Six-Year-Old Son Accuses Mother of Drowning His Half-Sister in a Pool | Amanda Lewis Case Analysis

This video answers the question: Can I analyze case of Amanda Lewis?
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[@tripledair]

As soon as I read the title I started speculating about what could be happening in a situation like this.

[@crystalhaataja304]

Since these are real people, we wont be diagnosing anyone

[@That_Trans_Kid]

Original

[@RHCPpleasestandup]

HAHA GOOD ONE THATS WHAT DR GRANDE SAYS IN ALL HIS VIDEOS HAHAHA

[@Joelswinger34]

I am glad you are not diagnosing anyone! ;-)

[@newchannelwtfwhy]

Leave the speculation to the expert. You may not be qualified.

[@macgrad1]

My sister was molested and then rap*ed by an uncle between the ages of ten and eleven. My parents suspected something was wrong and took her to the family doctor who verified that she had been ra*ed but initially my sister wouldn’t say who did it. Finally she said my aunt’s 13 year old neighbour did it. Most of my family wanted to just cover it up because of the shame to my sister if it became known. My mother and I, who was fourteen at the time, insisted on the police being notified. My aunt pleaded with my mother not to do this to my sister but my mother refused to drop it. When it went to trial, the boy was acquitted because of reasonable doubt because there was no evidence. My sister still swore it was him. Decades later it came out that it was my uncle, who had molested me and no one believed me. So he felt safe turning his attention to my sister. That boy’s parents were hardworking immigrants and it practically bankrupted themselves to get good legal counsel for him. Then the stigma continued to follow him. My sister adored my aunt and used to spend weekends and vacations with her. Turns out my aunt and her husband promised my sister that she would inherit their estate if she lied and my sister continued the relationship with my aunt. Children tell the truth, but they also lie. One should keep an open mind and investigate properly. My brother told the now adult man the truth and he said he wished he had known before his parents died. He said that they believed him but he always worried that maybe they had some doubt. He said it affected his whole life and he was a grandfather by then and it still affected him. It’s heartbreaking when someone’s life is destroyed by a lie.

[@nancybryson5488]

So tragic! Yes, to me lying is about the worst thing one can do.

[@sarahjaye4117]

Insane story ! 😔 I worry that the sister was with uncle after what he did...

[@macgrad1]

@@sarahjaye4117 , my sister got into alcohol, drugs, multiple male partners and then committed suicide at twenty-three. She was deeply troubled. I think paedophiles, serial ra*ists and serial se*ual sadistic predators should get life in prison with no parole. I don’t mean where there’s a two or three year age gap between a consensual underage girl and legal age boyfriend, or a clear case of “he said, she said” with absolutely no proof. When there is a significant age gap or proof of a non-consensual encounter, then I don’t believe there is any chance of rehabilitation. I knew a psychologist who worked with convicted paedophiles and ra*ists and she firmly believed that they could be rehabilitated. I disagree. I could be wrong but I don’t believe that I am, though, and I wouldn’t want to take the chance with my own or someone else’s loved one. I don’t believe in the death penalty or in draconian sentencing for some crimes, but I do believe that life should mean life in specific circumstances.

[@polarvortex3294]

@@sarahjaye4117 What makes me sad is that the aunt must have had her own suspicions about what really had happened but did her best to smooth things over and pretend she and her husband stood for what is good and right -- actions which kept the girl in danger and put the boy next door through hell.

[@TrueMartin]

Wow you have some horrible people in your family.

[@brigittelee9730]

My friend who is a doctor drove up on an individual lying unconscious in the middle of the street one evening. His two children were in the car with him. My friend stopped the car and ran over to the person and began chest compressions. As he worked on the individual other people started to gather around. He instructed the bystanders to call 911 and continued CPR until the ambulance came. The person was already dead and was taken away by the ambulance. My friend later told me that his kids who witnessed him providing CPR thought he was harming the person and had actually killed him.

[@vicvega3614]

Wow, thats a perfect example of 2 kids screwing up what they saw. This woman should at least get a new trial. The kid having 13 different stories is also insane. I wonder what the boy thinks now that hes older and his mom has been in prison all these years? I bet even now he wouldn't change his story because to his young brain she killed his sister. The court system shouldn't have allowed his testimony

[@ralsharp6013]

That's really interesting thanks Brigitte🙏

[@jessicaolson490]

​@@vicvega3614 Yes with all the changing stories it sounds just like a young child's memory being morphed by all the questions being asked by police. The amount of toddlers that drown in pools versus the amount of toddlers purposefully drowned in pools should have been enough for them to not have persecuted this mother.

[@alloverdaplace2043]

I watched the 48 hours episode of this. When the boy testifies against his mom and he looks at her and doesn't even realize it's her then he does and breaks down. Heart breaking 💔

[@ruthhase-gutierrez9830]

Do you know what the name of the episode is?

[@shambossy]

​@ruthhase-gutierrez9830 It's On Hulu and I believe KZbin as well. Ki*!er Women with Piers Morgan

[@TheBOG3]

There’s no mention of a 48 Hours episode on the Wikipedia page. Are you sure it wasn’t the 20/20 episode “What A.J. Saw: Mother’s Fate Hinged on 7-Year-Old’s Testimony”? There’s also an episode of this story on ‘True Crime with Aphrodite Jones’ that is on the Investigation Discovery (ID) channel and also the U.K. documentary series ‘Killer Women with Piers Morgan.’

[@ginagina9592]

She should have taken the plea deal to save her and her son.

