pulled her out and tried to save her what I cant understand is why wasnt the grandmother boy friend not given a lie test or why wasnt her text admited and if child was held under water by her mother hands were are the scraches on mother and why werent there any picture of mothe body and hands just i do think she might need parenting classes another thing did any one check the girls finger nails for mother skin are the little boys to see if he may have scrached her holding on tho legs are the foot print in the wangon to see if it matched the shoes they had on that day are phone records showing mother was on phone at time of crime and I the only one that have so many question of what did the police realy do are did they just here a story and ran with it and also did she take them to the doctor on regular for shots and physical and what did they have to say about her were the kids in school are daycare anybody have question like that.
ReplyDeleteI am so disgusted after watching a show about this. This jury was so negligent it was tantamount to murder. They interviewed one of the jurors, James Locke, and that guy was such a moron I wanted to jump through the tv and punch him in the face. If this was a random selection of the Florida citizenry then no wonder they can't figure out how to vote. I just hope this jury knows what they did and what idiots they are and they understand the complete travesty the conviction was.
ReplyDeleteI have read some of these comments and it is beyond me why you are calling the jurors idiots, when you sound like idiots yourself. It is so easy to sit on your couch and play judge and jury when you really don't know the whole story. Amanda is guilty of killing her daughter. That pool was only 4ft deep and it was a soft inflatable pool. There was nothing hard for her to hit her head on. She also was over 4ft and could stand up in the pool. The Bruises on her face came from a hand print of someone holding her down. Since you never got to see the actual autopsy photos you don't need to comment on how they got there. Yes i was there and seen all the photos and heard AJ'S testimony, he did a very good job for a child trying to figure out what just happened. Don't assume anything until you really have all the facts. You should know by now the news shows do not always give you the real version of what happened. They have their on version that helps their ratings.
ReplyDeleteCasey Anthony was aquitted on far more evidence that this...this is appalling! This needs to be looked further into...I wish Jane Velez Mitchell or Nancy Grace or someone would look into this!
ReplyDeleteThe Florida Judicial system is pathetic. How can they convict a woman without evidence 'beyond reasonable doubt'. So much evidence was blatantly overlooked. AJ gave 13 different accounts of what happened. Every mother knows how easily a child, especially one of his age, can be coerced by an influential adult (Chuck), who hated Amanda Lewis. Why wasn't this avenue pursued? Why were no checks done on mud in the pool from the toy with the mud in it? So many questions unanswered. Amanda Lewis was obviously in shock when she arrived at the hospital, she was distressed at the scene, vomiting, shaking. Also, as her attorney pointed out, she is not a person who likes to display her emotions in public. Admitted, she wasn't a 'good' mother, but in her defense, an ADHD child is not an easy child to cope with. I just hope this woman gets a fair hearing with relevant evidence soon.
ReplyDeleteUK, also a past victim of Florida judicial farce.
I was not there I do not know what went on although her first son dying don't mean she killed Adrianna. Why didn't she kill her daughter sooner especially if she did not love her? Why did she take her back when she come back from the service she was in when her daughter was a baby? There are so many people on here judging Amanda and saying what should happen to her. Who are any of you too judge her? You are not God and he will judge her when it is her time. He knows what happened so let him handle it. There have been more cases than people realize of innocent people being jailed for a crime they didn't do. Look at Casey Anthony, she is out and getting rich over her daughter being dead. Glad I don't live in Fl it seems the whole state is messed up with the legal system. Do they really want to serve justice or become famous?
ReplyDeleteNo one is perfect and Amanda may not have been the best mother but she is only human. If anyone who commented on here is a perfect parent and never made a mistake then stand up cause you deserve a round of applause. lol then for the people that compare this to your personal lives or personal experience's you crack me up! We are all different so we all act different and do different things. Police are crooked and they will trick people into saying certain things because they look for one thing TOO SOLVE THAT CASE TO MAKE THEM SELVES LOOK BETTER. They do not want cold case files they will gladly pin someone to solve it and move on.
Casey Anthony is getting rich? That's funny stuff there. She has been in hiding at her attorneys home for years. She is one of the most hated people.out there and with good reason.
