MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Plea negotiations may resolve the case of a teen charged with causing the death of Ethan Hauschultz, 7.
The boy was beaten, forced to carry a 44-pound log, and was buried in the snow before he died in April 2018, prosecutors say.
Damian Hauschultz, now 17, is charged with reckless homicide and other counts. He allegedly supervised Ethan’s punishment that day, leading to his death.
In court Monday, defense attorney Russell Jones told the court plea talks with prosecutors have taken place, but he is still waiting to hear from medical and psychological experts before a decision on a plea can be made.
As a result, a May 10 status conference was set. Either a trial date or a plea hearing could be scheduled at that time.
Two adults were also charged in the case:
- Timothy Hauschultz faces eight charges, including felony murder, for allegedly ordering the punishment. No trial date has been set. He returns to court April 19 for a scheduling conference. Timothy Hauschultz is Damian Hauschultz’s father and Ethan Hauschultz’s great-uncle.
- Last month, Tina McKeever-Hauschultz was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the events leading up to and failing to prevent Ethan’s death.
Timothy Hauschultz and his wife, McKeever-Hauschultz, were the court-appointed guardians for Ethan. They were not home at the time of the incident.
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 the 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.
