Timothy Hauschultz appears in court via video conference June 15, 2022. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Nearly seven years after 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz died in a Manitowoc County snowbank, Timothy Hauschultz will stand trial for allegedly ordering the punishment which led to the boy’s death.
After years of delays, a Feb. 24 trial date was scheduled Tuesday for Tim Hauschultz on eight counts, including felony murder. An eight-day trial is planned.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 20, 2018, Timothy told his son Damian Hauschultz, then 14, to make sure 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz completed his punishment.
That included, according to the complaint, Ethan Hauschultz being required to carry the log for two hours around a path in the backyard of their home. Damian said he had to carry wood for not knowing 13 Bible verses to Timothy’s satisfaction. The punishment was one week of carrying wood for two hours per day. Timothy picked out the logs, but Damian had to supervise the punishment for the younger children.
During that time the complaint says Ethan Hauschultz “struggled to carry his log” and Damian did “hit, kick, strike and poke Ethan approximately 100 times.” The complaint goes on to say Damian Hauschultz also stood on Ethan Hauschultz’s “body and head” while he was “face-down in a puddle.” The complaint also alleges Damian Hauschultz buried Ethan Hauschultz in about “80 pounds of packed snow” where he was left for about 20 to 30 minutes without a coat or boots.
Neither parent was home when Ethan died.
Damian Hauschultz, now 20, pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for Ethan’s death.
His case and appeals – arguing his statements to police as a 14-year-old were involuntary and should not have been allowed at trial – were pending for several years. During that time, he was considered unavailable to testify against Tim Hauschultz, keeping Tim Hauschultz’s case in legal limbo.
However, when the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied Damian Hauschultz’s appeal earlier this month, it cleared the way for Tim Hauschultz’s trial to proceed.
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