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Turpin: Shackled siblings found in Perris, California home | Turpin: Shackled siblings found in Perris, California home |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two parents have been arrested in California after police found they allegedly kept their 13 children captive at home, some "shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks". | Two parents have been arrested in California after police found they allegedly kept their 13 children captive at home, some "shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks". |
David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, were held on charges of torture and child endangerment. | David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, were held on charges of torture and child endangerment. |
The couple's children - aged two to 29 - lived in Perris, 59 miles (95km) south-east of Los Angeles. | The couple's children - aged two to 29 - lived in Perris, 59 miles (95km) south-east of Los Angeles. |
Officers were alerted by one of the victims, a 17-year-old girl. | Officers were alerted by one of the victims, a 17-year-old girl. |
The girl - who appeared to be "only 10 years old and slightly emaciated" - on Sunday managed to escape and call the emergency number using a mobile phone found inside the house, the Riverside Sheriff's Department said in a statement. | The girl - who appeared to be "only 10 years old and slightly emaciated" - on Sunday managed to escape and call the emergency number using a mobile phone found inside the house, the Riverside Sheriff's Department said in a statement. |
What did police find in the house? | What did police find in the house? |
Police officers later found "several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings". | Police officers later found "several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings". |
The officers were "shocked" to discover that seven of those held in the house were actually adults aged between 18 and 29. | The officers were "shocked" to discover that seven of those held in the house were actually adults aged between 18 and 29. |
"The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty," the police said. | "The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty," the police said. |
All the victims are now being treated in local hospitals. | All the victims are now being treated in local hospitals. |
The head of one of the hospitals, Mark Uffer, told Reuters news agency: "It's actually heartbreaking for the staff and it's unbelievable what you see." | The head of one of the hospitals, Mark Uffer, told Reuters news agency: "It's actually heartbreaking for the staff and it's unbelievable what you see." |
How did they hide their secret? | How did they hide their secret? |
James Cook, BBC News, Perris | James Cook, BBC News, Perris |
On Muir Woods Road there is no hint of the horror inside number 160. | On Muir Woods Road there is no hint of the horror inside number 160. |
This is a smart suburban home with three cars and a people carrier gleaming in the driveway. The curtains are drawn but a decorative Christmas star can be seen hanging in one window. | This is a smart suburban home with three cars and a people carrier gleaming in the driveway. The curtains are drawn but a decorative Christmas star can be seen hanging in one window. |
The estate is neat and the houses on the road are spacious but they are close together. It is difficult to imagine how a family could hide such an enormous dark secret here. | The estate is neat and the houses on the road are spacious but they are close together. It is difficult to imagine how a family could hide such an enormous dark secret here. |
And yet that is exactly what seems to have happened. | And yet that is exactly what seems to have happened. |
Neighbours are now engaged in soul-searching about whether they should have spotted that something was awry. | Neighbours are now engaged in soul-searching about whether they should have spotted that something was awry. |
No-one seems to know how long the siblings may have been held captive and, of course, no-one can answer the hardest question of all - why? | No-one seems to know how long the siblings may have been held captive and, of course, no-one can answer the hardest question of all - why? |
What do we know about the family? | What do we know about the family? |
According to public records, the couple lived in Texas for many years before moving to California in 2010. | According to public records, the couple lived in Texas for many years before moving to California in 2010. |
Mr Turpin has twice been declared bankrupt. At the time of his second bankruptcy he is said to have had a relatively well-paid job as an engineer at aeronautics and defence technology company Northrop Grumman. | Mr Turpin has twice been declared bankrupt. At the time of his second bankruptcy he is said to have had a relatively well-paid job as an engineer at aeronautics and defence technology company Northrop Grumman. |
However, with so many children and his wife not working, records suggest his expenses exceeded his income. | However, with so many children and his wife not working, records suggest his expenses exceeded his income. |
On the California Department of Education website, Mr Turpin is listed as the principal of Sandcastle Day School - a private school operated out of his home. | On the California Department of Education website, Mr Turpin is listed as the principal of Sandcastle Day School - a private school operated out of his home. |
The school was opened in March 2011, the website says. Six pupils are enrolled there, all in different grades. | The school was opened in March 2011, the website says. Six pupils are enrolled there, all in different grades. |
Mr Turpin's parents said that their grandchildren were home-schooled but that they had not seen the family for four or five years. | Mr Turpin's parents said that their grandchildren were home-schooled but that they had not seen the family for four or five years. |
James and Betty Turpin told ABC they were considered a good Christian family in their community and that "God called on them" to have so many children. | |
The family's Facebook page shows numerous photos of them, apparently happy and smiling, some from events where David and Louise Turpin renewed their vows. | |
Many posts have comments from family or friends. | Many posts have comments from family or friends. |
What do the neighbours say? | What do the neighbours say? |
One neighbour told Reuters that the Turpin family "were the type that you didn't really get to know anything about them". | One neighbour told Reuters that the Turpin family "were the type that you didn't really get to know anything about them". |
"You would never see them on visit, you would never see anyone come outside. All you would really see is that they go out and maybe do a grocery round. And that was about it," the neighbour added. | "You would never see them on visit, you would never see anyone come outside. All you would really see is that they go out and maybe do a grocery round. And that was about it," the neighbour added. |
A neighbour from across the street, Kimberly Milligan, 50, told the Los Angeles Times they seemed strange and wondered why the children never came out to play. | A neighbour from across the street, Kimberly Milligan, 50, told the Los Angeles Times they seemed strange and wondered why the children never came out to play. |
"I thought the kids were home-schooled," she said. "You know something is off, but you don't want to think bad of people." | "I thought the kids were home-schooled," she said. "You know something is off, but you don't want to think bad of people." |
She recalls on one occasion saying hello to the children but said they looked at her "like a child who wants to make themselves invisible". | She recalls on one occasion saying hello to the children but said they looked at her "like a child who wants to make themselves invisible". |
Recent cases of abduction, confinement and enslavement | |
Did you know the Turpin family? You can get in touch with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Did you know the Turpin family? You can get in touch with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |