Honk News (Orlando, FL) – A Florida couple, known for their children’s books, is facing prison time due to the shocking mistreatment and neglect of their three adopted children. The allegations include severe injuries, physical abuse, and a disturbing diet limited to cereal and vegetable puree.
On Monday, Jennifer Wolfthal, 45, and Joseph Wolfthal, 43, entered guilty pleas for aggravated child abuse and neglect resulting in great bodily harm to a child. A judge has handed down a 12-year prison sentence to Jennifer Wolfthal as part of a plea agreement, while her husband faces a 10-year term in prison.
The disturbing situation was revealed on January 1, 2021, when Joseph Wolfthal took one of the children to a hospital in Altamonte Springs, near Orlando. Medical professionals swiftly recognized the child’s critical condition and moved her to a facility equipped with a pediatric intensive care unit. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, she was suffering from a severe staph infection, sepsis, renal and liver failure, open infected wounds on both legs, and pneumonia in both lungs.
The injuries on her right lower leg were severe and had burst, she had a broken tooth, two bruised eyes, and weighed only 40 pounds, which was considered “extremely underweight” for her age. The report omits her age.
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Joseph Wolfthal attempted to attribute the girl’s injuries to falls and excessive brushing of her teeth. However, investigators concluded that, considering the girl’s height and weight, it was improbable that she could have caused these injuries on her own. Authorities from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Wolfthal residence and discovered two additional children in distressing circumstances. The individuals were taken out of the residence.
Investigators conducted interviews with two of the children. Both recounted frequent physical abuse inflicted by their adoptive parents. The Wolfthals employed an object they referred to as a “whacker,” characterized as “oblong and fabric-covered, routinely utilized for administering corporal punishment.” A child reported that there were instances when they had to wait until 3 p.m. to eat, and when mealtime finally arrived, the food was a blend of cereal flakes, water, and vegetable puree. Consequences, as reported by the children, took place nearly every evening and involved physical activities and repetitive writing tasks.
During the investigation, authorities discovered more than 1,100 written paragraphs stating, “My body stays flat on the bed at all times.” I was not allowed to take any action or express myself in any way. I now have the opportunity to cover this topic alongside all my other responsibilities. I’ve been foolish. Authorities discovered an additional 10 phrases that had been repeated several times.
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The children have been placed with a different family. The 18th Judicial State Attorney’s Office provided a statement to Law&Crime regarding the plea.
“This plea and sentencing agreement ensures that the Wolfthals will spend significant time in prison while it protects the already-traumatized victims from the stress of having to testify,” the statement said. ” The State Attorney’s Office made sure law enforcement and the children’s new guardian supported this sentence before agreeing to it.”