Joel Kohnert, 44, and Jennifer Kohnert, 45, were arrested Tuesday by Coral Springs police and charged with one count of child abuse without causing great bodily harm. Officials began investigating the couple on February 11 after the Florida Department of Children and Families met with a resource officer at the preteen girl's school. The Kohnerts were taken to the Broward County Main Jail, with their bonds both set at $100,000.
The adopted daughter told investigators her bedroom door had been locked from the outside for about three years, always overnight and sometimes during the day. She was regularly locked in her bedroom because she wandered the house and took items from family members. Investigators noted the door was locked from the outside and the window could not be opened, meaning there were no means of escape. The child had no access to a bathroom, forcing her to relieve herself on the floor and then clean it up. She alleged that she slept on an air mattress and had no toys in her room, and claimed that she could only wear three outfits, with her mother Jennifer allegedly taking any money or clothing she received.
Additional abuse claims include physical violence and verbal insults. One week before law enforcement intervened, Jennifer allegedly slapped her adopted daughter and pulled her hair, causing her lip to bleed, and mocked and kicked her while she was down. The girl was forced to write Bible verses as punishment and told she was bipolar like her biological mother. She also claimed she was repeatedly insulted by her parents, who called her derogatory names.
Legal proceedings have led to professional consequences for the couple. A defense attorney said the couple were devout Christians who were devoutly religious, but that explanation was rejected in bond court on Wednesday. Joel Kohnert is a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue lieutenant, according to a public social media profile, and has been placed on administrative investigative leave from Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue without pay. The couple posted bond on Thursday, according to Broward County court records. The young girl had been in the family's care since she was two months old.