MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Pre-trial motions continue to be heard in the case of a man accused of ordering the punishment which led to the 2018 death of a 7-year-old boy, but no trial date has been set.
Timothy Hauschultz is charged with felony murder, child abuse, and other counts for allegedly ordering his son, Damian Hauschultz, then 14, to punish 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz on April 20, 2018. Ethan was Tim’s great-nephew, who he had custody of.
After being held for more than three years, Hauschultz posted the $75,000 cash bond was released from jail May 26. His attorney made several requests Wednesday to modify the bond conditions.
Judge Jerilyn Dietz will permit supervised contact with one of his daughters and a sister, although not with her children. A request to allow Hauschultz to attend Bible study and church services was granted, with specific conditions.
Also Wednesday, another hearing was scheduled for July 13 to review evidence from related juvenile cases to determine what information will be allowed at this trial, as juvenile records are normally sealed and not available for public scrutiny at adult court trials.
No trial date has been set for Timothy Hauschultz because Damian Hauschultz is unavailable to testify in the case until his appeals are completed. Given the appeals court process, it is unlikely a trial for Timothy Hauschultz is held until next year, at the earliest.
Ethan Hauschultz was beaten by Damian Hauschultz, forced to carry a 44-pound log, and was buried in the snow before he died. Damian Hauschultz was convicted and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Timothy Hauschultz and his wife, Tina 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.
Tina McKeever-Hauschultz is serving a five-year prison term for her role in the events leading up to and failing to prevent Ethan’s death. Damian Hauschultz is serving a 20-year prison term.
