October 21 verdict — Updated October 27
Trial concluded; sentencing pending. The jury convicted Timothy Hauschultz on four of six counts: neglect of a child resulting in death; party to physical abuse of a child with intentional bodily harm; contributing to delinquency of a child with intentional bodily harm; and physical abuse of a child with intentional bodily harm. It acquitted him on contributing to delinquency resulting in death and a separate party-to-physical-abuse count. He was remanded to custody. NBC26 Oct. 21
What happened on April 20, 2018 — and what must the jury determine about the guardian’s responsibility?
Trial update — October 20, 2026
Both prosecution and defense rested October 19. The defense called no witnesses and Timothy Hauschultz did not testify. Closing arguments were scheduled for October 20. A jury returned a mixed verdict October 21, 2026: guilty on Counts 1, 3, 4 and 6; not guilty on Counts 2 and 5. Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2027, at 1 p.m.
View More — trial posture and evidence limits
The defense sought dismissal after the state rested, arguing that testimony primarily addressed Damian Hauschultz’s conduct. The judge reportedly expressed concerns about the presentation of the prosecution case. Those remarks are not a verdict or acquittal. WBAY October 19 trial report; WBAY October 20 closing-argument coverage. Last checked October 20.
Trial update — October 16, 2026
Medical testimony addressed hypothermia, blunt-force injuries, abusive discipline, and delayed medical care in the death of Ethan Hauschultz. The testimony is relevant to the prosecution’s theory but does not independently determine Timothy Hauschultz’s guilt.
View more: medical and legal questions
Material issues include injury timing, mechanisms of hypothermia, causation, what care was available, and what the defendant is legally alleged to have known or done. Trial is scheduled to resume October 19, 2026. The presumption of innocence applies.
Source status: October 16 testimony summarized in Jaded Evidence casewatch; original transcript and exhibits remain to be linked when available.
01 | Case Overview and Current Legal Status
Seven-year-old Ethan Hauschultz died April 20, 2018, at a home in the town of Newton, Manitowoc County. The criminal case concerns a punishment ordered by his court-appointed guardian and the actions of another child tasked with supervising it.
View More — Charges and legal distinction
Earlier October 2026 reporting describes six counts, including neglect resulting in death and contributing to delinquency resulting in death. Other trial reporting still lists felony murder. These descriptions conflict; the operative amended information has not been reviewed here. Do not treat the original 2019 complaint or a news recap as a verified current count-by-count charge list.
Read the original February 1, 2019 criminal complaint (PDF). Charging allegations are not adjudicated facts.
02 | Victim Background
Ethan was seven years old when he died. He and siblings had been placed under the guardianship of relatives. This case concerns a child whose safety depended on responsible adult care.
View More — Documented family and guardianship context
Timothy and Tina McKeever-Hauschultz were identified in reporting as court-appointed guardians. Ethan’s relationships, home life, and any child-welfare history beyond the available filings should be sourced to records rather than reconstructed from rumor.
Editorial safeguard: Ethan’s photograph is not used in the promotional banner. Descriptions of alleged abuse are included only where necessary to understand the charges.
03 | People Involved and Documented Roles
Separate each person’s role and the legal outcome of their own proceedings.
Court-appointed guardian; defendant in the ongoing six-count trial. Pleaded not guilty; presumed innocent.
Seven-year-old victim who died April 20, 2018.
Timothy’s teenage son at the time. Pleaded guilty in his own case to first-degree reckless homicide; sentenced to 20 years in prison, with a 2026 resentencing affecting supervision.
Co-guardian; separately convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment; later released to extended supervision.
Documented in the original criminal complaint; their evidence and conclusions must be separated from the complaint’s allegations.
View More — Why separate cases matter
Damian’s plea and sentence and Tina’s conviction are not findings of Timothy’s guilt. Damian’s testimony and the scope of his Fifth Amendment rights have also affected the scheduling of Timothy’s trial. WBAY scheduling coverage
04 | Interactive Chronological Timeline
Tap an event to expand what happened, its evidentiary basis, and remaining disputes.
2016 (reported) — Guardianship arrangements
Public reporting identifies Timothy and Tina as guardians of Ethan and siblings.
Underlying family-court orders should be obtained where public and appropriate; private juvenile records should not be treated as publicly available.
April 2018 — Punishment imposed
The 2019 complaint alleges that children were ordered to carry logs for extended periods in response to failure to recite Bible verses.
The complaint says Timothy selected logs and delegated supervision to Damian. The defense argues Damian’s subsequent acts exceeded those instructions. Primary complaint PDF
April 20, 2018 — Ethan’s death
The complaint alleges escalating physical abuse during the punishment and confinement in snow. Ethan died that day.
