A Florida couple is facing serious child abuse charges after disturbing allegations surfaced about how they treated their adopted daughter.
Joel Kohnert, 44, and Jennifer Kohnert, 45, of Coral Springs have been arrested and charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, according to an arrest report.
The case came to light in February when a school resource officer alerted police to claims that the couple had been locking their 12-year-old daughter in her bedroom at night.
According to investigators, the girl told police she had been locked inside her room overnight for as long as two to three years. She said she was not allowed access to a bathroom during that time, forcing her to urinate on the floor. In the morning, she was allegedly made to clean it up and write Bible verses as punishment.
Police say the conditions inside the room were extremely bare. The girl reported sleeping on an air mattress, with little to no furniture, no toys, and no personal belongings. She also told officers that a sound machine was kept at a high volume to prevent her from hearing what was happening in the rest of the house.
The allegations didn’t stop there.
According to the report, the girl said Jennifer Kohnert physically abused her, including pulling her hair, slapping, kicking, and calling her derogatory names. She also claimed she was forced to bathe outside, even in poor weather conditions.
Investigators interviewed the couple’s three biological children, who reportedly confirmed that their adopted sister was locked in her room and said they were not treated the same way.
The couple appeared in court, where their attorney described them as “devout Christians.” But the judge pushed back on that characterization.
“When you allegedly have a 12-year-old child locked in a room for years and forced to live like that, that is not a religious issue — that is something else,” the judge said.
It’s not yet clear whether the couple has entered a plea.
Authorities also confirmed that Joel Kohnert works as a lieutenant with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.
The case remains under investigation.
Anyone who suspects child abuse is urged to contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit childhelp.org.