An Oregon mother and her longtime boyfriend have been sentenced to life in prison after her 17-year-old son was found dead inside a cardboard box in the family’s garage following what authorities described as prolonged and horrific abuse.
Amanda Edwards, 40, was sentenced this week to life behind bars with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years in the death of her son, Thomas Strong, the Oregon Department of Justice announced.
Edwards was convicted of murder by abuse, first-degree criminal mistreatment and second-degree abuse of a corpse.
Her longtime romantic partner, Nathan Cullins, 33, received a life sentence with no chance of parole for at least 35 years after being convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree criminal mistreatment and second-degree abuse of a corpse.
Both defendants entered plea agreements with prosecutors before they were sentenced, according to KOIN.
Edwards and Cullins lived with Strong in Lakeview, a small southern Oregon community located nearly 350 miles from Portland.
Strong was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. His family moved to Texas when he was 2 years old and remained there for about a decade before relocating to Lakeview.
“Lakeview was a community that took him in and loved his happy presence,” his obituary said.
Strong, who had autism, attended Lakeview High School. He reportedly enjoyed going to school and had friends who looked out for him.
He especially loved drawing in art class and participating in cooking class.
Concerns about Strong’s safety began mounting in November 2024 after Edwards abruptly removed him from school, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
The Oregon Department of Human Services then began receiving reports raising concerns that the teenager was being abused and neglected.
Over the following weeks, school officials and state workers repeatedly attempted to coordinate services for Strong, but Edwards allegedly resisted those efforts.
Teachers, concerned community members and Strong’s grandfather repeatedly pleaded with child welfare officials to intervene, according to a report from Disability Rights Oregon.
The nonprofit used the name “Lucas” as a pseudonym for Strong, but KOIN later confirmed that the report concerned his case.
“They saw the warning signs,” the organization wrote. “They sounded the alarm. They did everything right. DHS did very little.”
The report claims that between Dec. 11 and Dec. 17, 2024, state officials failed to properly respond to urgent reports from Strong’s principal, teachers and school resource officer about his dramatic weight loss and allegedly life-threatening conditions inside the home.
When Strong was observed on the morning of Dec. 12, he was reportedly still asleep at 9 a.m. and had dark circles beneath his eyes.
The home allegedly had blackout curtains and bags of garbage scattered throughout it. Investigators were also told that a rifle with a full sleeve of ammunition was pointed toward the front door.
Although child welfare officials began investigating in the following days, Disability Rights Oregon said they made only limited contact with Strong and conducted just one remote meeting.
The organization believes Strong died alone on or around Feb. 1, 2025.
Eleven days later, his grandfather reportedly raised additional concerns about Edwards’ alleged substance abuse and prolonged absence from work.
On Feb. 18, 2025, the Oregon Department of Human Services obtained a protective custody order from the Lake County Circuit Court.
Officials went to the family’s home to serve the order and made a horrifying discovery.
Strong’s body was found stuffed inside a cardboard box in the garage, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
An autopsy determined that the teenager had suffered extensive injuries caused by long-term abuse and ultimately died from blunt-force trauma.
Authorities said investigators also recovered videos of the abuse that Edwards and Cullins had allegedly recorded themselves.
During sentencing, Strong’s relatives and members of the Lakeview community remembered him as a vibrant and loving young man who cared deeply about those around him.
They recalled the green paper ties he made for other people, the red wagon he pulled around town and his ability to make friends wherever he went.
Strong would have graduated from high school this year.
