Ear Hustle

Adoptive parents of Ethiopian girl who died of hypothermia and starvation in their backyard found GUILTY of manslaughter

A Washington state couple were convicted of  manslaughter Monday in the gruesome starvation and hypothermia death of a  teenage girl they adopted from Ethiopia.

A jury found Larry Williams, of  Sedro-Woolley, guilty of first-degree manslaughter, while his wife, Carri  Williams, was found guilty of homicide by abuse as well as manslaughter. The  jury also convicted them both of assault and each faces a possible life  sentence.

Hana Williams died in May 2011 in the  backyard of the couple’s home, where she was forced to stay as part of a strict  system of child-rearing outlined in a Christian parenting  book.

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A Washington state couple were convicted of  manslaughter Monday in the gruesome starvation and hypothermia death of a  teenage girl they adopted from Ethiopia.

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A jury found Larry Williams, of  Sedro-Woolley, guilty of first-degree manslaughter, while his wife, Carri  Williams, was found guilty of homicide by abuse as well as manslaughter. The  jury also convicted them both of assault and each faces a possible life  sentence.

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Hana Williams died in May 2011 in the  backyard of the couple’s home, where she was forced to stay as part of a strict  system of child-rearing outlined in a Christian parenting  book.

An autopsy showed that Hana died of  hypothermia that was aggravated by chronic gastritis and  malnutrition.

Her bone-thin body was  covered in  bruises, including a lump on her shaved head, and red bloody  markings on her hips, elbows and face.

Defense lawyers argued that questionable  parenting practices don’t necessarily amount to a crime.

Hana is believed to have been 13, but no  documentation of her birth in  Ethiopia was available. The trial was postponed  several times and her  body was exhumed in January.

The jury began deliberating  last week. On Monday, they announced their decision to convict both the  Williams’ of first degree manslaughter.

 

 

 

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