7-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Punished For Not Knowing Bible Verses, 3 Charged In Connection To Death

Hauschultz mugshots
Timothy and Tina Hauschultz, and their son 15-year-old Damian Hauschultz, have been charged in the death of 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz. According to court documents, Ethan was forced to lug a 44-pound log around the yard... Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office

Three have been charged in the death of a 7-year-old Wisconsin boy who, according to a criminal complaint, was punished for not knowing Bible verses.

Timothy Hauschultz, his wife Tina Hauschultz and their 15-year-old son Damian Hauschultz have all been charged in the death of Ethan Hauschultz. Ethan died in April 2018 from hypothermia and blunt force trauma to the head, chest and abdomen.

Timothy is charged with felony murder and felony contributing to the delinquency of a child along with four other charges. Tina is charged with failing to prevent bodily harm and intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child. Damian is charged with first-degree reckless homicide and six other charges.

According to the criminal complaint, Timothy and Tina Hauschultz were the court-appointed guardians for Ethan and two siblings. It is unknown how or if the couple are related to Ethan and his siblings.

WLUK TV reports that Timothy ordered Ethan to haul a 44-pound log around for two hours a day for a one-week period. Damian told the police that while Timothy picked out the logs for Ethan and his twin, who was given the same punishment, he was instructed by his father to supervise the enacting of it.

"Ethan had been performing punishment ordered by Timothy which required Ethan to carry a heavy wooden log, weighing approximately two-thirds his body weight, while being monitored by Timothy's 15-year-old son," a release from the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office says.

The punishment was for "not knowing 13 Bible verses to Timothy's satisfaction," WLUK TV reports.

A medical examiner's report indicates that there were injuries on Ethan's body, including blunt force trauma to the head, abdomen and chest as well as a fractured rib. Those injuries correspond with Damian's statement to police that he thought he had struck Ethan 100 times. He also allegedly hit Ethan's twin.

"Over the course of 1-1.5 hours, the 15-year-old hit, kicked, struck and poked Ethan numerous times. He repeatedly shoved Ethan to the ground and rolled the heavy log across Ethan's chest. He stood on his body and head while Ethan was face-down in a puddle," the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office said.

Damian also admitted to authorities that he covered Ethan with snow, placing him "in his own little coffin of snow," the criminal complaint says.

The charges for the Hauschultzes come after initial reports identified the case as a "suspicious death." However, days after Ethan's death, his mother, Andrea Everett told WLUK TV that she wanted justice for her son.

"When I got there Ethan did not have a heartbeat and his temperature was 23 degrees. They worked on him for five hours, giving him CPR the entire time, and still couldn't get a heartbeat. There was no brain activity," Everett said. "I want justice for my son, and the person responsible should go to jail for a very long time."

Authorities announced in October 2018 that they were looking into filing criminal charges. The Hauschultzes were arrested on Friday.

All three are expected to appear in court in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin on Monday.

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