Florida Couple Sentenced for Severe Abuse of Adopted Children

Florida children's author and her husband sentenced to prison for severe abuse and neglect of adopted children.

Florida Couple Sentenced to Prison for Abusing Adopted Children

Jennifer Wolfthal, a Florida children’s book author, and her husband, Joseph Wolfthal, are heading to prison after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect of a child with great bodily harm. Jennifer, 45, received a 12-year sentence, while her husband, 43, was sentenced to 10 years. The abuse of their three adopted children came to light on New Year’s Day 2021 when Joseph brought one of the children to a hospital in Altamonte Springs, near Orlando.

Doctors at the hospital were alarmed by the child’s critical condition, which included a staph infection, sepsis, organ failure, pneumonia, and open infected wounds on her legs. She weighed only 40 pounds, significantly underweight for her age. Investigators later determined that her injuries could not have been self-inflicted, despite Joseph’s claims that they were caused by falls and brushing her teeth too hard.

Evidence of Long-Term Abuse

Upon further investigation, deputies discovered two more children living in similarly dire conditions. Interviews with the children revealed a harrowing routine of abuse, including beatings with a homemade device they called a “whacker,” forced exercises, and being denied food until late afternoon. When they were fed, it was a meager mixture of cereal flakes, water, and vegetable puree. The children were subjected to frequent punishments, including being forced to write sentences repeatedly. Authorities found over 1,100 written paragraphs in the home, including statements like, “My body stays flat on the bed at all times. I was never given permission to move or say anything else. Now I get to write about this along with everything else. I’m a fool.”

Protecting the Victims

The abused children have since been removed from the Wolfthals’ care and are now living with another family. The plea deal, supported by law enforcement and the children’s new guardians, spared the victims from the stress of testifying in court. “This plea and sentencing agreement ensures that the Wolfthals will spend significant time in prison while it protects the already-traumatized victims,” stated the 18th Judicial State Attorney’s Office.

A Grim Contrast

Jennifer Wolfthal had previously published a children’s book titled A Real Friend, which remains available on Amazon. Her author biography painted a picture of a creative and nurturing individual, noting her experience as a fourth-grade teacher and a homeschooling parent. Following her arrest, her publisher, Clavis Publishing, publicly denounced her actions.

Child abuse is a devastating issue that can often go unnoticed. If you suspect a child is in danger, please contact your local authorities or a child abuse hotline. Together, we can work to protect vulnerable children and ensure their voices are heard