Children’s Book Author, Husband Charged With Abusing Adopted Children

Several couples in the world have accomplished a lot but do not have kids. Hence, adoption is a recourse, something that allows them to share the fruits of their success. However, that does not include abusing a child.

According to Seminole authorities, this is an unfortunate tale for an established couple. Making it even more disturbing is that the woman is a children’s book author, hinting that she should know better when it comes to handling kids.

She and her husband, an engineer at Lockheed Martin, have been charged with abusing their three adopted children. According to WFTV, they held the three kids as prisoners in their home which is now considered the worst case of child abuse in Seminole County.

The couple was identified as Jennifer and Joseph Wolfthal who resided at Casselberry. They had three adopted children, two aged below 12 who are now under the custody of foster care. The third, a girl, remains hospitalized from the reported abuse she suffered from the couple.

Joseph appeared before the judge on Tuesday for aggravated child abuse, child neglect with great bodily harm and false imprisonment charges. Jennifer faced similar charges on New Year’s Day, roughly about the same time that her husband arrived at the hospital with one of the children.

According to the official report tied to the arrest, the child was suffering from sepsis, a staph infection, renal and liver failure and pneumonia in both lungs. The youngster also had bruises, open wounds and skin infections aside from being malnourished.

Further to the report, the couple had allegedly locked all three kids to their rooms for days to weeks and given little food. They were not even allowed to shower.

One of the children told authorities that they were punished every night and poured cold water while they were in bed. The girl said she would be forced to drink water from the puddle so she could breathe.

Based on the recounts, all kids were unable to interact. One only kept track of the days and months but counting it on her head.

Deputies also revealed that the doorknobs of the kids’ bedrooms had a separate locking system outside the door.

Also worth noting is that the couple was filing for divorce. Jennifer has moved to Ponte Verda, Florida after her New Year’s Day arrest. In the divorce documents, Joseph had wanted sole custody of the three kids he is accused of abusing.

After learning of it, the company who published Jennifer’s book titled “A Real Friend,” cut ties with the author and announced they will be ceasing all commercialization of the book, the New York Daily News reported.