Court documents reveal that the father and stepmother of a teenager from Wausau are facing felony charges following allegations of starvation and neglect that left the teenager on the brink of death.
Tristan and Brittany Hull, who have been in custody since early November, are now facing formal charges that were filed on Thursday, December 7. The charges include chronic neglect of a child, resulting in bodily harm and intentional physical abuse of a child. Both parents are being held on a $1 million cash bond as the investigation continues.
The criminal complaint filed on Thursday reads like a script from a horror movie.
On October 15, an investigation was initiated after rescue teams were called to the Rib Mountain residence of the couple. Tristan Hull contacted 911, stating that his daughter had ingested a protein drink and started experiencing symptoms such as gargling, shaking, and difficulty swallowing. The situation quickly worsened as the girl became unresponsive and her body stiffened. EMS personnel administered CPR for approximately 25 minutes before rushing her to a nearby hospital. Due to the severity of her condition, she was later airlifted to Marshfield for further medical care.
According to court documents, the girl, weighing only 58 pounds, fell well below the average weight range for her age. The severity of her condition led to organ failure caused by severe dehydration and eventually resulted in bone marrow failure due to malnutrition.
According to investigators, as the girl started to regain her health, she reportedly disclosed that she is homeschooled and her stepmother prohibited her from having breakfast with her siblings or indulging in snacks. Her parents allegedly informed her that she suffered from ADHD and an undisclosed medical condition that made it challenging for her to gain weight. Consequently, the girl was informed that her stepmother had devised a “special diet” based on her own research. However, medical professionals at the hospital could not find any evidence of such a medical condition, as documented in court records.
According to the girl, she claimed that whenever she had her meals, she was made to sit in the living room and not allowed to eat with her family. Furthermore, she revealed that her stepmother restricted her water intake to only 16 ounces per day. The girl also mentioned that there were instances when she felt so weak that her stepmother had to feed her with a spoon, as her wrist would hurt when she tried to pick up the utensils.
A detective thoroughly examined the images and videos captured by a security camera in the girl’s room weeks after the medical emergency was reported. During the review, the detective observed an absence of blankets and bedding. Instead, the mattress was adorned with taped books, seemingly forcing the girl to sleep in a specific position. The videos portrayed a distressing scene where the girl was coerced into standing with her hands raised for prolonged periods, visibly trembling and in tears. Disturbingly, certain images depicted both Tristan and Brittany entering the bedroom and compelling the girl to raise her hands even higher, despite her evident distress.
Investigators noted that the other children residing in the home did not indicate malnutrition. Additionally, they observed that the girl’s bedroom doors and windows were equipped with locks and a functional alarm on the door.
After discovering the medical emergency, a pastor from the couple’s church took action and contacted the police, expressing his concern that the child was being abused. According to court documents, the pastor and the church staff had been observing the girl’s health deteriorate over several years, leading them to believe that she was being severely underfed, to the point of literal starvation. The pastor’s involvement highlights the gravity of the situation and the genuine concern for the child’s well-being.
According to court records, the girl’s condition started to improve and she began gaining weight after being admitted to the hospital. Tristan and Brittany Hull individually went before Reserve Judge Jill Falstad on November 3rd for a probable cause hearing, during which the judge ordered a cash bond.
During the initial appearances on Thursday, December 7th, Circuit Judge LaMont Jacobson decided to maintain the $1 million bond for both defendants. He also issued an order for them to have no contact with each other or with any children in the home, and they are to remain in custody.
The preliminary hearings in Marathon County Circuit Court are scheduled for December 18.
Also Read:
- Mother Demands Answers After Son Dies in Remote Canyon Area
- Woman From Billingsley Dies In Single-Vehicle Accident
- 19-Year-Old Construction Worker Dies in Tragic Incident in Manhattan’s East Village
