Jennifer Wolfthal, a 47-year-old children’s book author from Florida, was sentenced to over 22 years in prison alongside her husband, John Wolfthal, for their horrific acts of child abuse against their two adopted children. The court found that they had subjected the children to severe maltreatment, including beating them with a ‘whacker’, feeding them only vegetable puree, and even blaming their injuries on everyday activities such as brushing their teeth too hard. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors revealed disturbing details of the abuse that led to serious injuries, mental anguish, and contributed to the near death of one of the children due to organ failure. A doctor’s testimony indicated that the youngest child suffered from significantly delayed development and failure to thrive, issues exacerbated by the malnourishment they experienced during their time with the Wolfthals. The court imposed a total of 22.5 years for Jennifer and 60 years for John Wolfthal, signaling a strong message about the severity of child abuse. The case highlights critical issues regarding the safety and protection of adopted children and has sparked conversations about the oversight of child welfare in the state of Florida.
Florida Children’s Book Author and Husband Sentenced for Child Abuse
