An author of a children's book that promotes friendship has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars for crimes she committed with her husband.
Jennifer Wolfthal, author of the book A Real Friend, and her husband, Joseph Wolfthal, an engineer at Lockheed Martin, pleaded guilty on January 13 to charges of aggravated child abuse and neglect resulting in great bodily harm.
This information comes from plea agreements obtained by Fox News Digital.
Jennifer Wolfthal will serve 12 years behind bars. Credit: Seminole County Sheriff's Office
The case came to light in 2021 after the Wolfthals’ eight-year-old adopted daughter was hospitalized with organ failure. The child was unconscious and bore multiple injuries.
Investigators revealed that two other children in the household, aged nine and 11, also showed signs of malnourishment, bruising, and neglect.
Police reported that the children’s bedrooms had locks installed on the outside of the doors, effectively imprisoning them.
“Due to the height and weight of [the girl], it is not likely the swollen bruise on the back of her head and the laceration on her lip and broken tooth were caused by off-balance falls,” a police report stated, per the New York Post.
While the injured child remained in the hospital, authorities searched the family home and discovered written punishments that painted a grim picture of the abuse.
Among the findings were over 1,100 handwritten lines repeating: “My body stays flat on the bed at all times. I was never given permission to move or say anything. Now I get to write about this along with everything else. I am a fool.”
Joseph Wolfthal will serve 10 years behind bars. Credit: Seminole County Sheriff's Office
Under the terms of the agreement, Jennifer will serve 12 years in prison, while her husband will face a 10-year sentence.
“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,” stated a spokesperson for Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office to Fox News Digital.
“The State Attorney’s office made sure law enforcement and the children’s new guardian supported this sentence before it agreed to it.”
Jennifer's book, A Real Friend, is still available for purchase on Amazon. However, reviewers have flooded the comments section with references to the abuse case and links to news articles detailing the allegations.
Jennifer Wolfthal's book. Credit: Amazon
Authorities disclosed that all three children endured severe mistreatment while under the Wolfthals’ care. Following the investigation, they were placed with a new family.
“This case underscores the critical importance of vigilance and swift action to protect vulnerable children from harm,” the State Attorney’s Office said.