More than six years after the unexpected and suspicious death of three-year-old Matthew Maison in his Port Huron bedroom, his grandparents and their supporters are still seeking justice for the boy.
With a peaceful rally planned for this Saturday, May 4, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Port Huron’s Pine Grove Park to raise awareness of the case, Amy and David Maison hope to prompt St. Clair County authorities to bring closure to the case.
As it stands, there have been no arrests made and no charges filed, despite many pleas for resolution over the years, be it to the county prosecutors and judges or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The family’s struggle for justice began on February 19, 2018, when the boy was found unresponsive in bed by babysitters after his mother, Amanda Maison, and her then-boyfriend Maurice Houle, left for work that morning. Injuries found during the autopsy could not be explained by the mother and her boyfriend, even though they were the only adults in the home at the time of the child’s death, and several interviews by neighbors and others indicated possible mistreatment and neglect happening to the child for some time before the tragic event.
Despite this, the investigation has not moved forward, with it unclear what more law enforcement is looking for in the case.
Making the case all the more maddening for Amy and David Maison is that a similar case had happened before in the family, with Amanda’s brother Andrew and his wife Hilary convicted for the May 2015 death of 5-year-old Mackenzie Maison and the abuse of 3-year-old Makayla Maison.
After the case, and seeing justice served for one set of their grandchildren, the Maisons were determined to see right done by their grandson, with the couple reportedly reaching out to Child Protective Services and other authorities in the months leading up to the February tragedy. Despite their reports prior to the loss and their efforts after, the Maisons can only report frustration by the lack of action by authorities in the name of their grandson Matthew.
In addition to Saturday’s rally and a previous one held in April, the Maisons and supporters gather via a public Facebook group titled “Justice for Matthew,” where case updates are shared and outreach efforts are coordinated, with the group producing lawn signs and t-shirts to spread awareness.
