A couple who were extradited from Tennessee after pleading guilty to child abuse charges have now pleaded no contest to similar counts in Wexford County, the Michigan Attorney General said on Tuesday, May 12.
Jessica Klimp, 45, the mother of four adopted children and four biological children, pleaded no contest to two counts of first-degree child abuse for abusing two of her adopted children in Michigan.
Her co-defendant and husband, Jason Klimp, 47, pleaded no contest in March to two counts of first-degree child abuse.
“Kids deserve to grow up in a loving home free from abuse,” Attorney General Nessel said in a release. “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.”
A no contest plea by a defendant means they do not contest a charge, but do not admit guilt, according to Cornell Law.
The Klimps, who had lived in Cadillac, Michigan, were staying in a rented house in Tennessee in February 2024 when one of their adoptive children was taken to the University of Tennessee Hospital, and later transferred to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, with symptoms of severe dehydration and malnutrition.
Two of the adopted children were found to be severely underweight, were fed only liquified food, and had supervised access to food, Nessel’s office said.
Following the incident, Michigan State Police executed a search warrant of the couple’s Wexford County home where authorities discovered a home-made straight jacket in the bedroom, security alarms on the bedroom door, and dog cages that appeared to have been used to confine children.
The couple was charged in both Fentress County, Tennessee, and by the Wexford County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in February 2024.
The defendants each pleaded guilty in Tennessee to one count of aggravated child abuse and were sentenced in October 2025 to 10 years in prison.
The couple was extradited from Tennessee to Michigan last year to face additional charges. Their prison terms will be served concurrently with their Michigan sentences.
The couple’s parental rights have been terminated.
Jason Klimp is scheduled to be sentenced in the 28th Circuit Court in Wexford County on June 16 and Jessica Klimp’s sentencing date has not yet been set.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan couple who had cages, straitjacket, plead in child abuse case
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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