Prosecutors ask to exhume body of girl who died in rain, cold
»Play Video
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. -- Skagit County prosecutors want to open the grave of a teenage girl to help prove her adoptive parents killed her, but the parents are doing all they can to make sure that doesn't happen.
The parents of Hana Williams are accused of starving the girl and leaving her in the cold to die.
At issue is Hana's exact age, because it has a major impact on what criminal charges Carrri and Larry Williams could face.
Hana Williams came to the U.S. from Ethiopia with parasites and ringworm, but that's not what killed the teenager.
Skagit County authorities say Hana was constantly denied food, locked in a dark closet for days, and forced to sleep in a barn. Police say Hana was left out in her backyard barely clothed on a cold, rainy May night just hours before dying in a hospital.
A Child Protective Services investigation found the girl was a victim of physical abuse and torture, and prosecutors charged her parents with homicide by abuse, which carries the same penalties as first degree murder.
But homicide by abuse requires a victim to be younger than 16 years old. Adoption papers say Hana was 13 or 14 on the day she died, but because the girl came from Ethiopia, her birth certificate can't be trusted.
"A lot of cases of international adoption are unsure of the age of the child, so I don't think anybody has decided anything about what they think the age is," said defense attorney Cassie Trueblood.
Prosecutors say the only way to know for sure is to exhume Hana's body so medical experts can use her teeth and bones to determine her age.
The judge agreed, despite the anguish it might cause Hana's parents.
"I don't think any parent wants to see their child, who's been laying to rest for over a year, be dug up," Trueblood said.
Despite winning the ruling, prosecutors aren't taking any chances. On Wednesday, they added manslaughter to the criminal charges against the parents, which will apply regardless of age.
Prosecutors hope to unearth the girl's body sometime next month. The criminal trial is scheduled for February, and both defendants insist they are innocent.
The parents of Hana Williams are accused of starving the girl and leaving her in the cold to die.
At issue is Hana's exact age, because it has a major impact on what criminal charges Carrri and Larry Williams could face.
Hana Williams came to the U.S. from Ethiopia with parasites and ringworm, but that's not what killed the teenager.
Skagit County authorities say Hana was constantly denied food, locked in a dark closet for days, and forced to sleep in a barn. Police say Hana was left out in her backyard barely clothed on a cold, rainy May night just hours before dying in a hospital.
A Child Protective Services investigation found the girl was a victim of physical abuse and torture, and prosecutors charged her parents with homicide by abuse, which carries the same penalties as first degree murder.
But homicide by abuse requires a victim to be younger than 16 years old. Adoption papers say Hana was 13 or 14 on the day she died, but because the girl came from Ethiopia, her birth certificate can't be trusted.
"A lot of cases of international adoption are unsure of the age of the child, so I don't think anybody has decided anything about what they think the age is," said defense attorney Cassie Trueblood.
Prosecutors say the only way to know for sure is to exhume Hana's body so medical experts can use her teeth and bones to determine her age.
The judge agreed, despite the anguish it might cause Hana's parents.
"I don't think any parent wants to see their child, who's been laying to rest for over a year, be dug up," Trueblood said.
Despite winning the ruling, prosecutors aren't taking any chances. On Wednesday, they added manslaughter to the criminal charges against the parents, which will apply regardless of age.
Prosecutors hope to unearth the girl's body sometime next month. The criminal trial is scheduled for February, and both defendants insist they are innocent.
Hard to believe. Way to waste resources for nothing. This is what I call bureaucracy, this story seems to come from the film Brazil.
I hope the "parents" and I use the term loosely, fry for this one way or another.
Sounds like total incompetence from top to bottom in this case..
"The judge agreed, despite the anguish it might cause Hana's parents"
Â
Where was the anguish when the girl was alive? Â Why are these two still breathing?
I don't understand why this was not done before she was laid to rest. I do not believe in digging someone up from their resting spot, but in this case if it helps to find peace for this little girl, it needs to be done.Â
 @Just my say They didnt know that they needed to verify her age prior to the body being buried. The only reason they needed to do that was because the defense argued they couldn't charge them with homicide by abuse because her age was in question.
 @Avalonis  @Just my say We are talking about legal professionals in a very high profile case.  One of the boxes they needed to check was the verified age of the victim, which should have been determined at the initial autopsy/inquest.  By all means, exhume the body--the poor thing is beyond caring about it, but this is a huge black eye on the prosecutor's office.  If they drop the ball, the good voters of Skagit County need to remember this when that office comes up for re-election.
 @Just my say I realize that this is a legal issue - but this law is BS.  Homicide by abuse is homicide, whether the person in question is aged 2, 14, 15, 16, or 89.
Its hard for me to believe that DNA samples were not taken prior to Hana being put to rest. Everyone knew this was going to be a high profile case so you would think that the prosecutor would have acted on it.  And I could care less what anguish these monsters may endure. In my opinion, its just being respectful just  to leave the body to rest after it has passed. She is now an angel. RIP Hana.
 @h20dad DNA won't show age, and DNA isn't why the body is being exhumed.
What a beautiful young girl she was! Â Fantastic smile. Â
Who gives an eff what the parent's feelings are regarding the exhumation of this girl? They don't want the body dug up because it is for evidence AGAINST them.
This comment has been deleted
 @deadcandance I tend to agree with your sentiments about getting the maximum amount of justice possible, but feel I should point out that there are people who love Hana--old friends & relatives who knew her from Ethiopia and many thousands of people on a Facebook page dedicated to seeking justice for her.  I know the consensus on that forum is that we all wish we could have saved her from this horrible fate. Â
". . . .Prosecutors say the only way to know for sure is to exhume Hana's body so medical experts can use her teeth and bones to determine her age.The judge agreed, despite the anguish it might cause Hana's parents."
Â
What "parents" are we talking about in this article? Â Larry and Carri Williams? Â The "loving" people who "allegedly" starved, whipped, locked this child in a closet for days, forced her to stand in a one foot section of space and punished her when she moved outside the allowed area? Â The people who forced Hana to use an outhouse, kept her outside looking through a window while the family celebrated Christmas? The people who shaved her hair off as punishment? Â The "parents" who left her outside on a rainy cold night, leading to her death? Â
I think the only anguish these people feel are for themselves. . . certainly not poor Hana. Â
May justice be served for this child.
 @crummycake Best comment on this case.  Mr & Mrs Williams were not "parents" to Hana- they were abusers, pure & simple, & deserve to be prosecuted for murder.  "anguish"?  only that it may reveal more evidence against them.  May the soul of this dear sweet child rest peacefully in heaven - and may the Williams be prosecuted to the fullest extent there is!  "Scum" is an insult to pond scum--too good a word for them. Â