Teen takes stand in Skagit County abuse trial

A son said his parents told him to lie to police about hitting his adopted siblings during Day 14 in the Skagit murder and abuse trial.

The teenager said that's not all Larry and Carri Williams told him to do. 

Jacob Williams was 13 when his parents adopted Hana and Immanuel from Ethiopia.

"We thought it was awesome," said Jacob. 

Three years later, Hana was dead.

Jacob last saw her standing in the back yard of the family's Sedro-Woolley home refusing to do exercises to stay warm.

He said he hit her several times with a plastic switch hours before she starved and froze to death naked, face down in the mud.

"Who told you to switch her?" asked prosecutor Rich Weyrich.

"Mom," said Jacob.

Jacob said his parents spanked the adopted kids with belts, a glue stick and wooden spatula.
He said he helped his mom and dad lock the pair in closets to sleep and saw the kids miss meals as punishment,

"I think the longest period of time Hana missed a meal was a day or two," said Jacob. 

When food was served, it was frozen or soaked with water and set at a picnic table, even in the winter.

"In the last six months of her life, how often was Hana outside eating?" asked Weyrich.

"Twice a week," said Jacob.

Larry, a Boeing worker, and Carri, a stay-at-home mom, could spend the rest of their lives in prison if convicted.

Jacob says the couple told him to stay quiet.

"They said not to talk about the spanking or mention the shower room or closet," said Jacob.

Jacob and his brother, Joshua, were given immunity from any possible charges because the judge ruled that's the only fair way they could testify. Joshua will testify Friday.

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