A Michigan couple has admitted to abusing their adopted children by locking them inside dog cages and forcing them to wear homemade straitjackets. Jessica Klimp, 45, and Jason Klimp, 47, both pleaded no contest to charges related to the abuse of two of their adopted children, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
Investigation and Discovery
The investigation into the couple began in February 2024 while they were staying in a rented home in Tennessee. One of their adopted children was rushed to the University of Tennessee Hospital suffering from severe dehydration and malnutrition. Authorities discovered that two of the adopted children were severely underweight, surviving only on liquified food with supervised access to meals.
Michigan State Police searched the family's home and found a homemade straitjacket, security alarms on a bedroom door, and dog cages used to confine the children. These findings led to charges being filed in February 2024.
Legal Proceedings
Jessica Klimp pleaded no contest on Monday, following her husband's similar plea in March. The couple also pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Child Abuse in Tennessee and were sentenced last October to 10 years in prison for crimes committed in that state. They were extradited from Tennessee to Michigan to face additional charges.
Their prison terms will be served concurrently with their Michigan sentences, Nessel said. She added, "Kids deserve to grow up in a loving home free from abuse. The cruelty that these children endured is heartbreaking, and while no outcome can erase the trauma, I hope these convictions will provide a sense of justice and healing."
Family Background and Sentencing
Nessel confirmed that the couple's parental rights have been terminated. The couple has four biological and four adopted children. Jason Klimp's last social media post in February 2024, when the investigation started, read: "Friends, please continue to cover us in prayer. Can't see the light of dawn yet. We could use that soon." Another post two days earlier, tagging his wife, said: "The night is darkest just before the dawn. We honestly felt recently as though we were running through a pretty dark time. Yesterday was a realization of darker darkness. I'm so ready for the dawn! Bring on that Sunrise and a wonderful ‘tomorrow!'" He also frequently posted about hunting and his job as a UPS driver.
Jason is scheduled to be sentenced in the 28th Circuit Court in Wexford County on June 16. Jessica's sentencing date has not yet been set.
