Wisconsin Supreme Court PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court will not hear appeals in two local murder cases, leaving the convictions in place for Raymand Vannieuwenhoven and Damian Hauschultz.
In both cases, the appeals court upheld the convictions, with the defendants appealing to the high court. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decides which cases it will hear; review is not automatic. In separate actions Wednesday, the court decided against hearing these appeals – which keeps the appeals court rulings in place. No reasoning for the decisions were included in the orders, nor were the tallies for the justices’ vote.
Vannieuwenhoven was convicted for the 1976 murders of Ellen Mathys and David Schuldes at McClintock Park in Marinette County. The case was unsolved for decades, until a 2019 DNA match linked Vannieuwenhoven to the case. The appeal contended the tactics police used to obtain a DNA sample from Vannieuwenhoven were so deceptive that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated. The appeals court rejected the claim, however.
Vannieuwenhoven was sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison. He died in 2022.
Hauschultz was convicted for the April 2018 death of Ethan Hauschultz, 7, at a Manitowoc County home. Damian Hauschultz, who was 14 at the time of the incident, appealed, arguing his statements to police were involuntary and should not have been allowed at trial. The appeals court ruled against him.
Hauschultz was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He is currently at the Stanley Correctional Institution, state records show.
That ruling should clear the way for Damian Hauschultz’s father, Tim Hauschultz, to stand trial for allegedly ordering the punishment which led to Ethan’s death. That case has been hold for years because Damian has been considered unavailable to testify while his appeal was pending. Timothy Hauschultz returns to court Sept. 24.
Timothy Hauschultz’s wife, Tina McKeever-Hauschultz, served five-year prison term for her role in the events leading up to and failing to prevent Ethan’s death. She was released to extended supervision in January.
Comments