DeleteShe recently tried to start a photography business and was outed quickly.
Casey Anthony will never again have a life outside of her attorneys home.
She should be 6 foot under but she is not getting rich in any way.
its hard to beleave someone could put this in front of a jury and anyone could say guilty with so MUCH doubt in this case, if there is a god the state lawyer should get life in HELL without parole for his need to have power over others what happened to ten guilty people going free so not to let someone innocent person go to jail and in this case ON THE WORD OF A 7 YEAR OLD not knowing he is loosing his mother another reason the state lawyer should BURN IN HELL I think its time to find a new place to live I could get life for calling the lawyer on his power play BIG MAN
ReplyDeleteYou floridians sure do love your child killers.....sick fox. hopefully your white trash state breaks off and sails away
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy it's so clear her little foot prints was in that red wagon..it's so sad how everyone manipulated that six year old babe they robbed Amanda Lewis of her life...my heart crys for her.Poor educated cold hearted investigators you all will judged
ReplyDeleteI have served on a jury and there is no way that I could have convicted this mother based on the trial.
ReplyDeleteI have a granddaughter with ADHD and over the last 11 years, her mother must have said "I am going to kill her" a thousand times. She has also complained of the struggles she's had raising her. However, she would NEVER really kill her and she loves her. So unless you have lived with a child with ADHD, you would never understand.
Another thing, my granddaughter is always covered in bruises, cuts, scars, bumps, and been in the emergency room a number of times, and it is because of her ADHD, not at the hands of anyone else. She has even hurt her younger sister. On her medication she is a totally different child and owns our hearts.
Secondly - I am a prek and k teacher and I have a standing statement - I never believe what this age group tells me because they get their facts so out of order. I could give you a thousand examples where a child was led to say something and made it fact in their mind. It can be from something they heard, saw on TV, etc. They take from all these sources and come up with their own conclusions. All that step-grandfather had to do was say - "I bet your mom killed your sister by dunking her under the water. Didn't she. And that makes it a fact. Because kids believe what Adults tell them and make it a fact!
So unless you have an ADHD child, deal with this age group daily, you have NO clue. I do believe this mom wasn't mom of the year but she wasn't a killer.
Also, I saw this story today, her first child died in his crib and it was from a condition he had that no one knew he had. At least that is what they said today, and he did not look 18 months, he looked more like 8 months, if that.
I just posted above. I went to another site. Her first baby was 16months old. She left the room he was in for only a few moments, and when she returned he wasn't breathing. He died of a seizure disorder.
ReplyDeletei know her and a.j. was afraid of her. she dressed nice in expensive stuff those kids didn't. the litte girl was a beautiful little girl that didn't deserve to die. i am so glad that a.j was adopted. that piece of crap is right where she needs to be. and i hope she will never see the free world again
ReplyDeleteThat was the worst day of my life to watch that little girl die. She will haunt my memories for the rest of my life. Obviously none of you have ever watched a sweet, innocent young life die infront of you. Maybe you should learn to walk in someone elses shoes before you placed judgement. All I know is a little girl is dead and we did everything we could to bring her back to life.
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible what that family had to go through. I live In Australia and I watched that on tv there is now way that mother would be convicted here ith such little evidence it looked like accident and she climbed up on the wagon. I am a bit sus on AJ but he could have wen cohersed also. So sad. Has she had the appeal, if so I hope it gets thrown out.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing that someone who is in prison for life can do is to commit suicide. Even though inmates are in "custody" of the Department Of Corrections, the prisoner has the right to end their life long as they do not harm other inmates or correctional staff. Being that Amanda Lewis is living a life of hell in a prison, that may be the best course of action for her. The Florida Supreme Court has already opened that door by allowing a prison inmate to starve himself to death. Singletary v Costello
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thepetitionsite.com/229/807/212/support-keefe-sneak-attacts-on-snacks-must-go/
ReplyDeleteHi...Where can i find Amanda Lewis prison adress? I want to send her a letter with my thougts!!! Please send me an email at thewatcherproductions@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI was in jail with her before the trial started. She seemed so normal and a little sad. I have no idea if she did it or not. It is kinda scary.
