In a case that has shocked the community, a Florida mother has been sentenced to an extraordinary number of life terms for committing horrific acts of sexual abuse against her own children. Natalie Jesslynn Wagner, 28, was handed down more than 21 life sentences after being found guilty on a staggering array of sex crimes, including the sexual assault of her infant and toddler sons, according to NBC Miami.
Having been arrested in August 2022, Wagner faced a litany of 139 felony charges post an investigation into sexually explicit videos she posted on social media. The case, described by Assistant State Attorney Katy Reid as "one of the worst sexual abuse cases I’ve ever seen," reached its conclusion last week, with the judge imposing sentences that, for all intents and purposes, ensure Wagner will spend the rest of her natural life behind bars. Arrested, Wagner originally claimed not to be the woman in the videos found on her Snapchat account when confronted by Port St. Lucie police investigators. According to AOL.com, prior to her trial, Wagner's case was limited to charges related to her older son, meaning she still faces additional felony counts.
Wagner’s crimes did not only involve her children; included in the charges was sexual activity with the family dog. AOL.com reported that jurors were subjected to viewing 18 sexually graphic videos and reading distressing digital messages exchanged between Wagner and purchasers of her videos during her trial. Sold for an amount ranging between $20 and $50, the videos were not only shared on Snapchat but also uploaded to Dropbox for broader dissemination.
As part of the fallout from this unsettling case, the biological father of the children, William Wagner, has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading no contest to a charge of child neglect, having been found living within the family home during the time the abuse occurred. Meanwhile, family members have since taken the children into their care, with the 3-year old reportedly attending therapy and "doing well," as voiced by Reid. The hope is held closely that the 1-year-old remains too young to be cognizant of the ordeals endured, as prosecutors mentioned after the sentencing.
Wagner's husband, who is also facing charges, is reported to have testified against her, stating the truth of the grim circumstances that led to her conviction. The children, now removed from that home, are said to be in the care of new guardians, navigating a road to recovery, shadowed by the weight of an experience no child should ever have to shoulder.