Reported medical findings include hypothermia and traumatic injuries. The complaint sets out investigative interviews and claimed observations; they remain subject to courtroom proof in Timothy’s case. Primary complaint PDF
February 1, 2019 — Criminal complaint filed
The original Wisconsin criminal complaint, case 2019CF000075, was filed.
Read 10-page charging document. Counts were subsequently changed; do not conflate original charges with the six currently at trial.
June 2021 — Damian guilty plea
Damian pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in separate proceedings.
His sentence was 20 years in prison; the supervision term was later modified during 2026 resentencing. His appeal and testimony status must be considered separately. Wisconsin appellate petition PDF
2024–2025 — Appeal and unsuccessful plea negotiations
Damian pursued appellate remedies; Timothy’s proposed agreements were rejected by the court.
Prior proposed agreements included an Alford plea, which permits a defendant to maintain innocence while recognizing sufficient evidence could support conviction. No such agreement resolved Timothy’s case. 2025 court reporting
March–June 2026 — Scheduling and resentencing issues
The case was scheduled for October trial while proceedings concerning Damian’s resentencing and potential testimony continued.
October 12, 2026 — Jury selected
Jury selection took place Monday and local reporting confirms a selected panel.
The trial was anticipated to last approximately two weeks. WBAY October 12
October 13, 2026 — confirmed — Trial continues
Openings and witness testimony took place. Read the October 13 courtroom log.
Do not treat a scheduled sitting as proof that any specific witness testified.
View More — October 14, 2026 — Damian testifies
View More — October 15, 2026 — Twin brother and expert testify
05 | Investigation, Evidence and Source Reliability
The core dispute is not whether Damian committed serious crimes—his own conviction addresses his conduct—but what legally attributable acts or omissions can be proved against Timothy.
Witness interviews and statements · Documented in complaint
The charging complaint recounts statements from law enforcement, Timothy, Damian, and other children. Reported accounts require attention to who spoke, when and under what circumstances.
Medical examiner / cause of death · Reported in complaint
The complaint attributes findings to the medical examiner, and reporting describes hypothermia and additional injuries. Precise testimony and any disputed expert methodology should be transcribed from court, not inferred.
Logs, yard, snow and scene · Alleged physical setting
The underlying factual narrative references heavy logs, a backyard path, pooled water and packed snow. Authentication, measurements, preservation and chain of custody require records.
Interrogations and admissibility · Primary appellate filing available
Damian’s appellate litigation disputes the handling of statements during police interrogations, including Miranda and voluntariness concerns. Those legal issues concern his case and need not decide Timothy’s guilt.
Surveillance / recordings · Not independently verified
No authenticated surveillance exhibit has been established from the sources reviewed. Do not imply a video exists.
Await exhibit list or testimony.
Phone records / digital evidence · Not independently verified
No specific authenticated phone extraction or message chronology has been established here. Do not suggest communications were recovered without a source.
Await exhibit list or trial record.
Court exhibits · Source list incomplete
The complaint and appellate petition are accessible; trial exhibit numbering, transcripts and authenticated physical-evidence inventories still require the court’s record.
06 | Prosecution and Defense Theories
Both sides agree Damian’s conduct is significant, but dispute the responsibility attributable to Timothy.
Prosecution
Prosecutors contend that Timothy ordered the punishment, selected the logs, placed Damian in charge and left children unsupervised, initiating circumstances that resulted in Ethan’s death. The prosecution must prove the elements of each charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defense
The defense argues Damian acted independently and exceeded Timothy’s instructions. The jury must assess what Timothy authorized, knew, reasonably should have known, and whether the elements and required causal link can be established for each count.
07 | Trial Testimony and Courtroom Developments
View More — October 13, 2026 — Day 2: Openings and first witnesses
Both sides delivered openings and witness testimony began. Court is scheduled to resume October 14 at 8:30 a.m. Central, according to WBAY.
View More — Openings, attorneys and judge
District Attorney Jaclyn LaBre argued Timothy’s punishment instructions caused Ethan’s death. Defense attorney Donna Kuchler attributed the fatal acts to Damian. Judge Carey Reed presides. Openings are advocacy. Seehafer: counsel and proceedings
View More — Hospital response and scene evidence
Medical witnesses described attempts to rewarm Ethan. Dr. Rebecca Reim testified that injuries prompted contact with police and child-protection authorities. Investigators described evidence recovery and the outdoor punishment route. WBAY: medical and investigator testimony
Retired detective Michael Herman began testimony about documenting and collecting residential evidence before adjournment. Interview recordings, injury photographs and scene images were presented. Seehafer: afternoon testimony
This running courtroom log distinguishes confirmed events from scheduled testimony.
October 12, 2026 — Jury selection
WBAY reported jury selection was completed Monday.
October 13, 2026 — confirmed — Opening phase / testimony
Both sides gave openings and witnesses testified. The October 13 courtroom log above provides the sourced details.
The earlier planning entry has been superseded by the dated testimony report.