ReplyDeleteher other child didnt die of suffocation, he had seizures that was ruled out. I think shes innocent, hopefully, look at the missing evidence from tracing the call to the police, before that check the time and person who she was talking to while her child was drowning. also the tear and bruises! sad to say i think it was the son aj, another possibility was the step dad. check everything not just whats easy in the judicial system before u throw a girl in prison for her damn LIFE
ReplyDeleteAnd what exactally makes you accuse a 6 year old boy of murder. What evidence are you basing this on? None?
DeleteAre you not doing to him the same thing you claim the prosecute are doing to his mom?
It takes a real piece of work to accuse a 6 year old child of murder. Tell.me how he held his older, larger, sister down in the pool to drown her yet did not get wet, or injured.
You are something else. Shame on you. It's one thing to defend amanda, it's another to accuse a child who could very possibly see this crap someday. Has he not been through enough?
Where's your proof to back up your allegation against a 6 year old child.
I heard AJ say he held her legs in the pool. If the child fell in & AJ grabbed her feet or ankles to try & pull her back he would have inadvertently drown her. He had no idea that his trying to save her was killing her. I think she stopped moving. That probably frightened him more so he went for mom. He probably tried to get her out himself first so they wouldn't get in trouble for climbing up to pool. If mom tended to be a a"yeller" he would've tried everything before getting her. Was mom neglectful? Probably. Was mom attentive & involved? Maybe not. Was she emotionally equipped to handle a special needs child? Very doubtful. Was she a murderer on that day? I don't believe so. The entire case needs reviewing beginning to end. Also I truly hope AJ has received counseling to deal w whatever happened that & the terrible days that followed.
ReplyDeleteIf she fell in she would have stood up since she was taller than the pool. You don't think she would have fought for her life while drowning? And before we go the she hit her head line... on what? The ground under the pool? Would not have knocked her out. The water would have slowed her fall.and by the time her head hit the botTom it would have been more of a.bump.
DeleteSomething stinks here.
But the child did not do it.
It's shameful to infer a child is a killer with zero evidence, just speculation on what you "think" may have happened.
27 pieces of physical evidence to back up his version of events. Why are the supporters not a dressing that. Why are they pretending it's not the and saying his testimony is all the evidence they had.
You would get further with your cau see if you addressed all the evidence instead of just what fits for your senario
This woman is guilty. And her son will.forever pay the price for her bad deed.
Did Amanda win her appeal in 2011?
ReplyDeleteNo Amanda's appeal was denied. Injustice abounds in the state of Florida.
ReplyDeleteI saw the dateline show last night and here are a couple of thoughts. If the mother took the child to the pool with the intention to kill, would she have done it in front of her other child and in broad daylight? I don't think so. And if the intent to kill was there, don't you think she would have waited longer before calling 911? Rescue workers almost saved the little girl, so it doesn't seem like she waited very long to call. Also, the lady did pass a LDT. But, with that said, I'm not convinced she's innocent. The little boy was pretty convincing and all in all, Amanda seemed like a really mean, unloving mother. Who takes away toys as a punishment, but then sends the kids outside to 'play'? And considering their ages and that POOL outside, I don't think this was a lapse in judgment. How long had they had the pool? and why was Adrianna so scared of the water? because this does look like Amanda might have bought the pool as a punishment and used dunking as discipline. I think she should have taken the 10 years and been grateful for it-because either way, she was responsible, (even if just through horrible neglect). At 'best', Amanda's child died when she was responsible for watching her. Plus, it would have saved her son from testifying. It seems very arrogant and self centered for her to claim she did nothing wrong.
ReplyDeleteIf she was in a fit of rage would she have cared if the other child was there? Would she have cared about the time.of day?
DeleteNot sure but food for thought.
