A Wisconsin father has pleaded guilty to charges of chronic child neglect, after his 15-year-old daughter was found severely malnourished and suffering from abuse.
Tristan Hull, 40, entered a guilty plea to the charge of chronic neglect of a child with great bodily harm on Monday. His wife, 33-year-old Brittany Hull, is also facing charges related to child neglect and abuse. Her case is still ongoing.
The Disturbing Incident
The incident came to light on October 15, 2023, when emergency responders were called to the Hull family home in Rib Mountain, located about 90 miles east of Green Bay, for a medical emergency.
Tristan Hull claimed that his daughter, who had been drinking a protein shake, suddenly had trouble breathing, stiffened up, and became unresponsive.
Upon arriving at the scene, paramedics worked to stabilize the girl, who was later transported to a local hospital. The father initially attributed her condition to health problems, but later acknowledged her history of poor blood circulation.
However, as medical staff treated her, it became clear that her health issues were more severe than initially described.
Severe Dehydration and Malnutrition
The girl was flown to another hospital, where doctors discovered that she was suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition. According to the criminal complaint, her organs began to fail due to these issues, and she went into bone marrow failure.
She was intubated for five days, with doctors ruling out any underlying health conditions that might have caused her to be so severely underweight.
The girl, who was found to be at least 30 pounds underweight for her age, showed signs of significant neglect. In fact, within just eight days of being away from her father and stepmother and receiving proper care, she gained nearly 5 pounds, further demonstrating the extent of her malnutrition.
Insights from the Family’s Pastor
Detectives later spoke with the family’s pastor, who reported that the girl’s health had steadily declined over the years. The pastor described how the girl would often struggle to focus during the church’s children’s program due to her severe hunger, with the child reportedly “inhaling” any snack given to her.
The girl was also seen hiding food in her pockets and sneaking off to other areas of the church to eat.
The Role of Brittany Hull
Brittany Hull, the girl’s stepmother, allegedly blamed her stepdaughter’s condition on her ADHD, despite doctors finding no physical or psychological barriers to her ability to eat.
She had even taken the girl to a dietitian, but did not follow the prescribed recommendations. Investigators also found plenty of food in the house, but it was reported that the girl was not allowed to eat like her siblings.
The girl told detectives that she was treated differently than her siblings, with her stepmother being particularly strict about her eating habits.
According to the complaint, Brittany Hull would not allow the girl to eat snacks and would force her to eat separately from the rest of the family. The girl was allegedly limited to only 16 ounces of water per day. At times, she was so weak that her stepmother had to spoon-feed her.
Physical Abuse and Mental Cruelty
The abuse went beyond food restrictions. Investigators found surveillance footage from a camera inside the girl’s bedroom that allegedly showed her being forced to stand with her hands raised for long periods of time, even though she was visibly crying and shaking.
According to the complaint, both Tristan and Brittany Hull would enter her room, make her raise her hands higher, and continue the punishment for hours at a time.
Legal Consequences
As a result of the abuse, Tristan Hull has been charged with second-degree murder and child neglect. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29. Brittany Hull’s case is still pending, as she faces similar charges for her role in the child’s mistreatment.
The case has shocked the local community and brought to light the grave issue of child abuse and neglect. The Hull family’s story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children in our society.
