Editor’s note: This piece describes instances of child abuse. If you believe a child is suffering abuse or neglect, please contact the Childhelp Hotline at (800) 422-4453.

A children’s author from Florida and her husband have confessed to cruelty and neglect towards their three kids, which resulted in one daughter being hospitalized in critical condition due to severe health issues, including multiple organ failure.

According to reports, the girl was 8 years old and weighed only 40 pounds at the time. Arrest documents revealed that the children faced brutal treatment, including beatings with an object referred to as a “whacker,” isolation from one another, and being forbidden to communicate with each other.

Jennifer Wolfthal, age 45, known for her children’s book titled “A Real Friend,” and her husband, 43-year-old Joseph Wolfthal, an engineer at Lockheed Martin, both entered guilty pleas on multiple charges of child abuse and neglect earlier this week, as shown in court records accessed by YSL News.

One child recounted a life where she rarely saw or spoke to anyone except her parents, including her siblings. She spent most of her days confined to her bedroom, according to a search warrant by Seminole County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean R. Platter. Another detail shared by the children involved punishment methods that included being sent to bed after having cold water poured over them, and staying in that state overnight.

The children also revealed that they were made to write repetitive sentences as a form of punishment. A search of their home uncovered over 1,100 sentences stating: “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’m a fool.”

The couple was arrested in 2021 after the hospitalization of their 8-year-old daughter. Along with multiple organ failure, she exhibited symptoms of sepsis, a staph infection, bruises, open wounds, pneumonia, and malnutrition, according to records.

Meanwhile, the other children were also hospitalized for malnourishment and bruising following a welfare check at their home in Casselberry, central Florida. These children were adopted, as noted in the couple’s arrest reports.

Platter noted in his reports that the children were so terrified that they wouldn’t leave their rooms at night to use the bathroom, leading to accidents. One child disclosed that she had gone months without bathing and was primarily fed a blend of cereal and vegetable puree, often going without a meal until late in the afternoon.

According to Platter’s arrest documentation, the couple used an object that one child called a “whacker” to hit them. The children reported being struck to the point where blood was drawn, targeted in already injured areas.

Jennifer Wolfthal’s book, published in 2020, tells the story of two best friends, Max and Benny, who have a disagreement. Benny attempts to create a new friend out of frustration. It is described as “a relatable picture book about playing together, having conflicts, and making amends,” intended for children aged four and up.

Following the arrest, Clavis Publishing announced that it would cease further sales of the book.

“We were horrified to learn about the allegations against Jennifer Wolfthal, previously an author for Clavis, and we deeply condemn child abuse, neglect, and abandonment at all times,” the company stated.

Jennifer Wolfthal, raised in South Florida, holds a degree in elementary education and taught fourth grade for eight years before homeschooling her own children, according to her author bio.

Jennifer Wolfthal was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Joseph Wolfthal received a 10-year sentence, as recorded in court documents. Their attorneys have not yet responded to requests for comments received on Saturday.