Possibly no one is still reading comments. But with so much foment, fury and focus on trial, Florida laws, I post this in the event it might calm those who are most supportive of Amanda Lewis. The world is sadly full of abusive parents, of abusive 'friends'. As a former teacher and volunteer in children's hospitals, I've (possibly) seen and hear (or read) just about everything. This tragedy is about the children, first and foremost. Where are the schools and doctors eho evaluated Adriana and A.J. It is stated A.J. was learning disabled. Every loving parent knows that bonding and stimulation are an essential part of a child's first few years of development. Malnutrition, verbal abuse all can delay development. I saw only a clip of A.J.'s testimony. I was moved by his dignity. When asked if he knew what a lie was, he resounded, "Not true." No one wants to read all my views here, but know that each child is so unique that a generalization about being coerced, or coached -- might/might not be true. But I believe it is all relative. Children who are fearful, live in threatening households may well be susceptible. While A.J. could have no knowledge of the consequences of his testimony, Adriana was the only shield he had from a powerful and (my view) pathological mother who stated outright Amanda was a handful, that they didn't 'get along'. Get along? All these seemingly irrelevant statements characterize her detachment from her children's eel-being. That first child? Seizures or suffocation. How many times have we read that the mother or spourse lost someone prior under mysterious circumstances. The compassionate comments from those who identify with a child who will carry this all his life -- I'm with you. I feel sue AJ would have been next. Clearly there was no one the court adjudged competent and stable enough to raise A.J. To be adopted is not the worst thing in the world. It may give him a chance for counseling and toys and kisses goodnight. I urge that some of you will consider the psychopathic parents (esp. mothers) who appear perfectly normal but have rage management problems. Doesn't your heart ache for the children? Forget the prosecutors and defense attorneys (Oh, anonymous is right), in England, defense is spelled that way. And! so much else. What I wonder if why others spend time being outraged and insulting others WHEN they could be volunteering in a child literacy program, or working elsewhere to make the lives of children better. The world is hard enough. Injustice - we see it everywhere.Change your little corner of the world. Hug someone today. Talk gently to an abusive mother (NOT the child) in a public setting, telling her you know she's tired. Is there anything you could do to help her shop? You thin it doesn't work. I've tried it in two different cities, one of them NYC -- where many articles are run on what should you do if you see a child being physically or verbally abused. If the child lives, the scars last a lifetime. Thank you for reading this,, if you do.
ReplyDeleteParents do tend to take toys away from children as a disciplinary action for not cleaning a room. Parenting in an unsuccessful manner does not make one a murderer. Allowing children to play in the yard with a pool, unsupervised, is neglect. The first child's death would not be brought to the jury because it would be prejudicial and irrelevant to the particular charges. Passing a lie detector test is a positive thing in proving innocence...first because it shows she was telling the truth or at least thought she was. It's very difficult to beat a lie detector test because the guilt shows in the answer. Could it be that the family was playing in the pool at a previous time and the mom dunked the girl, confusing the boy? It happens. The boy is developmentally delayed and changed his story several times. Was the jury from the area in which this woman grew up? Did they already have a preconceived notion because they knew of the first child's death? One thing that bothers me is her demeanor when answering whether or not she killed her child or held her under water. She tended to blink her eyes in a manner consistent with deceitful answers. I can't really figure out whether or not she is guilty. But there is one think of which I am certain...the boy's story was not credible because it changed too often. She was definitely feeling guilt about something. Possibly is was leaving children in the yard unsupervised. I pray the truth will come out in this case.
ReplyDeleteI can not believe that they convicted her of this crime. How horrible. She was wrongfully convicted. I want to write to her and the state on her behalf. She needs to be set free.
ReplyDeleteI have listened to the entire trial CD, I have seen the photos of the autopsy. This is a blatant wrongful conviction based on zero evidence that a crime was even committed. People can holler about how neglectful she was, that is not what she was charged with. Most reasonable people presented with the evidence would agree this was an accidental drowning. While some may not "like" Amanda, or view her as a negligent mother, it still does not make it acceptable in our society to convict of a homicide when it was actually an accident.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the rest of the evidence you are failing to mention because it does not fit your story. 27 supporting pieces of evidence. Explain away... i'll wait.
DeleteTo the lady posting wanting to know where the teachers and such were in relation to AJ and Adrianna treatment, before going on and on about child abusers, she would know if she had the facts. A teacher testified, to no abuse, on the witness stand, for the defense.
ReplyDeleteFor the ER nurse that has never seen bruising in a patient that received CPR, how is this study explained?