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

I returned home from my law office to see Metro Nashville police officers at my house. They asked consent to search, which I granted. I was thereafter investigated for months by child protective services. I was raising my then six year old special needs nephew by myself. Apparently he told teachers at a therapeutic preschool I made him sleep alone in the attic. He later told his kindergarten teacher I kept him in a dog cage. They all got their heads together and reported me to law enforcement and child protective services. Lucky for me I had neither an attic nor a dog nor a dog cage. I had devoted my life to that child, before and ever since this investigation. There was not a shred of truth in any of the accusations and not a shred of evidence supporting them. I doubted that I would be convicted but still, a formal accusation would have ruined me. I don’t scare easily but I had never before and have never since felt so scared, alone and helpless. If I’d had an attic or a dog I’d have been ruined. Yes, I know that children can be competent witnesses. But don’t talk to me about the wisdom of charging and convicting someone based primarily on the evidence of a child. I don’t want to hear it. Children lie. They simply make stuff up sometimes, as in my nephew’s case, out of whole cloth.

[@texasrefugee7888]

Usually it's best to believe the child. Children don't usually make up stuff about doing people in and SA. That happened to me when I was eight years old. And the perpetrator and his wife came to my mother and told her I was making it all up and lying. But she knew by my and behavior that I was not. That's how those people operate. They count on no one being able to believe the child.

[@TBoss-xb6cl]

My daughter got a black eye from someone hitting her with a swing, she was 6, thinking nothing of it I sent her to school, she was question repeatedly by her teacher and nurse they asked her over and over if I hit her, she continued to say it was a swing but they seemed bounded and determined to prove I hit her. Thank God she never waived but I was so mad that she was questioned by so many people and I had zero idea. When I asked why I wasn’t contacted they said they believed her story and never saw any signs of abuse to prior…they said they let her go back to class…(my daughter is the one who told me about being questioned) I was so sick to think had she one time said yes just to stop the questions, things for me could have had a different outcome

[@Rebecca-hc5ju]

​@texasrefugee7888 agree 100%!! Not to simplify it too much, however, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[@BobbiGail]

I appreciate you sharing. Until someone has been unjustly accused themselves, they will likely say "Always believe the child!" It should be ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE CHILD AND INVESTIGATE. Kids are learning to lie. And sadly, other kids are being hurt and fall under the radar. This is VERY difficult. But I have been on BOTH sides. I have been lied about (it was proven) AND have had horrible things happen where the community sided w the sociopath (family member) EVEN THO HE ADMITTED WHAT HE DID... instead of the child. It's tough, and that needs to be recognized.

[@BeverlyStofferahn]

She was obviously a very troubled child Never believe her All she knows is how to lie

[@fixfalcon2628]

I would love to see someone interview A.J. now that he's an adult. Does he regret his decision to testify against his mother? Does he still believe what he said in his testimony? Does he visit her in prison?

[@robinantonio8870]

I hope she refuses to see him

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

@@robinantonio8870 He was 6, still a baby. If she's any sort of mum and didn't do it, maybe she thinks the son (accidentally) did it and is protecting him? Would you, with a 6 year old? Your one remaining child?

[@hannahm7373]

@@robinantonio8870 He was 6 years old. He could have actually believed this happened. If he had been 16, you might have a point, but he was not.

[@Bynming]

​@@robinantonio8870if you've spent time with kids his age you'd understand that their minds conjure up all kinds of wild stuff and they misinterpret very simple stuff sometimes. There isn't necessarily malice in it. He should probably be mad at her for the conditions she raised them in.

[@adriel7229]

He probably doesn't remember any of it clearly and his mind could easily believe a made-up version. I don't blame him, it's the adults around him who should understand how children's minds work.

[@MechaNintendoMast]

Yes, clearly the mothers lesser failings made it easy for them to jump to the conclusion of her being a killer. I can easily see an incriminating story being coaxed out of the kid who was going through enough. Just terrible all around.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

Indeed. I don't know if you vould consider that "malicious prosecution" - maybe not in a technical legal sense but in a moral sense - but they probably knew what they were doing. I don't know if she did it, but this seems to be a clear example of overwhelming "Reasonable Doubt".

[@claire2.097]

yes, like "the kids' room smelled like urine". so what?!!! the mother is poor amd working her a** off to provide for her kids, she didn't even have money to buy them toys obviously. And the diseased girl was mentally not well. Was the mother supposed to clean for hours and hours on top of overworking, to then just drop dead because she wouldn't have had time to eat and sleep with all this overwhelming situation. Maybe the floors there were covered with flooring roll, which is physically impossible to clean the urine odour from?!!

[@nadinekeating3255]

I remember hearing about this case years ago and watching/listening to the testimony from her son on the stand. I don't know if she killed her daughter, but I certainly don't believe she should have been convicted. Any evidence against her was based on the changing stories of a six year old child.

[@TheDramacist]

My lil sister has similar issues when her eldest was young. He was autustic and would poo and wee himself multiple times a day. This became so difficult to manage (he'd remove nappies), her home became a prison of stench, unable to go anywhere because of this extreme behaviour. She herself is autistic and developed depression, despite receiving help from many family and friends. Her 2nd child would aggrevate the situation by telling carers/hired help all manner of bizarre stories. Plp were quick to jump to aburd conclusions. As adults now, the kids dont remember any of it and laugh it away. At the time it was a nightmare.

