Update on Ethiopian Hanna Williams – Homicide-by-abuse charge dropped against the father Larry Williams

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MOUNT VERNON — Larry Williams is no longer charged with homicide by abuse in the death of his adopted daughter, Hana, according to the Skagit Valley Herald.

Williams and his wife, Carri, both faced that charge for the girl’s 2011 death, as well as first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault of a child. Carri Williams was convicted Sept. 9 on all three counts, but the jury deadlocked on the homicide-by-abuse charge against Larry Williams, who was not home when Hana died.

Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich dropped the charge Sept. 23. He and deputy prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula noted in the dismissal that although they would not retry the case now, their office “does not foreclose that possibility in the future,” according to the Herald.

Hana collapsed in the family’s Sedro-Woolley-area back yard in May 2011 and died of hypothermia. An autopsy report noted malnutrition and a stomach condition were contributing factors in her death.

The assault-of-a-child charge stemmed from the Williamses’ treatment of the younger boy they adopted from Ethiopia at the same time as Hana. The two suffered many of the same abuses at the hands of their adoptive parents, according to testimony at the trial.

Larry and Carri Williams were to be sentenced Oct. 8, but their sentencing was rescheduled to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 29.

They face maximum sentences of life in prison, a $50,000 fine or both. Prosecutors are recommending about 14 to 18 years for Larry Williams and about 27 to 37 years for Carri Williams. Larry Williams spent almost two years in jail while the case was pending and could get credit for serving that time.

seattletimes.com

by John de Leon