ReplyDeletehttp://emj.bmj.com/content/20/1/10.full
"Most injuries detected in this group were cutaneous bruises or abrasions 84 (68.8%). Of these 31 (36.9 %) involved the scalp and face, 15 (17.8%) involved the anterior chest, and 21 (25%) were related to intravascular access devices."
So...according to this study the NUMBER ONE injury from unsuccessful resusitation attempts is bruising to the head and face. Where is the evidence of a homicide?
We're the bruises in the study in the shape of a handprint too?
DeleteThere is zero scientific evidence that any print, a handprint, palmprint or fingerprint can ever be identified on a body in autopsies. That whole concept of seeing a handprint is junk science and has been proven false in the scientific forensic world. So stop with spreading the lies prosecutors want you to believe. Hook line and sinker. You’re just flat wrong. Just like the state of Florida is on so many convictions and junk science used to convict innocent people.
DeleteThis woman is still in jail and forgotten!!! Who will step to the plate and help her?? WWW.AMANDALEWISINNOCENT.com
ReplyDeleteEver think that maybe she is still there because she is guilty of a crime?
DeleteTheres no evidence she did it... go do some reasearch idiot
DeleteThe grandpa should have called child protective sevrices or just taken the girl. Obviously this mother killed her TWO (2) children and should have never, ever, ever been left alon with her offspring, whom she despised, and as inconvenienced by. Listen to the children and the women. Listen to the brother, who witnessed the murder of his own sister-- he has zero reason to lie. Meanwhile his mother has already had a previous child mysteriously die in her direct care, while she was conveniently busy in the shower. Shes a setial killer.
ReplyDeleteShame on you.
DeleteWell, While we wait for A.J to come forward as a BRAVE adult. Let's break this down. I was almost drowned by another kid in about 2 ft of water when I was around their age. My memory could be different than his, and I'm 21 now. I remember, she sat on my head and I gasped for air until finally, I wiggled my way to the surface of this very shallow kitty pool. I remember panicking. When I broke the water, She was laughing and I was literally dying for air. We were kids, and she didn't know she was seriously hurting me. Now, Aj had so many story's and we have to remember how young he was. Even though there is something about the kids testimony that throws it all off. He is saying his mother killed his sister, but he is adding more to the pot. There is something not right. The little girl was sexually abused sometime right before. I mean the woman didn't take a plea deal. She knew if she was found guilty then she was going to spend the full charge in prison so why not bite on the plea deal? The 911 call was very realistic, and her blank emotional facial expression on video in court shows how distraught she is. She looks like she is in a war movie, and everyone is getting shot while her whole point of view is in slow motion. You know, she could have let her kids outside to go play tag jusy to get some breathing room while she is inside. Not thinking anything of it. Thinking the 2 would be ok. I have a little cousin who is actually 4 years old. He will run out the back door to play in a hurry. He doesn't ask for no ones permission and he has ADHD. We have tell him all the time to slow down. We have to tell him to calm down, and we have to tell him no all the time. We do watch him all the time. He tells us these crazy stories. He makes up the wildest things. He has actually left his dad's house and walked down the street to ours. Yes, he unlocked the doors. Left without waking his dad up or any type of permission or any supervision. He was supposed to be sleeping. Well, he woke up and left literally like a mini adult. We had to get on and on to him about that, and he is so young, but so smart, but remember, kids will do anything. So with that being said. Kids will misinterpret anything at any given moment, and then say anything at any given moment. Kids can be persuaded by anyone, or anything. You never know. I pray that darkness eventually comes to light and one thing... My initials are A.J.M. coincidental? Or does lighting strike in the same spot.
ReplyDeleteThe daughter has facal features of fetal etoh syndrome. If she did have it it explains wetting the bed etc. It does not make her a murderer. I can't believe she was found guilty. A witch hunt for sure. She asked a lie detector also.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where Aj is now or what his name has been changed to?
ReplyDeleteI've wondered where AJ is now too, and if he will come forward as an adult. I wonder what his name is now, and his thoughts about his mom.
ReplyDeleteI would not have found her guilty. AJ's stories were all over the place. He should be 18 this year, hopefully he will step up now.