[@alabaster253]

The mom sounds like a mess. But I will say this… I’m a single mom with two kids, have my life and house together, take care and am patient with my well behaved kids. But there was a 3-month period where I had to work the night shift and my life went to pieces! Quick! I couldn’t cope with stress, short tempered, my brain was so slow, ate horrible, couldn’t keep up with maintaining the house, had difficulty keeping a schedule due to the total lack of quality sleep. I will never do it again. I would not recommend it for any mom, especially one that doesn’t have a reliable partner.

[@daynalevis2250]

I think her not getting much sleep was a factor tooo

[@dolorestroeller4734]

Such a tough way to live. Everyday with no sleep and 2 children. Just a setup for tragic accidents to happen

[@MichaelSersen]

My SO has been doing it for over a decade and refuses to stop. She also picks up double shifts every single week. I've dealt with the symptoms you've mentioned for a very long time. I moved out over it and got my own house. She still works nights and days 7 days a week. Oh well, I see out son a lot and avoid her after she hasn't slept for days. It's regular 😢

[@user-wg5wt7nb7j]

If it were the father who did this, youd be full of hate and bitterness. Women are always excused for stress. Aww poor thing she was stressed. Psycho shit. What have you done that youre attoning for? ​@daynalevis2250

[@DivaFondaXXX]

@@MichaelSersen is it because of money issues? People who work double shifts and/or seven days a week usually need the money.

[@teresajorgenson2308]

I had a 3 year old that told a story that got us in trouble with CPS. She drew inaccurate conclusions quite often. It took over a year to clear up the story.

[@audralynn7454]

Thank you for bringing this case to light, Dr. Grande. I agree with your theory wholeheartedly. I can understand not taking a plea deal, that's like admitting you killed your child. If you didn't you'd rather go to jail than falsely admit you drowned your kid, at least I would. I'd keep fighting from the inside, but I'd never admit to killing my child if I didn't.

[@wesleyorange8133]

Manslaughter charges aren't the same as murder charges. The child still died on her watch, call it whatever you want. 10 years was what she deserved even if she wasn't a murderer. Parents who decide to live around a body of water that isn't fenced in are taking huge risks.

[@spit_itout]

When I was 4 years old and my brother was 6 we had a neighbor girl who was 5. She was playing at our house and my brother, who had anger problems as a child, threw her on the table. She hit her forehead and a huge gash split open. My grandparents were taking care of us and took us to the hospital so that she could get stitches. When the doctor asked her what happened, she answered: "my dad kicked me in the head". Her dad was at work! I saw my brother push her and so did my grandparents. CHILDREN LIE.

[@catserver8577]

A head injury can cause complete changes in mental status and memory, obviously. It doesn't mean she was lying, she just had her head split open. Honestly, I blame tv and movies for making it seem like people can just get up and carry on after head injuries. That's not how they work.

[@IsabelnoReally]

Maybe she was confusing the timeline, maybe her dad had kicked her in the head a different time. Maybe she had brain damage from the blow to the head.

[@carnifaxx]

a) she had a head injury, she was probably not thinking clearly enough to deliberately lie; b) she might have as well connected her current state with a pre-existing incident of abuse you were unaware of and just connect it as a cause to this one. Even though I know people (children included) lie, I doubt an injured child (and so young) just randomly summons allegations, either she saw something unsuitable for her age, or she had a personal experience with something unsuitable for anyone...

[@lyricsoftheart]

A five year old isn’t going to lie but I ageee with a child having a major head injury and possibly having been hurt at home before she confused the both. This isn’t proof that children lie.

[@JJtvee]

Imagine going to jail for life. Omg.

[@brebre514]

Now that you've given your opinion, I believe even more that she was, in fact, innocent. Thanks for covering this case, Dr. Grande!!! 🙌

[@TBoss-xb6cl]

She lived about an hour from me, her past and parenting were definitely questionable. That little boy AJ on the stand was heartbreaking

[@cocoknows]

She could have been a horrible mother, but not a murderer. It's really hard to say.

[@pamalaboyd7008]

So sad.

[@serendavies7375]

WHAT?!

[@Irunwithscissors63]

You lived an HOUR away but you speak as though you knew her personally.

[@limbeboy7]

Kids don't lie about death. Especially at 6 yrs old. His sister was here and one day she was gone

[@HypocritesExposd]

AJ is an unreliable witness and I 100% agree with the Dr. Grande’s theory that AJ saw his mom’s hand in the pool thinking she was drowning his sister when she was instead trying to save her.

[@ralsharp6013]

AJ said she climbed into the pool via the red cart. 😢

[@Cinder_311]

No way

[@HypocritesExposd]

@@ralsharp6013 he changed his story 13 times, so it doesn’t matter what he says. The jury should’ve stuck to the evidence and disregarded AJ’s testimony.

[@richardhart9204]

I once watched a TV documentary about dubious child testimony, that featured a class of primary school children. During class, a man entered their classroom, and was introduced to them as, Mr Naughty. Mr Naughty then sat at the back of the class, silent and still, until the children left for playtime. When the children returned to class, their teacher, using deliberately leading questions, asked the children about what Mr Naughty had done during his brief stay with them. Within a few minutes, those kids were accusing Mr Naughty of things, I cannot repeat here. Yep, kids do indeed say, the darnedest things.

[@ellenfoster9764]

My son, when 6, told me a long story about being cut by a falling razor blade in the shower, having to go to the ER for stitches. He was sure this had happened. It did not. False memories do occur in children

[@zhaoli1055]

I always remembered that I was standing on a reaping hook，my foot was cut and my father held me rush to the hospital, but when I grew up, I found no scars on my sole. I guess nothing happened on me, maybe I mixed the dream or TV with the real life. It happens sometimes.

