A Michigan couple who adopted four children has received additional prison sentences after investigators uncovered years of severe abuse involving two of their adopted daughters, according to state authorities.
Jessica Klimp, 45, and Jason Klimp, 47, were sentenced to more than eight years in prison after pleading no contest to two counts of first-degree child abuse. The latest punishment comes on top of a separate 10-year prison sentence the couple is already serving in Tennessee for related crimes involving the same children.
Authorities said the case came to light after one of the girls collapsed while the family was staying in Tennessee in early 2024. Emergency responders found the child in extremely poor condition, with signs of severe malnutrition and neglect. Officials later learned that both girls had allegedly been subjected to years of mistreatment.
Investigators reported that the children were kept on a highly restricted diet and were often fed liquefied food from bottles. One of the girls later told authorities they were forced to eat this way because their parents believed they ate too much and would become sick.
The investigation expanded after law enforcement searched the family’s Michigan home. Officials said they discovered evidence that included dog cages allegedly used to confine the children, security alarms installed on a bedroom door, and a homemade restraint device described as a “man-made straitjacket.”
Authorities also alleged that the girls faced harsh punishments for minor issues, including bedwetting. In some cases, they were reportedly forced to sleep on plastic storage containers in a cold basement without blankets.
At the time, eight children lived in the household, including four biological children and four adopted children. Following the investigation, the couple’s parental rights were terminated.
State officials described the abuse as deeply disturbing and said the sentences reflect the seriousness of the crimes. While the prison terms cannot undo the trauma experienced by the children, prosecutors said they hope the outcome provides a measure of justice and allows the victims to continue their path toward recovery.
