A man has broken his silence nearly two decades after delivering a chilling testimony as a child against his biological mother, who was convicted of murdering his sister.
AJ Hutto was just seven years old when he took the stand in a Florida courtroom in 2008, recounting the moment he saw his mother, Amanda Lewis, drown his seven-year-old sister, Adrianna, in their backyard swimming pool.
Now 24, AJ – whose real name has been changed for his protection – has spoken publicly for the first time since the trial, telling The Daily Mail: “One hundred percent guilty. I stand by every word I said.”
His testimony, along with a child’s drawing he presented in court, became key evidence in the case, The Daily Mail detailed. The image showed three figures by the pool and was accompanied by AJ’s handwritten words, “She did” and “To Bad,” which he explained meant “she died” and “it was scary.”
During the trial, AJ described how his “momma” had held Adrianna’s head underwater, adding: “She was putting her hand over her face.”
Despite his young age, Judge Allen Register ruled AJ was a competent witness. While some critics suggested the child may have been influenced by prosecutors, AJ maintains his account was his own.
“I don’t believe I was coached or anything like that,” he said. “I just told them exactly what I saw, word for word.”
Amanda Lewis was convicted of first-degree murder and child abuse, receiving a life sentence without the possibility of parole plus an additional 30 years. She has consistently maintained her innocence, claiming Adrianna accidentally fell into the pool. At the time, authorities initially believed it may have been a tragic accident – until AJ’s testimony and autopsy findings raised red flags.
The autopsy revealed bruising on Adrianna’s face that resembled a handprint, and AJ told police during a recorded interview that “Mama dunked my sister” after becoming angry with her for spraying glass cleaner in the house.
Investigators also reported that the family home was in poor condition, with minimal toys or resources for the children.
After the trial, AJ was adopted and has since built a new life – he’s now a firefighter, married, and has had no contact with Lewis. He also chooses not to refer to her as his mother.
“My childhood with Amanda was… just darkness. Trauma. A lot of abuse,” he said. “Both Adrianna and I were physically abused. Sometimes it came out of nowhere – we’d be completely blindsided.”
He describes the difference between his former home and his adoptive one as “night and day.”
Meanwhile, Lewis is continuing her fight to overturn her conviction. From Homestead Correctional Institution for Women in South Florida, she has recently retained a new attorney and is seeking to reopen her case. She has reportedly passed a polygraph test and previously turned down a plea deal for a reduced manslaughter charge and a 10-year sentence.
Despite her ongoing efforts to clear her name, AJ remains steadfast in his belief: “I know what I saw. I lived it.”