Brittany and Tristan Hull
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The woman accused of rationing her stepdaughter’s food and water intake leading to severe malnourishment has pled not guilty to charges of severe child neglect.
Brittany Hull appeared Wednesday morning to enter the plea for charges of chronic child neglect and child abuse-causing great bodily harm. Investigators say the 15-year-old was severely underfed and “literally starving” due to her condition.
Hull told investigators that the girl had ADHD and an undiagnosed medical condition. She said she researched the condition herself and was feeding her a special diet she had “researched on the internet.”
Investigators were called to the couple’s Rib Mountain home by Hull’s husband, Tristian, who said the girl had a bad reaction to a protein shake. He told first responders she consumed the drink and began to gargle and could not swallow, then stiffened up.
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She was hospitalized and flown to Marshfield Medical Center, where she weighed in at 68 pounds. During her recovery, she told doctors that she was homeschooled and wasn’t allowed to eat meals with her siblings, who showed no signs of neglect or malnourishment. A pastor at the couple’s Chuch also contacted police to express concern about her condition while she was hospitalized.
Brittany and Tristian are facing charges and are being held on matching $1 million bonds. Tristan also made a court appearance on Wednesday but did not enter a plea.
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