[@lostandfound5145]

When one of my daughters was 4 yrs old she cut herself reaching onto dad’s bathroom counter and accidentally touching his razor. No biggie. Little cut. But it was the first time she’d ever sustained an injury where she really bled. I finished helping her clean it and comforted her and all that stuff but she was still standing on the stool in her bathroom over the sink when she looked down and saw a big fat drop of blood come out of her finger and she fainted dead away! I didn’t see it coming until it was too late and she smacked her head on the counter as she went down. And I screamed in horror, which apparently she heard before she was fully unconscious. She had a wee little egg on her forehead but woke up absolutely CONVINCED that I screamed at her and shoved her down to the ground. She was too little to even understand what “fainting” was or that it had happened to her. She was sooooo mad at me 😂. At the time it was just terrible. You just wanna hug your chubby little baby and they’re convinced you just beat them up for no reason. Anyway, just throwing out my experience, too! Kids do the best they can to make sense of the world around them but they have limited experience & knowledge to make sense of the world.

[@jessicaolson490]

Actually it occurs a lot. Their memory ends imagination flow together and they don't have the discernment to sort out what's what. Even adults are brains can feel in gaps with falsehoods, it's just by then we can tell the really outlandish ones that are fake and just imagination.

[@CJR-bs7eu]

I cannot believe she was found guilty after the 13 different stories the only witness, a 6 YO, told. SMH. This sounds outrageous! I hope she's getting a retrial.

[@celeca7]

This was 2007, almost 20 years ago. All her appeals exhausted. She's in there for life, unfortunately.

[@CJR-bs7eu]

@@celeca7this sounds just outrageous to me SMH. M y heart goes out to this poor woman. ❤️

[@58Kym]

That’s terrible. She was convicted on a six yr olds story and a messy house. I don’t necessarily think he was lying, but he could have been confused and interpreted events differently to the actual occurence. Kids fabulise all the time and so do adults. I can’t believe the jury convicted her on the paucity of evidence presented here.

[@VidelxSpopovich]

Uhm did you not watch the video? There was evidence that backed up his story.

[@58Kym]

@@VidelxSpopovich There was also evidence that didn’t. I wouldn’t have convicted her on what was presented herre.

[@Orpilorp]

I am so glad I was not on that jury. There are too many facts or non facts, that muddy the water of this case.

[@robinantonio8870]

You should have been. She may not have gone to jail.

[@TheMattTrakker]

So...reasonable doubt.

[@nikki_q.]

I hope if im ever charged with a crime, Dr Grande shows up on my jury!!!

[@johnking9942]

The kids story kept changing. A dirty house is an indication of a compromised home life. It is not a good indicator of murder. Jury got that one wrong.. She may or may have not done it but the jury got the case wrong.

[@Ann-sj4pt]

Exactly

[@ambergriffes6122]

Dr. Grande, please do a blooper video, it makes my day to see you laugh at your own words 😂

[@andreaf5765]

I remember this case and still can’t believe she was found guilty

[@irinabelan9836]

Thank you so much Dr. Todd for analysing Amanda’s case . I started following this case after watching a documentary on Amanda’s case with Piers Morgan and I was the person who asked you to look into this case. I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis and believe that Amanda is not guilty. Amanda has also passed a polygraph test prior to the trial. Justice has not been served in this case and I believe Amanda deserves another trial. I am all the way in Melbourne, Australia and I think something really needs to be done to give this lady a fair trial.

[@KimberlyLetsGo]

Amanda's attorneys must really suck! They couldn't discredit a 7 year old? I hope she gets an appeal.

[@queenlewis8018]

if you would lie about toys what else would u lie about

[@wesleyorange8133]

She lied about toys to the police, and on top of that, a child did die on her watch in a stupid inflatable pool.

[@alantaylor353]

Agree 100%. Nobody should ever be sent to jail because of a 6 year old witness & no other evidence.!! That's just craziness.!!!

[@ForageGardener]

You think that little boy kept a lie going even after realizing he wouldn't see his mom anymore? Why has he never come out and changed his story since and exhonorated her?

[@commonsense2680]

You have no idea what was produced to the jury. Maybe they had some evidence, like the manner of drowning of the girl that was not reported so Dr. Grande did not know. I mean the jury found her guilty in 2 hours. Usually juries do take their jobs seriously, plus this is the form of justice we have (rely on jury), which is still better than most other countries. I am sorry if she was truly innocent, but she wasn't totally innocent anyway, clearly known to be a crappy and angry mother, letting her small kids run around a hazardous situation unsupervised. If the jury was right, I hope she gets what's coming to her in jail.

[@jaketobias449]

​@ForageGardener- He's damaged by it, that's why. The state must still be playing dirty pool with him. I am usually pro police and pro state, but not this time.

[@user-mc9qh9xc6v]

@@ForageGardener Possibly because he feels happier where ever his is now (with grand parents?) than he did when being "cared for" by Mum... out of sight and out of mind, but he will have to live with this when he grows up, with any uncertainty that arises.

[@altaisrs2857]

@@ForageGardener She was an awful mother. Her kids didn't even have toys. She couldn't keep up with household chores either. The boy was probably glad that he could stay with his grandparents. That's why. Doesn't make her a murderer, though. She didn't kill her daughter.

[@MartineH1]

This is a sad case. Poor girl. Poor boy that lost his sys and had to testify against his mom.

[@KathyStrickland-nh9vx]

This was 10 miles from me. The mom's parenting ability is questionable but authorities putting that little boy through that should be criminal.

