- Florida couple Joel and Jennifer Kohnert face felony charges for allegedly abusing their 12-year-old adopted daughter in a 'dungeon-like' environment.
- The girl was reportedly locked in her room for up to three years without bathroom access, forced to clean her own waste.
- Investigators revealed cruel 'disciplinary' methods, including forced swimming for long periods and physical assaults by Jennifer Kohnert.
- All seven of the couple's children have been removed by the Department of Children and Families amid ongoing investigations.
CORAL SPRINGS, FL — Less than a month after an Illinois couple was charged with the long-term abuse of their 11-year-old son, a similarly harrowing case has emerged in Florida. A high-ranking public servant and his wife now face felony charges after authorities uncovered what they described as a 'dungeon-like' environment for their 12-year-old adopted daughter. Joel Christopher Kohnert, a lieutenant with Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, and his wife, Jennifer Renee Kohnert, were arrested Tuesday following an investigation into their Coral Springs home.
The couple, who have six other children, reportedly claimed the 12-year-old was a "troubled" child who took items from family members, using this as justification for years of isolation and physical torment.
The Conditions of Confinement
According to investigators from the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the victim was locked in her bedroom overnight and for extended periods during the day for the past three years. The room featured a door padlocked from the outside and restricted windows, leaving the child with no means of escape.
The girl’s living conditions included:
Sanitation: With no access to a bathroom, she was forced to urinate and defecate on the floor, cleaning the mess the following morning with her own clothing and bleach.
Deprivation: She slept on an air mattress in a room with no toys, personal items, or furniture.
Sensory Isolation: A sound machine was allegedly blasted in her room to prevent her from hearing the rest of the family or being heard by them.
Physical and Psychological "Discipline"
The arrest reports paint a grim picture of the couple’s "disciplinary" methods. The victim told police she was frequently made to tread water in the family pool for up to 45 minutes—a practice the reporting officer noted was particularly egregious given Joel Kohnert's professional training in water safety and emergency response.
Additionally, Renee Kohnert is accused of physically assaulting the child, including pulling her hair, slapping her until her lip bled, and kicking her while she was on the ground. When not being physically punished, the girl was reportedly forced to write out Bible verses for hours at a time.
The Court’s Response
During a bond hearing on Wednesday, the couple’s attorney emphasized their status as "devout Christians" in an attempt to provide context for their strict household. Judge Corey Friedman was unmoved by the defense.
“When you’ve allegedly got a 12-year-old child who is locked in a room for upwards of three years and is forced to urinate and defecate in the room and then clean it up with her clothes, that is not a religious issue, that is something else,” Judge Friedman stated.
Employment and Custody Status
Joel Kohnert, who has been with the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue since 2010, has been placed on administrative investigative leave without pay. All seven children in the home have been removed and are currently in the custody of the DCF.
The Kohnerts have been ordered to have no contact with the victim or any other minors as they await further court proceedings.
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