Timothy Hauschultz in Manitowoc County court, February 24, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Opening statements in the trial of Timothy Hauschultz concluded Tuesday, with witnesses now taking the stand.
Timothy Hauschultz allegedly ordered the punishment which led to the death of his great-nephew, 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz, in Manitowoc County on April 20, 2018.
On Monday, jury selection ended with seven men and seven women. The court and attorneys on both sides spent much of Monday questioning nearly 100 potential jurors.
Ethan Hauschultz was found dead in a snowbank in at town of Newton home on April 20, 2018. The 7-year old was placed in the Hauschultz home as a foster child.
According to the criminal complaint, Ethan did not adequately know 13 Bible verses, so punishment was ordered. 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. Timothy picked out the logs, but told his son, Damian — then 14 but now 22 — he had to supervise the punishment for the younger children, including Ethan.
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 Hauschultz’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 parent was home at the time of Ethan’s death.
Damian Hauschultz pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in June 2021, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was re-sentenced in June, when a judge added five more years of supervision after the prison term.
Timothy Hauschultz faces six charges, including neglecting a child, consequence is death; and intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child resulting in death.
At one point, he had been charged with felony murder, but the charge was changed last fall.
Prosecutors contend Timothy is responsible for Ethan’s death because he initiated the sequence of events which led to the boy’s death, while leaving Damian unsupervised. The defense argues Damian acted outside the scope of Timothy’s instructions, and is the sole person responsible.
Meanwhile Tina McKeever-Hauschultz served a 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 2024.
The trial is scheduled for two weeks.
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