[@KellieBell]

Yep. Soon he will realize he's the reason why his mom is in jail for life. Regardless of his feelings about her guilt or innocence, this will screw him up. Should have just given custody to the grandparents for a while she gets help learning to be a better mom.

[@jeanholmes7976]

Thank you Dr. Grande!! A sad case for all except the jury. I can’t believe a 6 year old changing his story 13 times was the basis for the mother’s conviction. Have a good week😇🌵❤️from Jean.

[@madelainepetrin1430]

I agree with your analysis. Often people think that problem children are killed by their parents but it's so often that the parents tend to be overprotective of them.

[@astrinymris9953]

Um... that's not statistically true. Children with special needs are actually more likely to murdered or abused by a caregiver. Disabled kids, depending on the nature and extent of their disability, can be extremely hard work. Sometimes it's easier when you have a kid in a wheelchair, because outsiders can understand you have a complicated life. But with children with "invisible" disabilities, (ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, or FASD for example) all outsiders see is that your apparently-typical kid is behaving badly, and feel free to assume that it's because you're a crappy parent. The psychological stress and pure fatigue can lead some otherwise capable parents into really dark places. Not hatin', just sayin'.

[@lysawoolley2113]

I love your videos, Dr Grande ❤

[@hueyiroquois3839]

When I first heard about this story, 5 or 10 years ago, I was sure that she killed her, but now that I know more about the evidence, I realize that there isn't even a preponderance of evidence against her, let alone enough to meet a "reasonable doubt" standard.

[@antheairenedevilliers1657]

Poor little guy should never have been made to testify.

[@Chris-wj4ze]

I have to wonder whether the boy was coached by his grandparents into providing the false testimony.

[@Jackie13thjuror]

Amanda didn’t say they were in the shed. She told the truth that she had thrown there toys away. Her lawyer thinks she is innocent yet he did nothing to cross examine witnesses. I agree with everything you said!! Excellent video!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@JPage-fj7mb]

According to other coverage of the case, she initially did say she put the toys in the shed, then that she threw them away.

[@Jackie13thjuror]

@@JPage-fj7mb not to the cops though. She said that on TV. (Probably embarrassed) Her interviews to the cops are on KZbin if you want to listen to them. 😬

[@ralsharp6013]

AJ said during his testimony, his sister drowned twice. The 2nd time, he tried to help Adriana out of the pool by grabbing her legs. He saw his mother on the phone at the glass sliding door and called out her, that Adriana was in the pool. I suspect he may have thought Grandma was going to growl, when she asked "what happened" & he told her a story instead of the truth.. Theres a 48 minute upload of AJ in court that is a real eye opener in this case. I changed my mind. This mother is innocent & as AJ is now older, he needs to come forward on his Mums behalf😢

[@jessicaolson490]

It's quite possible that AJ's mind has reinforced the story in his own head so much that he believes it. Think about your own memories from when you were five to six, they're very blurry and unformed. And most of them have probably been altered as you got older, every time you remember them. Let alone a traumatic event where several adults kept questioning you and eventually led you to imagining certain storylines in your head to the point where you believe them too.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

People will keep to a lie rather than "get in trouble." That's ordinary.

[@aviewer390]

Omg, major ptsd. I lost a ring my mother had given me which was too big and slipped off my finger at the lake. My mother then dragged me out over my head and held me under over and over. Each time I managed to struggle up for air, I saw open mouthed adults watching from the beach. She finally stopped and packed us kids up into the station wagon. She made me sit forward in the backseat so she could occasionally take her hairbrush and brush my face on the way home. When we got home, she told me she was going to get my dad’s hammer, which she went down to the cellar and did. I ran out of the house and fled to my aunt’s house. I told her what happened, and just like throughout my childhood, she let me stay for dinner then sent me right back to hell.

[@shelleyscott4332]

Wow! So sorry for your trauma. Have you been diagnosed with anything and I hope you've had therapy. Xx

[@zenawarrior7442]

Agree isn't enough evidence. It's hard for parents to deal with children with behavioral issues tho no excuse for her temper. Excellent points again. Thanks Dr G😊💜💜

[@danielosmon]

This is the best channel on KZbin

[@maryannebphillips9124]

Has AJ been responsible for the mischief and Adriana was blamed? My brother did that to me for years.

[@crystalhaataja304]

...Mostly because of the murder part.

[@MsPac-Man]

I found your analysis to be informative...as always.😊❤

[@fhrswa]

I wish that Doctor Grande could review every important case (as in, be an advisor to the judge/jury). The US 's criminal "justice" system is seriously inadequate.

[@martinmcgrath1985]

She is not guilty beyond reasonable doubt..they went on the word of her son who was 6 years old? I know how kids at that age think they see things that they don’t! Not guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

[@jessicaolson490]

I'm wondering why there was not an expert witness testifying about how easily kids are manipulated into believing they saw something they didn't by an adult asking leading questions... 😐

[@Hey_Driver]

It’s almost scary to think about yourself in that same situation. Just imagine being falsely convicted of murdering your child.

[@LenaL146]

Judicial system is sometimes a joke

[@mbrown5494]

Replace "sometimes" with "frequently" then I totally agree

[@ghadamamdouheskarous]

Many times

[@noneya8257]

MOST times!

[@amandam6263]

I took my nephew to the doctor for a well visit. He had a bandaid on his foot from a scrape the prior day. A woman in the waiting room asked him what happened to his foot. He said, “An alligator bit it” 😐

[@Dodgerzden]

Did AJ even know that the ramifications of accusing his mother meant that he would no longer have a mother? It sounds like the police manipulated the boy so they could get their precious conviction. I can't imagine a greater horror than experiencing the grief of your young daughter dying and being accused and convicted of her murder while dealing with that grief.

