MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Evidence from searches of his home will be allowed in case against a man charged in connection with the death of his grand-nephew, 7, who died after being left in a snowbank. Additionally, a Manitowoc County jury will hear the case, if it goes to trial.
Ethan Hauschultz was beaten, forced to carry a 44-pound log, and was buried in snow before he died in April 2018. Three people are charged in the case:
- Damian Hauschultz, now 17, is charged with reckless homicide and other counts. He allegedly supervised Ethan’s punishment that day. A scheduling conference will be held April 5. No trial date has been set.
- Timothy Hauschultz, 50, Damian’s father and the great-uncle of Ethan, faces eight charges, including felony murder. No trial date has been set. A status conference is scheduled for March 4.
- Tina McKeever-Hauschultz, 38, Timothy Hauschultz’s wife, is charged with four counts, including contributing to delinquency causing death. A plea hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Tina McKeever-Hauschultz and Timothy Hauschultz, were the court-appointed guardians for Ethan. Ethan was Timothy’s grand-nephew. They were not home at the time of the incident.
Friday’s rulings came in the case against Timothy Hauschultz. His attorney wanted evidence from searches barred from the case, and wanted a jury from outside Manitowoc County to hear the case. Judge Jerilyn Dietz denied both requests.
For the evidence, the judge ruled Hauschultz clearly gave broad permission to search the property. As such, the evidence recovered & pictures taken can be used.
As for the venue, Judge Dietz said pre-trial publicity and media coverage were not so inflammatory or prejudicial to likely prevent the picking a fair & impartial jury.
Judge Dietz also reiterated a previous ruling, allowing statements from Damian Hauschultz to be used.
The complaint says 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 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.
In Wisconsin, children ages 10 and older are charged in adult court for homicide cases.
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