View More — October 14 — Damian Hauschultz and physical exhibits
Damian testified that Timothy ordered log-carrying punishment and placed him in charge. On cross-examination, he said Timothy had not instructed him to injure Ethan. Detective Michael Herrman presented logs and clothing. These are witness accounts and exhibits; Damian’s separate conviction does not establish Timothy’s guilt.
View More — October 15 — Ethan’s twin brother and pediatric expert
Ethan’s twin brother described the punishment and Damian’s actions. Dr. Lori Frasier testified that the prolonged forced exertion was physically abusive. Defense questioning challenged her review and distinguished ordering punishment from instructing Damian to hurt Ethan. These are trial accounts and expert opinions, not verdicts.
View More — How to read the courtroom reports
Each dated report distinguishes testimony, cross-examination, exhibits and rulings. A witness’s account is not a verdict, and a proposed witness list does not prove that someone testified.
October 21, 2026 — Jury Verdict: Four Guilty, Two Not Guilty
A Manitowoc County jury convicted Timothy Hauschultz on four of six charges and acquitted him on two following the trial concerning the 2018 death of seven-year-old Ethan Hauschultz and abuse allegations involving another child. This is a mixed verdict, not a conviction on all charges.
View the six-count verdict
- Count 1 — Child neglect resulting in death: Guilty.
- Count 2 — Intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child resulting in death: Not guilty.
- Count 3 — Party to a crime, physical abuse of a child intentionally causing bodily harm: Guilty.
- Count 4 — Intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child: Guilty.
- Count 5 — Party to a crime, physical abuse of a child: Not guilty.
- Count 6 — Party to a crime, physical abuse of a child: Guilty.
Sentencing: Scheduled for January 15, 2027, at 1 p.m.; the sentence has not yet been imposed. The final judgment and any post-verdict motions will be added when officially available.
Sources: WTAQ/WLUK October 21 verdict report; WBAY deliberations coverage; Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. The filed verdict forms should be consulted for the controlling count language.
08 | Verdicts, Sentencing and Appeals
The jury returned a mixed verdict October 21, 2026: four guilty findings and two acquittals. Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2027, at 1 p.m.
- Timothy: convicted on four counts and acquitted on two; awaiting sentencing.
- Damian: pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide and was sentenced to 20 years in prison; 2026 resentencing changed the supervision component. Related appellate litigation involves interrogation and procedure.
- Tina: separately convicted and served a five-year prison sentence, followed by extended supervision.
View More — Primary appeal record
Wisconsin appellate petition for review (2022AP000161). This is a party’s filing, not necessarily the appellate court’s adopted findings.
09 | Unresolved Questions and Reporting Priorities
The following questions remain open until supported by courtroom testimony or authoritative records.
- What are the exact six counts and jury instructions in the operative information?
- What evidence proves the nature and duration of Timothy’s instructions?
- What warning signs, if any, reached either guardian before the injury?
- Which specific actions by Damian were foreseen or authorized, if any?
- What were the medical examiner’s documented cause-and-manner findings and any competing interpretations?
- Which interviews are admitted or excluded, and on what grounds?
- Who are the attorneys and scheduled expert witnesses? Confirm from current appearances.
- What exhibits and transcripts can be released publicly, and under what privacy restrictions?
10 | Court Records, Documents and Reporting
Original documents take precedence where accessible. Secondary journalism supplements—not replaces—the court record.
Primary records
- 2019 criminal complaint, Case 2019CF000075 (10-page PDF)
- Wisconsin Court of Appeals / Supreme Court eFiling: 2022AP000161 petition for review (PDF)
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access — search for Timothy Hauschultz / 2019CF000075
Dated courtroom and procedural reporting
- WBAY — October 12 jury selection
- WLUK/WTAQ — October 12 charges and competing theories
- WBAY — March 2026 trial scheduling and Damian testimony
- WTAQ — November 2025 rejected plea agreements
View More — Documents still to obtain
Operative amended information; pretrial orders and motion dispositions; prosecution and defense witness lists; exhibit list; transcript/order for plea rejections and resentencing; trial transcripts when available. No downloadable link is implied where a verified public document has not been located.
Jaded Evidence · Verified court update · October 19, 2026
Timothy Hauschultz — October 19 trial update
On October 19, both prosecution and defense rested. The defense called no witnesses; Hauschultz elected not to testify. After the state rested, defense counsel sought dismissal for insufficient evidence, but Judge Carey Reed declined to dismiss. The judge expressed concern about the state’s presentation. Closing arguments followed on October 20; the jury returned its mixed verdict October 21. This October 19 entry is retained as a dated historical update.
View More — Reporting, current status and verification
Source: October 19 court reporting. Testimony, alleged conduct and attorney arguments are attributed; they are not independently adopted as judicial findings. Last reviewed October 19, 2026.
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