[@SmilingBeaver-ou7nc]

I remember this case from some true crime channel, but always respect Dr. Grande's analysis. Have A Wonderful Week Dr. Grande, and All in the Comments ✌️

[@shameronstar7220]

De Grande calling her a loser floored me because it was so direct😭

[@errinfrancis743]

Thought I was the only one.. That and "dirty pool". Low blow lol...

[@carfo]

If my kid sprayed window cleaner on my tv I would be so happy they would be finally doing something helpful instead of making a mess all the time 😂

[@HunkumSpunkum]

Kids usually just make an even bigger mess when trying to clear-up a mess....

[@larmstrong2302]

I think it would ruin the screen on my TV. But I get what you're saying! 😅

[@carfo]

@@larmstrong2302 windex isn’t really that bad for your average tv screen. I have a feeling this lady isn’t rocking high end oled tvs with sensitive anti glare panels

[@ridonemutandani6537]

She sounds like she was probably always getting in trouble for trying to "help out" but in the wrong way. Even her falling into the pool sounds like she was trying to clean it and be helpful

[@Loreaiwn]

@@ridonemutandani6537 so sad honestly, she seemed like such a sweet girl

[@jhozthron4415]

How do the judges take that 7 year old child serious after drasticly changing his story that many times.. looks like another innocent person locked behind bars, the justice system is a joke..

[@micheleheath2253]

While Casey Anthony roams free

[@binder946]

the boy was telling the truth he say her murder 🤧

[@lwood8491]

Traumatized child...his base story and drawing tell it. Imagine being 6, wondering if you're next...😢

[@whosaidthat9265]

@@lwood8491at his age it’s more likely he grabbed her legs, like one of his 13 stories stated, and thought he would get in trouble so he lied.

[@kina18]

​​@@lwood8491Nonsense. My little brother who is five draws war pics. He's never been in a war. Kids have big imaginations and will mingle something they saw on the tellie or overheard grownups talking about with reality.

[@KellyJarreau]

I always found AMANDA credible! THE INNOCENCE PROJECT should help her! 💔

[@roringusanda2837]

She's probably the wrong color for them ...

[@Indrani-S2022]

In another episode about this case mentioned that Amanda was self-soothing instead of giving CPR to her daughter, being a caregiver, when emergency crew was arriving. Why not consider manupilating little AJ to tell a different story than what he said to the police immediately after the incident, by concerning adults later on? There may be cases where innocent people are wrongfully convicted. But not all the time. Amanda Lewis is a very careless person who even failed to keep her little children in a clean environment. Even leaving a pool full of water without a safety fence, around two small children and one being a rambunctious child is not good parenting, especially because of her and her boy friend's work schedules suggests that those two children were pretty much unsupervised almost all the time. Instead of a pool, the children should have been given toys to play. The other episode mentioned (where you can watch AJ responding to the police) that children were without any breakfast or lunch that day and little AJ had said that if they behaved good, they could get to sleep on a couch in the living room instead of that stinking bedroom.

[@wesleyorange8133]

Bingo. Regardless if she directly murdered her daughter or not, she is still responsible as the parent for her daughters safety and her daughter died on her watch.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

​@@wesleyorange8133 That's not the same crime.

[@LipstickOCD]

The fact that you could be put in jail for life over a 6 year olds story is scary

[@whosaidthat9265]

It’s more because the cops got tunnel vision. That’s the really scary part.

[@crtnyp]

Would you say the same if it was a molestation case? Sometimes kids are the only witnesses.

[@helenmcdonnell2585]

Children are in general more credible than adults from my experience

[@whosaidthat9265]

@helenmcdonnell2585 children can be very credible. They can also be very easily influenced by authority, such as cops telling how good they are doing for telling the story they want to hear. Either way, 13 different drastically different stories? Zero evidence? The jury that convicted is the definition of ridiculous.

[@_anon_4532]

Well there is a ☠️ child involved. It’s not just a story. At the very least her mother is guilty of neglect and abuse.

[@bryceharper446]

The hardest job in the world is to be a parent to raise a good person and any idiot can pregnant -

[@astrinymris9953]

And we have the right wing fighting tooth and nail to keep women from any means to NOT pregnant. 🙄

[@Garrett316]

I’m not of Spanish descent. Should I just call you Dr. Big?

[@marygoff3332]

Bella Grande Media = Beautiful Large Man? 😂

[@Duchess_Bananabread]

😂😂😂

[@sarahfrith1984]

Isn’t grande Italian or am I being a dumbass?🙈

[@lizzyvega9612]

@@sarahfrith1984I tough it was italiano too

[@bunberrier]

​@@sarahfrith1984No they have Nachos Bell Grande at Taco Bell so it must be mexican. I spend a lot of time making comments on the internet so you can trust what I say.

[@phylliss2517]

Wow you are one of the best I ever heard explain a situation. Thanks so much. I don’t believe that this mom killed her daughter but I do believe that she is a really bad mom. Who knows maybe the grandparents help the little boy with his story.

[@maureensamson4863]

In some countries it's very common for witnesses to be coerced by the police...

[@ladymuck2151]

Could AJ have been coached by his grandparents by any chance?

[@HunkumSpunkum]

Were the grandparents the father's parents? If so, then....yeah......

