The Florida murder conviction of Amanda Lewis has been reopened nearly two decades after she was sentenced to life in prison, following renewed claims that she was wrongfully convicted over the drowning death of her young daughter.
A judge has now been assigned to review a post-conviction relief motion filed on behalf of Lewis, who was found guilty in 2008 of murdering her seven-year-old daughter Adrianna in an above-ground swimming pool at the family’s home in Esto, a small town in Florida’s Panhandle, Court TV reports.
The dramatic development comes after years of campaigning by legal advocates who argue Adrianna’s death was a tragic accident rather than a homicide.
Life sentence based on child’s testimony
Lewis was convicted after her then-seven-year-old son, AJ Hutto, testified in court that he saw his mother deliberately drown his sister.
His emotional testimony, delivered in February 2008, became the cornerstone of the prosecution’s case.
During the trial, AJ presented a drawing depicting stick figures around the pool, identifying one as his mother “killing my sister.”
He told the court Lewis held Adrianna underwater with her hand over her face while he watched from a nearby tree.
The jury found Lewis guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse.
She was sentenced to life without parole plus an additional 30 years.
Case reopened after years of appeals
After losing multiple appeals, Lewis’s legal team has now filed a motion alleging violations of her constitutional rights during the original trial.
If granted, the motion could result in her conviction being overturned or a new trial being ordered.
Attorney Colin Miller said Lewis has raised four key issues, including the removal of a juror deemed competent, juror misconduct, and claims that one juror was underage at the time of trial.
“If the court finds in Amanda’s favor on any one of these issues, her convictions will be thrown out,” Miller said.
Supporters argue miscarriage of justice
Campaigners supporting Lewis insist the case began with a tragic accident, not a crime.
Another advocate, sociology professor Amanda Lewis, said the grieving mother was unfairly blamed amid trauma, flawed assumptions and limited resources.
Prosecutors initially treated Adrianna’s death as accidental.
Fire officials and sheriff’s deputies reported no immediate signs of foul play, suggesting the child may have slipped into the pool and hit her head.
However, hours later, AJ told police his mother had “dunked” his sister after becoming angry with her.
That account ultimately led to Lewis’s arrest and prosecution.
Conflicting accounts and disputed evidence
Lewis has always maintained her daughter’s death was accidental, saying Adrianna fell into the pool while she slept after a night shift. She told police she attempted CPR and called 911 in a panic.
An autopsy noted facial bruising resembling a handprint, though it was conducted by a medical examiner later disciplined for professional negligence in other cases.
Despite passing a lie detector test, Lewis refused a plea deal and went to trial.
Son stands by testimony
Now 24 and working as a firefighter, AJ has continued to stand by his testimony, telling the Daily Mail earlier this year that he remains “one hundred percent” certain of his mother’s guilt.
As the court reviews the new motion, Lewis’s fate remains uncertain – with the possibility that one of Florida’s most controversial child-witness convictions could soon be reconsidered.