Boy who helped convict his mother for sister’s death speaks out after 17 years
At just 7 years old, A.J. Hutto told a courtroom his mother killed his sister. Now 24, he shares what life has been like since that day.
A Florida boy’s quiet bravery helped convict his own mother in the drowning death of his sister. Nearly two decades later, he’s finally breaking his silence.
In 2008, a courtroom listened in stunned silence as a small boy in a vest and button-down shirt pointed to a drawing and described how his mother, Amanda Lewis, drowned his 7-year-old sister, Adrianna, in their backyard pool.
Now 24 and living under a new name, A.J. Hutto is speaking publicly for the first time since that day. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he stood by his childhood testimony, saying, “I just told them exactly what I saw, word for word.”
What Happened to Adrianna Hutto?
On August 8, 2007, Lewis, then a 27-year-old nurse’s assistant, claimed her daughter drowned while she was napping. She said her son woke her up to say Adrianna was in the pool.
At first, police believed it was a tragic accident. But six months later, A.J. told investigators something chilling: “Mama got mad… and she dunked her.”
I went viral for telling a court aged 7 that my mom drowned my sister. I’m ending my silence 17 years later https://t.co/3ki6AN2GeD pic.twitter.com/eSz0RJ3qju
— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) April 6, 2025
In court, A.J. described what he saw, even drawing a picture showing Lewis by the pool, holding Adrianna down. When asked what was happening, the boy said plainly: “Killing my sister.”
That simple but painful statement changed everything.
A Childhood Cut Short
A.J.’s testimony led to Lewis’ conviction for first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. She was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.
After the trial, A.J. was adopted, given a new identity, and started over with a loving family. He disappeared from the public eye—until now.
Speaking about his early years, A.J. said life with his mother was filled with fear. “A lot of abuse. Physically abused, both Adrianna and I were hit.”
His sister, he said, was his “best friend.”
A New Life, and a Voice After Silence
Now a firefighter, A.J. says he wasn’t coached for his testimony. He didn’t realize the full weight of his words until he was a teenager. Looking back, he remembers being nervous in court but also relieved once it was over.
He hasn’t seen his mother since that day. “I’ve wanted to keep it that way… so nothing’s getting brought back up,” he said.
Still, there’s pain in his voice. “It was heartbreaking. You know, 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.”
A.J. Hutto’s story is about more than a crime—it’s about surviving something no child should face. His courage helped stop the cycle of abuse and gave him a chance at a safer life. Now, by speaking out, he’s finding his own way forward.