[@elaine.cammon]

AJ was wrong about his mom being in the court room. Maybe he's wrong about his mom drowning the little girl 😢

[@natalja2392]

my son exactly at age of 5- 6 used to tell to grandmother storyes how me not happy with her and call her (my mother) different nasty names. i still don't know where from my son took that storyes, i know that i never spoke such words , but my mother accused me what a did only because my son told her.( i suspect what he just did not wont to stay with grandma)

[@Lucy-ym8ch]

You can be convicted of murder just for being a poor housekeeper who doesn't buy lots of toys. Wow.

[@adotintheshark4848]

there's more to this story than what we got here.

[@JPage-fj7mb]

She wasn't just a poor housekeeper. The details of the case paint a picture of a woman who deeply disliked her own child. And strongly indicate both a history of neglect and abuse. He gave this a very light pass.

[@jessicaolson490]

​@@adotintheshark4848 drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children under five. It would take volumes and volumes to write down every little detail that happened in somebody's life there will always be more story. It's so much more likely that the child wandered outside because she was inattentive and drought in a pool. That's why a lot of people that have small children won't live near a pool that's not safely fenced in.

[@MashaRistova]

Stop trying to minimize and justify just how horrific and abusive and negligent of a mother she was. Your comment is trying so hard to gaslight the reality of that household. Do some research before you make such a lazy comment. She was a HORRIBLE mother to those children. Even though I don’t think the child’s testimony was credible about her murdering her daughter, that doesn’t at all absolve her of being a negligent and abusive mother. Theres mountains of evidence of her abuse of those poor kids.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

​@@MashaRistovaWhich is a terrible crime but not first degree murder.

[@lorijames3974]

I don’t think she did it either. Extremely sad.

[@Mpxyzm2by]

FREE AMANDA!

[@virginiaswanson4346]

Love this!!!! I have gone back and forth on her guilt over the years….you summed it up better than anybody Dr Grande :)

[@terryKessler42719]

My daughter had ADHD from the time she was 2 years old. She was very active and quite a well behaved child. The only problem we had with her is that she would lie and tell all types of stories to get her brothers in trouble. Although she was on medication which helped greatly, the lying about her brothers was problematic. It got to the point I knew she was lying and her brothers knew she was lying and after a while of us not believing her that she eventually stopped doing it. She probably thought it was pointless to make up all those wild stories which took up a considerable amount of time and no one believed her. She’s older now and a really great daughter who has outgrown her ADHD.

[@fibronyalgia]

as an individual with ADHD, i just want to make sure nobody misunderstands; your daughter still has ADHD, she has just learned to manage the outward symptoms. otherwise it would not be ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, like ASD, and means the brain has developed differently, not just more slowly. it is a permanent condition.

[@robinantonio8870]

The second he changed his story the first time should have been enough to have the charges dismissed

[@WoodyWard]

Thanks for sharing your insightful and entertaining speculations, Dr.

[@jenniferd2875]

I feel so bad for that little boy.

[@MuhammadAdamGhamkoley]

A small child that age cannot be reliable as witness. Little kids do often mix up stuff so very innocently

[@esteemedmortal5917]

I agree with reasonable doubt but not as confident the mom is 100% innocent.

[@Mpxyzm2by]

I don’t believe she is guilty. I hope she is released from prison. Her son and daughter both ruined her life if she was convicted. I don’t know the ending yet cuz I haven’t finished the video, though.

[@sherrihinton2885]

i agree. i am now a felon 3 in arizona because of my poor decisions and bad poor public lawers

[@90secondsuntilmidnight]

Public defenders are in on it with the judge and prosecutors, so if you're poor, you're screwed.

[@crystalhaataja304]

This is really difficult. Children can be coached pretty easily, especially young children. Mother certainly not helping her case by being neglectful if she was innocent. As a former foster child who was not reunified, i will insist to anyone that giving your kids up if you cant or wont care for them is usually the best. We all hear horror stories of foster homes, sure but from what i have found, a lot of people would be willing to take in children if they knew they would have the authority and not have the risk of the children being removed or having to coparent with dangerous or unhealthy individuals. And that may even look like ago parents being able to have a relationship with the child, they just no longer have parental authority. I have a very good relationship with my mom myself. Having someone else raise me as a a teen was the best thing that happened to both of us at that time in our lives. I was headed for destruction. Now i am married and a mother, it wouldn't have happened without my foster parents but also my moms willingness to give me up.

[@LilyBecca]

I was in a foster home with my 2 sisters when I was 5 or 6 years old and my mom was in jail. It was the best experience. I remember there was a big bowl of fruit in the kitchen and we were allowed to eat it anytime we wanted, without even asking. Our foster parents had a daughter around my age who took ballet and I remember my foster mom taking me with them so I could watch because I loved ballet so much. We had a big family dimmer every night and we would sing a prayer before we ate. I cried and cried when we had to go back to my method addicted mother. That foster home gave me a glimpse of what a normal childhood looked like and how it felt to be nourished and cared for. I wish I could remember their names, I would love tonfimd them and tell them what a huge impact they had on me. I truly hate the way the courts always force reunification with birth parents. It is NOT always in the child's best interest.

[@lrpolo]

Wow I did not predict your verdict

[@cplmpcocptcl6306]

Omg. Really? Dr. G, you say perhaps AJ held her legs and she drowned. That’s the craziest thing I’ve EVER heard you say. I’m ROTFLMAO 😂

[@ErinDynamite]

Please analyze Amanda Seales interview on Club Shay Shay. She claimed to be self-diagnosed on the autism spectrum, but she also said she had been to counseling. I wonder why she didn't bring it up with her counselor to get diagnosed. A lot of people think she has narcissistic traits.

