Though his tiny hands couldn’t cover his tear-filled face, a brave little boy stood in a Florida courtroom in 2008 and did something unimaginable—he testified against his own mother. At just seven years old, A.J. Hutto recounted the tragic moment he witnessed the death of his sister, Adrianna. Today, 17 years later and now a 24-year-old firefighter, A.J. is speaking publicly for the first time since the trial, firmly stating that his mother, Amanda Lewis, is “100% guilty.”
Back in that quiet courtroom, the world saw a child forced to confront a nightmare. A.J., whose identity was later protected with a name change, didn’t fully understand the legal system or the consequences of his words. All he knew was what he had seen—and that it was wrong. On that day, dressed in a white shirt, a black vest, and light pants, he spoke clearly and courageously about the events that forever changed his life.
Initially, the death of seven-year-old Adrianna was believed to be a tragic accident. On August 8, 2007, Amanda Lewis, a nurse’s assistant working the night shift, came home and laid down for a quick nap. Her children watched cartoons as she rested. The plan, she later said, was to get some sleep before heading out to shop for school supplies. But with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees, the children begged to play in their above-ground pool—something Lewis insisted was off-limits without adult supervision.
According to Lewis, she denied their request and allowed them to play outside for a bit while she prepared. Moments later, her young son came running inside with chilling words: “Mama, Adrianna is in the pool.” At first, she assumed he meant near the pool, and she told him to have her come inside. But when she looked out the door, she saw A.J. frantically reaching into the water, as if trying to pull his sister out. Amanda ran outside. What she saw shattered her: Adrianna was floating face-down in the water, her small body lifeless and blue. The little girl was airlifted to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
In the beginning, authorities treated it as an accidental drowning. But everything changed when A.J. shared what he had seen that day. Speaking to investigators, he explained that his mother became angry with Adrianna for “doing stuff she wasn’t supposed to,” and as punishment, Amanda “dunked” her daughter in the pool. A.J. said, “Mama dunked my sister. She got mad and throwed her in.”
When A.J. took the stand, the courtroom watched as he drew a simple but haunting picture. It showed stick figures—one by the pool, one floating in it, and one off to the side by a tree. When asked what he was doing, he replied, “playing.” Then the prosecutor asked who was by the pool. Without hesitation, A.J. said, “Mama.” And when asked what she was doing, he answered, “Killing my sister,” explaining that she was “putting her hand over her face.”
The drawing also included two phrases scrawled in a child’s handwriting: “She did” and “too bad.” A.J. clarified that they meant his sister had died and that it was “scary.” His calm, straightforward words struck a deep emotional chord in everyone present. They were simple, yet powerful.
Amanda Lewis was convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A.J.’s testimony had played a pivotal role in the verdict, and afterward, his life took a dramatic turn. He was adopted by a caring couple, given a new identity, and allowed to grow up away from the public eye.
For years, he stayed silent. But now, A.J. is finally sharing his story with the Daily Mail. Reflecting on his testimony, he insists he wasn’t coached. He told investigators and the court only what he witnessed, word for word. “I didn’t even realize until later in my teenage years what it all really meant,” he said. “I was really, really nervous… all those people staring at me. But I was just glad when it was over.”
A.J. described his early life with Adrianna and their mother as dark and filled with trauma. “We were physically abused,” he shared. “Both of us. It was just constant abuse. Sometimes we never saw it coming.” He recalled moments of being blindsided, explaining how sudden and frightening the violence could be. Adrianna, he said, was more than just a sibling—she was his best friend.
After the trial, he never saw Amanda Lewis again. A court order prohibits any contact, and A.J. has no desire to reopen that chapter. “I want to keep it that way,” he explained. “I don’t want those feelings, those memories, all that trauma, to come back. It was heartbreaking… she’s my mom. But at the same time, there was relief. What we were going through was finally over.”
Now living a very different life, A.J. reflects on the drastic contrast between his traumatic childhood and the loving home he grew up in after the trial. “It was a 360-degree difference,” he said. The shift from constant fear to warmth and safety allowed him to heal and move forward. Today, as a firefighter, he serves his community with the same courage he showed as a little boy in court.
His story is one of incredible bravery, resilience, and the painful burden of truth. Even now, the memories are difficult to revisit, but A.J. knows his voice made a difference. His decision to speak out may have cost him his family, but it ultimately saved him—and possibly others.
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