Timothy Hauschultz in Manitowoc County court, February 24, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Timothy Hauschultz’ trial for allegedly ordering the punishment which led to the death of Ethan Hauschultz, 7, will start Oct. 12, a judge said Wednesday – nearly 8.5 years after the boy’s death.
Timothy was Ethan’s legal guardian when his great-nephew was found dead in a snowbank at a town of Newton home in April 2018. Hauschultz’s son, Damian, was convicted of causing Ethan’s death, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Timothy faces eight counts — including neglecting a child, consequence is death and intentionally contributing to child delinquency, causing death — for allegedly ordering the punishment which led to the death of Ethan. The defense contends Damian acted on his own accord, beyond Timothy’s instructions.
Timothy’s trial has faced multiple delays over the years, mostly tied to the legal availability – or lack thereof – for Damian to testify at trial. While various appeals have been pending, Damian’s attorney has said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights and not testify. Both the state and defense have said Damian’s testimony is critical to having a fair and complete trial, prompting the delays in Timothy’s trial.
Timothy had been scheduled to stand trial Feb. 23. But after Damian filed motions seeking a new trial or a re-sentencing because Judge Jerilyn Dietz had a conflict of interest while presiding over his case, Tim’s case was put on hold yet again. Damian was granted a new sentencing hearing, which will be heard by a Sheboygan County judge on April 24.
Timothy’s trial is expected to last about eight or nine days, the attorneys said in court Wednesday.
According to the criminal complaint, on April 20, 2018, Timothy told his son, Damian, then 14, to make sure Ethan completed his punishment. That included, according to the complaint, Ethan being required to carry a log for two hours around a path in the backyard of their home.
Damian said Ethan 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 “struggled to carry his log” and Damian did “hit, kick, strike and poke Ethan approximately 100 times.” The complaint goes on to say
Damian also stood on Ethan’s “body and head” while he was “face-down in a puddle.” The complaint also alleges Damian buried Ethan in about “80 pounds of packed snow” where he was left for about 20 to 30 minutes without a coat or boots.
Neither Timothy nor his wife, Tina McKeever-Hauschultz, were home when Ethan died.
Hauschultz was arrested in February 2019 and ordered held on a $100,000 cash bond, which he was unable to post. Eventually, Timothy’s bond was reduced to $75,000, which he posted in May 2022.
McKeever-Hauschultz served a five-year prison term for her role in the events leading up to Ethan’s death and failing to prevent it. She was released to extended supervision in January 2024. The supervision lasts until January 2029, state records show.
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