[@deloradeabel8487]

I agree with you 100% Dr. Grande !

[@PumaLyn]

This is why cameras are so important. Having a camera facing the pool could have could have solved the problem.

[@jessicaolson490]

I mean having a childproof fence would have solved the problem better but I see what you mean.

[@michellemck4108]

I remember this case. That little boy was so sweet.

[@mementomori7266]

Whats sad is she was poor so she probably couldn't get a good lawyer

[@rickjames5998]

She probably didnt do it. However the jury probably said she so bad. Put her in Jail.

[@NotIfWhen]

This case has crossed my mind many times over the years. I never thought she wa proven guilty and thought she might be innocent completely. People online have attacked me many times for this. It feels good to have somebody agree with me.

[@user-jo3pd6nk3t]

I've seen this case before and it still astounds me. There's absolutely no physical evidence or proof, in any way, that she killed her daughter. Only the testimony of her 6-7 y/o son is what convicted her. I don't know how that can be held up in any courts...but evidently it did. If were one of the 12 on that jury, I'd b so ashamed of myself and feel guilt for the rest my life. I think jurors need to study the definition of "reasonable doubt" prior to trials starting. These days especially, people are guilty until proven innocent and jurors work on emotion instead laws. 😭

[@LevelEarthWD]

Well I would like Dr Grande to diagnose some of these. And disclaim it's an opinion.

[@glendasully]

I could never convict someone on the testimony of a 6 yo. Children live in a world of imagination & make believe. They have no concept of reality

[@GH-oi2jf]

I am reminded of the case of Diane Downs, whose 8-year-old daughter survived and testified in court. She said "mommy shot me."

[@mcuserton]

​@@GH-oi2jf Yes, she did say that. This is because mommy did, in fact, shoot her.

[@GH-oi2jf]

@@mcuserton-- Exactly. She was two years older, and believable. There was some other, circumstantial evidence which was pretty strong. Sometimes mothers do murder their own children. Rarely, though. I didn't watch this trial. I don't know what I would have thought about it. If the boy was coached, that is definitely wrong. Usually care providers are instructed not to talk to child witnesses about the case.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

I'm reminded of the satanic panic, where thousands of people were accused. Reminds me never to work in a setting where I'm alone with children. Too much actual harm _and_ too many false stories; too complicated.

[@mermaidsquad1391]

I agree 💯, I always thought that she was innocent.

[@HollywoodBazzey-nu5oe]

You could see it in this woman eyes this woman never get over the death of her first child she hanging on to that

[@user-eu6hf2ug1u]

I've been waiting for this one. Thank you.

[@debbles]

I watched this trial on Court TV a few years ago. I think the mother is guilty of being a bad mother, but I don't think she drowned her daughter. Jmo.

[@Ann-sj4pt]

Definitely a difficult and tragic case.

[@naheedsultana9358]

Thank you for the analysis.

[@ursinha115]

I appreciate all the videos and your analyses Dr.Grande.

[@DrPwnStar]

She should have said NO to a jury trial. You are right in that she is not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt but she is so guilty in any jury's eyes that this outcome was expected. I have seen this case before, I always enjoy another view

[@cvdevol]

According to the Bible (and common sense), 2 witnesses are required to substantiate any charge. One 6-year old's testimony should never be enough.

[@sarahd8093]

I'm familiar with this case and I believe she's innocent.

[@sparkplugpeggy4910]

I need some kind of physical evidence of murder.... not sure how this even made it to court

[@yamnjam]

Kids lie. The whole case should never be based solely on the testimony of a child. If she didn't even spank or hurt the girl after the Sharpie incident, no way she would have drowned her over glass cleaner on a tv.

[@jimmym3352]

It's like people don't remember all those kids lying about child abuse in the 80's. No way I would convict if on that jury. Even if there's a chance she did it, there's reasonable doubt she didn't.

[@derkeheath5172]

I think a more accurate outlook on this would be: Kids are highly suggestible, have overactive imaginations and have a hard time separating fantasy from reality. Kids also, quite often, try to tell people what they think is expected of them. I don't think that what this kid said was true, but I believe he most likely thinks it is. I don't think he was being intentionally deceptive in the least bit.

[@ericturk]

@@jimmym3352 "all those kids lying about child abuse in the 80s". If you were to dispassionately read the relevant chapter in then-Nebraska state senator John DeCamp's 1992 book "The Franklin Coverup", you would be shocked.

[@catserver8577]

I wouldn't call small children's narration of things "lies", they are not usually advanced enough to understand what is real and what is not. The child should have been questioned by an actual child psychologist, not a case worker and not a cop.

[@wilhelmhagberg4897]

I don’t think the theory is that she killed the girl on purpose, but dipped her head as a form of punishment.

[@CBrown86]

Im an adult with ADHD and I have time blindness and cannot remember what date almost anything happened on. I can remember exactly what happened but cant remember dates to save my life. Sometimes I will remember things in clusters of time spans. This is very common with ADHD kids/adults.

[@anthonykarnes6804]

Time blindness isn't a thing, stfu.

[@karyannfontaine8757]

Thank you, it is a difficult condition. Do you take medication to help you? I worked with children who had ADHD. I also knew adults who seemed to have it as well, although not diagnosed. We must be understanding, and patient with those children and adults with ADHD. Perhaps, someday, there will be a cure.

[@private4720]

That's very common with most adults.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

​@@private4720it's common for people not to have perfect memory and for that to fade the further back things get. It's not common for them to completely fail to grasp the connection between action and temporality. A key feature of ADHD is extremely low verbal working memory.