A Preliminary Hearing has been set for April 4, 2024 at 9am for a Cadillac, Michigan couple who face Aggravated Child Abuse, Neglect and Endangerment charges in Fentress County, Tennessee.
On Sunday, February 18, Investigator Jerry Mifflin and Chief Deputy Rockford Garrett were dispatched for an unresponsive child at a residence in Fentress County where they made contact with the child’s parents, Jason and Jessica Klimp. Their adopted daughter, who was at first thought to be around 6 years old, was taken to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. It was discovered the girl was 12 years old and the hospital notified authorities after determining she was severely undernourished and underdeveloped for her age.
A DCS referral was made on the couple’s other 7 children. The Klimps have 8 children; 4 who are biological and 4 who are adopted. The Fentress County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation due to the severe malnourishment concerns with the assistance of DCS and TBI. The biological sister of the girl taken to the hospital was also found to be in the same malnourished condition.
According to reports, when authorities spoke with the other children, they all said basically the same thing — that the two malnourished girls were made to sleep in plastic totes with no covers in the basement where it is normally around 60 degrees as punishment for wetting the bed. The girls told Investigator Mifflin they had slept in the totes in the basement on February 18, the date the 12-year-old collapsed.
Warrants were sworn out on Jason Klimp, age 45, and Jessica Klimp, age 43, for Aggravated Child Abuse, Neglect and Endangerment. Bail for each was set at $100,000.