An Oregon couple has been sentenced to life in prison after a 17-year-old boy was found dead inside a cardboard box in their garage. Amanda Edwards, 40, received life in prison with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years. Her partner, Nathan Cullins, 33, was sentenced to life with no parole eligibility for at least 35 years.
Who Was Thomas Strong
Thomas Strong was a teenager with autism who loved art class, cooking, and making friends. He pulled a red wagon around Lakeview, made green paper ties for people he cared about, and was known throughout his small Oregon community for his warm personality. He would have graduated high school this year.
Pulled From School, Then Silenced
In November 2024, Edwards abruptly pulled Thomas out of Lakeview High School. Teachers, his principal, a school resource officer, and even his own grandfather raised urgent alarms with Oregon’s Department of Human Services. Warning signs included extreme weight loss, blackout curtains on windows, bags of trash throughout the home, and a loaded rifle aimed at the front door.
Despite repeated pleas from the community, meaningful action was not taken in time.
How His Body Was Found
On February 18, 2025, authorities arrived at the home to serve a child protective custody order. They found Thomas’s body inside a cardboard box in the garage. An autopsy confirmed he died from blunt force trauma caused by long-term abuse. Investigators also discovered video footage of the abuse — recorded by the defendants themselves.
A Community’s Grief
At sentencing, family members and Lakeview residents remembered Thomas as someone who “cared deeply about everyone around him.”
He deserved better. The system failed him.