In a disturbing case of abuse and neglect, a Florida children's author and her husband have been sentenced to prison for the horrific treatment of their adopted children. Jennifer Wolfthal, author of the ironically titled "A Real Friend," will serve 12 years, while her husband, Joseph Wolfthal, a Lockheed Martin engineer, received a 10-year sentence. The couple pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse and neglect with great bodily harm.

The investigation began in 2021 when the couple's 8-year-old adopted daughter was hospitalized with organ failure, unconscious and covered in injuries. Medical professionals noted that the child's injuries were inconsistent with accidental falls. Two other adopted children, ages 9 and 11, also showed signs of malnourishment, bruising, and neglect. Authorities discovered that the children's bedroom doors had locks on the outside, a chilling detail indicative of their confinement.

Further investigation uncovered over 1,100 handwritten notes by one of the children detailing the abuse they endured. The notes described being forced to lie flat on the bed without moving or speaking. The children have since been placed with a new family.

While Wolfthal's book remains available for purchase online, reviews are now dominated by links to news articles about the case, a stark contrast to the book's theme of friendship. The State Attorney’s Office emphasized that the plea agreement ensures a significant prison sentence for the Wolfthals while protecting the children from the further trauma of testifying in court.