Timothy Hauschultz appears in Manitowoc County court via video conference July 11, 2025. (Image courtesy Manitowoc County courts/Zoom)
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The earliest a new trial date could be selected for Timothy Hauschultz – who allegedly ordered the punishment which led to the 2018 death of his great-nephew, Ethan Hauschultz, 7 – would be at a March 18 status conference.
Timothy was Ethan’s legal guardian when the boy 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 had been scheduled to start Feb. 23, but was postponed because of the legal unavailability of Damian Hauschultz to testify during the trial. Damian filed motions seeking a new trial or a re-sentencing because Judge Jerilyn Dietz had a conflict of interest while presiding over the case. While that is pending, his 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 delay in Timothy’s trial.
A hearing in Damian’s case is scheduled for March 3. At that time, it could be determined when a decision will be made on Damian’s motion, Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said in court Wednesday.
As a result, the next hearing in Timothy’s case will be March 18, Calumet County Judge Carey Reed said.
Also Wednesday, a defense motion to remove the GPS tracking device from Timothy, one of the conditions of his bond, was denied by the judge.
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. His case was delayed for several years because of his son’s case. While Damian’s trial and appeals were pending, Damian was considered unavailable for Timothy’s trial. 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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