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An Oregon mother of an autistic boy was this week sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her son, whose body was found in a cardboard box in the garage of their Lakeview home.
Amanda Edwards was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years after she was found guilty of murder by abuse, second-degree abuse of a corpse, and first-degree criminal mistreatment.
Her long-time romantic partner, Nathan Cullins, was also sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for at least 35 years. He was found guilty on the same charges.
The case began in November 2024 when the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) received reports of abuse and neglect of Edwards’ autistic son, Thomas Strong.
The boy was abruptly pulled out of Lakeview High School, and attempts by both the ODHS and the school to coordinate services with Edwards were repeatedly unsuccessful.
Officials Found the Boy’s Body in a Cardboard Box in the Family Garage
ODHS obtained a child protective custody order from Lake County Circuit Court on February 18, 2025. It was while serving the order that officials discovered the boy’s body in a cardboard box in the family garage.
During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered video footage of the abuse that the defendants had recorded.
An autopsy found the victim had suffered extensive injuries from long-term abuse and had ultimately died of blunt force trauma. The boy would have graduated from Lakeview High School with the class of 2026.
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