MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – A 15-year-old boy and two adults were charged on Friday with the murder of a 7-year-old Manitowoc County boy.
Ethan Hauschultz was beaten, forced to carry around a 44-pound log, and was buried in the snow before he died last year.
15-year-old Damian Hauschultz is being charged with first-degree reckless homicide and six other charges. Although he is only 15-years-old, juveniles charged with certain homicide counts are handled in adult court, in Wisconsin.
48-year-old Timothy Hauschultz, Damian’s father, is charged with felony murder and five other charges.
35-year-old Tina McKeever-Hauschultz is charged with failing to prevent bodily harm and intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Initial court appearances are expected by all three in Manitowoc County Court on Monday.
According to the criminal complaint:
Timothy Hauschultz and Tina Hauschultz are the court-appointed guardians for Ethan Hauschultz and two of his siblings, but it’s not indicated how, or if, they are related.
Ethan Hauschultz was ordered by Timothy Hauschultz to be punished by carrying a heavy wooden log weighing 44 pounds for two hours around a path in a snowy area outside their home. He also instructed Damian to supervise the punishment.
Damian allegedly hit, kick, struck and poked Ethan about 100 times – sometimes using a belt or a stick as he struggled to carry the log.
The heavy log was rolled across Ethan’s chest by Damian, as he stood on him while Ethan was face down in a puddle. He then buried him in a snowbank for more than 20 minutes without a coat or boots.
Ethan’s twin was also repeatedly struck by Damian, who was ordered to undergo the punishment as well.
Ethan had extensive injuries, including blunt force injuries to his head, chest and abdomen, and a rib fracture, but the medical examiner determined he died of hypothermia.
Damian told police in an interview that he “didn’t do anything that would have hurt” Ethan. He estimated he hit Ethan around 100 times and he also admitted to covering Ethan in snow, but knew Ethan had to breathe.
According to the complaint, he described Ethan as being covered “in his own little coffin of snow.”
Damian said that the punishment was directed to be carried out by his father, Timothy.
According to Damian, Ethan had to carry wood for not knowing thirteen Bible verses to the satisfaction of Timothy. The punishment was two hours of carrying wood for a week.
Damian had to supervise the punishment for the younger children, but Timothy picked out the logs.
Timothy was not home when the incident happened with Ethan and Damian had called him twice, because Ethan wasn’t moving.
Tina was not quoted in the complaint and one of Ethan’s siblings said that she is aware that Timothy uses this form of discipline.
