MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – One of the court-appointed guardians of a 7-year-old boy who died after being beaten and put in a snowbank is asking that a jury from outside Manitowoc County hear the case.
Tim Hauschultz is charged with felony murder and other counts in connection with the April 2018 death of Ethan Hauschultz. He has pleaded not guilty. Ethan was Timothy’s grand-nephew.
Also charged in case are Tim’s wife, Tina McKeever-Hauschultz, and their son, Damian, 16.
At a status conference Tuesday, Tim Hauschultz’s attorney filed a motion for a change of venue, and a motion to suppress the results of what it claims is an unreasonable search. A motions hearing is scheduled for April 27, court records show.
The complaint says on April 20, 2018, Timothy told his son Damian Hauschultz to make sure 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz completed his punishment.
That included, according to the complaint, Ethan Hauschultz being required to carry a 44-pound 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.
Ethan died of hypothermia, but also had extensive other injuries, including blunt force injuries to his head, chest and abdomen, and a rib fracture, the medical examiner determined, the complaint states.
Damian Hauschultz returns to court April 2 for a motions hearing. In Wisconsin, those ages 10 and older charged with homicide are charged in adult court. A motion to move the case to juvenile court was rejected.
McKeever-Hauschultz returns to court March 31, when the results of a competency exam will be reviewed.
