A report from the Manitowoc County Human Services Department details years of alleged child neglect and physical abuse by the family of a seven year-old boy who died in April under suspicious circumstances.

The report, detailed here, was mandated by the state after the seven year-old boy, Ethan Hauschultz, died.

The physical abuse and neglect claims involve the father, the mother, the mother’s boyfriend, and an “unknown maltreater,” and the victims of the alleged abuse and neglect are the seven year-old boy and his siblings. The report also details alleged physical abuse by the seven year-old’s great uncle to the boy’s cousins.

The report does not identify the alleged perpetrators nor the victims; however, the Local 5 newsroom requested the 90-day summary report for a child death, serious injury or egregious incident relating to the death of seven year-old Ethan Hauschultz from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, and were sent documents outlining years of alleged abuse and neglect.

Ethan Hauschultz died on April 20th, 2018 while in the care of his uncle. 

Back in April, Local 5 interviewed the mother of Ethan Hauschultz, Andrea Everett, who said her son Ethan was killed because of events that happened at his uncle’s house. 

Andrea Everett has not responded to Local 5’s request for an interview in light of this report. 

Local 5 also reached out to the Manitowoc County Human Services Department as well as the Wisconsin Human Services Department asking why children are either left at the home or returned to the home where alleged abuse and neglect is happening, as was the case for Ethan and his siblings. Neither department answered our questions, and said they also cannot answer questions relating to specific cases.

The report includes both substantiated and unsubstantiated claims.

The substantiated claims go back to October 26, 2013, when the boyfriend of Andrea Everett allegedly physically abused Ethan and his twin brother. Child Protective Services said the situation was unsafe, but left the children in the home after a consent decree.

Another substantiated claim was reported on June 11, 2014, when Everett allegedly neglected Ethan, Ethan’s twin brother, and Ethan’s two older sisters. Child Protective Services found the situation to be unsafe and brought the four children into temporary physical custody.

On February 1, 2016, a report of the father allegedly neglecting the four children was substantiated.

On March 3rd, 2016, a CPS report showed alleged neglect by Everett to Ethan, his twin brother, and one of his sisters. The substantiated claim led to the children being taken into temporary physical custody and brought to their relatives. 

Toward the end of the report, the Manitowoc County Human Services Department wrote that in collaboration with medical experts and law enforcement, it found enough evidence of neglect by the relative guardians to Ethan, his siblings, and his cousins. The evidence also showed Ethan was abused by an “unknown maltreater.”

The report says Ethan’s two biological siblings and two cousins were in an unsafe situation and brought into temporary physical custody and put into care outside of their home. The agency filed children in need of protection and services petitions. The case is still open. 

The Manitowoc Coiunty Sheriff’s Office is still investigating how Ethan died. No suspects have been arrested and no charges have been filed.