Girl’s body to be exhumed; parents plead not guilty in her death

A charge of first-degree manslaughter by domestic violence was added Wednesday to each of their existing charges. The couple already had been charged with homicide by abuse for Hana’s death and first-degree child assault involving their adopted son. They could face up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine, said Skagit County Superior Court Judge Susan Cook during their arraignment Wednesday.

Cook’s agreement to allow prosecutors to exhume the body of Hana, believed to be 13, means they can try to confirm that she was under the age of 16 when she died. The defense may contend that she’s older, which would affect the charge of homicide by abuse, which only applies to victims under age 16.

Adequate records of Hana’s age are unavailable because she was adopted from Ethiopia in 2008.

Before the judge entered the courtroom Wednesday, Carri Williams turned in her chair and looked at the largely Ethiopian audience, many of whom had made the trip from the Seattle area to watch the proceedings. Carri Williams mouthed the words “Thank you” to them three times before turning around.

In May 2011, Hana was found face down in the rain and mud in the backyard of her family’s Sedro-Woolley-area home and later died at a hospital of hypothermia. She had a low enough weight to make some officials say she was possibly being starved.

Exhuming her body and examining her bones and teeth can more precisely pinpoint her age, said Skagit County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula. Hana was buried a year and a half ago.

But defense attorney Cassie Trueblood said a definitive answer may not be available.

“Everyone knows that nutrition and things of that nature affect bone development and tooth development,” Trueblood said.

After hearing the arguments from both sides and the testimony from a Mount Vernon pediatrician who had been issued a subpoena to appear, Cook granted the exhumation, saying Hana’s age “needs to be determined.”

“I understand this is an upsetting issue, both for the family members and for the people who cared about Hana,” Cook said. “Nobody likes to see a body disinterred after it’s been interred. It’s only when we have extraordinary circumstances when we consider doing such a thing. I think those extraordinary circumstances are met here.”

After the ruling, Mulu Retta of Seattle said she’s been to all of the Williamses’ major hearings. She, along with more than a dozen others, drove from south Puget Sound to attend the Wednesday hearing. Retta said there’s a strong Ethiopian community in Seattle, and many adoptive parents of Ethiopian children bring their children to the Ethiopian Community Center “so they can feel at home.”

“The truth will come out,” Retta said as she dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Hana has been through so much from what we’ve read. We feel sick. Nothing like this should happen to any child. We are hoping for justice.”

According to court records, Hana was said to have lived in a closet and was denied meals for days at a time. Some people who knew Carri Williams told police that she regretted adopting the two children.

The rest of their seven children were placed in foster care.

The Williams’ trial was scheduled to begin in February, but the defense attorneys indicated they might need more time to review evidence after Hana’s exhumation. Attorneys plan to meet with Cook again for a status hearing.