A couple has been accused of filicide after it emerged that they buried alive their own son for not knowing the Bible.
Reports claimed seven-year-old Ethan Hauschultz went through sickening punishments at the hands of court-appointed guardians Timothy and Tina Hauschultz.
Timothy and Tina Hauschultz reportedly punished little Ethan for failing to memorise verses from the Bible. The punishments are said to include forcing the seven-year-old to hold a 44-pound log for two hours every day for a week.
Reports further said that the couple’s 15-year-old son, Damian Hauschultz, also partook in torturing Ethan.
According to the Mirror UK, on one occasion, it is claimed he kicked and punched him at least 100 times, rolled a heavy log over his body and stood on his head while he was face-down in a puddle.
Ethan, however, died in April 2018 after the deadly parents buried him in “his own little coffin of snow”.
Medical reports show Ethan died from hypothermia and blunt force trauma to the head, abdomen and chest, and a fractured rib.
It is not known exactly how the Hauschultzs are related to Ethan, but they are listed as his legal guardians, reports the Mail.
The couple’s teenage son has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide, while Timothy, 48, has been charged with felony murder and felony contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Tina, 35, is charged with failing to prevent bodily harm and intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child.
The 15-year-old boy told police that he was in charge of supervising Ethan and his twin, who were allegedly both being punished by carrying logs after failing to recite 13 Bible verses of Timothy’s choosing.
Ethan’s birth mother Andrea Everett spoke about the moment she arrived at her son’s side during his hospital treatment.
She said:
“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.
“I want justice for my son, and the person responsible should go to jail for a very long time.”
All three defendants are due to make their first court appearance today.
