After nearly two decades of silence, AJ Hutto, now 24, has spoken out about the childhood testimony that helped convict his biological mother, Amanda Lewis, of murder. At just seven years old, AJ gave a chilling account in court, stating he saw his mother drown his sister, Adrianna, in their Florida backyard pool. His detailed testimony became central to the 2008 trial that resulted in a life sentence for Lewis.
A key piece of evidence was a haunting drawing AJ made as a child, depicting stick figures near a pool and phrases like “She did” and “To Bad.” AJ explained it illustrated the terrifying moment he saw his mother hold Adrianna underwater. Despite concerns about his young age, the court deemed him competent to testify, and he maintains today, “One hundred percent guilty. I stand by every word I said.”
AJ insists he was never coached and simply described what he witnessed. Amanda Lewis claimed Adrianna’s death was accidental, saying the child fell into the pool. But AJ’s account, combined with autopsy findings—such as bruising consistent with a handprint—shifted the investigation from accident to murder.
In a police interview, AJ told investigators, “Mama dunked my sister,” allegedly in anger after Adrianna sprayed glass cleaner in the house. Authorities also noted the poor living conditions and signs of physical abuse in the home, further strengthening the prosecution’s case.
After the trial, AJ was adopted into a new family. Today, he is a married firefighter with no contact with Lewis. He recalls his early life as filled with trauma and abuse, describing it as “just darkness.” Both he and Adrianna, he says, suffered unpredictable violence.
Amanda Lewis remains imprisoned but continues to seek release, recently hiring a new attorney and passing a polygraph test. Still, AJ remains resolute: “I know what I saw. I lived it.”
