Great uncle murdered boy, 7, by making him carry logs in freezing Wisconsin weather to punish him for failing to learn Bible verses, court told
Prosecutors say Timothy Hauschultz, 56, caused the death of his seven-year-old great-nephew Ethan by ordering a punishing outdoor task in freezing weather and leaving a teenager in charge. The trial matters because jurors must decide whether Hauschultz bears responsibility for the fatal abuse even though he was away when it happened.
Ethan and his twin were told to carry logs around a track for two hours after Ethan failed to learn 13 Bible verses; his log weighed more than 44 pounds. Damian Hauschultz, then 14, testified that he hit the boys and covered Ethan with snow after he collapsed. Ethan died in hospital from hypothermia and blunt-force injuries, with his body temperature at 73°F; Damian later pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and received a 20-year sentence. Timothy faces six felony charges, while his defence disputes the prosecution’s case.
- A Wisconsin man is on trial over his great-nephew’s 2018 death.
- Prosecutors say he devised a punishment involving heavy logs in freezing weather.
- The boy died from hypothermia and blunt-force injuries.
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Ethan and his twin were living with their great-uncle Timothy Hauschultz in Wisconsin. Prosecutors say Timothy used physical tasks as punishment when the boys failed to learn Bible verses, and left a 14-year-old relative to supervise them.
The case concerns whether Timothy can be held responsible for the fatal abuse even though he was not present when Ethan collapsed. The teenager, Damian Hauschultz, admitted hitting the boys and covering Ethan with snow; he later pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. Jurors must weigh the evidence against Timothy, who denies the prosecution’s account.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The prosecution can argue that Timothy Hauschultz set in motion a plainly dangerous punishment by requiring a young child to carry a heavy log in freezing conditions, then leaving a teenager to enforce it. If he knew or should have known the task could seriously harm Ethan, his absence when the boy collapsed would not remove his responsibility for the fatal abuse.
The case against
The defence can argue that Timothy’s criminal responsibility must be proved from his own actions and what he knew, rather than inferred solely from the tragedy or from Damian’s conduct. The jury must assess whether the prosecution has established that Timothy’s instructions and any relevant awareness meet the legal threshold for the charges, given that he was away when the fatal events occurred.