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Turpin case: California children 'chained for months' California siblings held captive planned escape for two years
(about 2 hours later)
California prosecutors have detailed allegations of horrific abuse by the parents of 13 children held in shackles at their home. The California teenager who escaped a home where her siblings were found shackled had hatched a plan to flee two years ago, prosecutors say.
David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49, face charges of torture, abuse and false imprisonment, Riverside County district attorney Mike Hestrin told reporters. The teenager's sibling had initially fled with her but returned to the house after getting scared, Riverside County district attorney Mike Hestrin said.
They are due to appear in court to be formally charged. The parents, David Turpin and Louise Turpin, have pleaded not guilty to the child abuse charges against them.
Mr Hestrin said all 13 of the couple's children were severely malnourished. The couple's 13 children were found severely malnourished, police say.
He said the teenager who fled from the house earlier this week to raise the alarm had planned the escape with her siblings for two years. The children, who are aged between two and 29 and had all been home-schooled, have been treated in hospital since being freed on Monday.
She fled through a window with a sibling, who then became afraid and returned to the house, he added. Mr Hestrin said that the couple had allegedly punished their children by tying them up - first using ropes and later chaining them to their beds with padlocks.
The couple's children, who are aged between two and 29 and had all been home schooled, have been treated in hospital since being freed. He said the alleged punishments would last weeks or months, and intensified over time.
Mr Hestrin said that the couple had punished their children by tying them up - first using ropes and later chaining them to their beds with padlocks. Prosecutors said circumstantial evidence showed the children were not released from their chains to go to the toilet.
He said the punishments would last weeks or months at a time. Mr Hestrin detailed some of the gruesome allegations against the parents at a news conference on Thursday.
If found guilty of all charges the couple face 94 years to life in prison, Mr Hestrin added. Among the shocking claims:
The 13 were found in an emaciated state in their filthy, foul-smelling house, police revealed earlier. Officers had at first thought all the children were minors but later realised some were frail and malnourished adults, they said. The two-year-old was of normal weight but the other children were severely malnourished, authorities said.
The 12-year-old weighed as much as a seven-year-old and the 29-year-old weighed only 82 lbs (37kg).
Though little is known about their education, some of the children were able to read and write. Mr Turpin also registered a private school in their California home, known as Sandcastle Day School.
Police have obtained hundreds of journals, indicating that the children may have been allowed to write.
Before moving to California, the family lived in Texas.
At one point, the parents allegedly lived in a different house from their children and would drop off food from time to time, officials said.
If found guilty of the dozens of charges against them, the couple face 94 years to life in prison, Mr Hestrin added.
Mr Turpin also faces one count of "lewd act on a child under 14 years of age".
The 13 children were found in an emaciated state in their filthy, foul-smelling house, police revealed earlier. Officers had at first thought all the children were minors but later realised some were frail and malnourished adults, they said.
Mr Hestrin said that when officers arrived, three of the couple's children were chained to their beds.Mr Hestrin said that when officers arrived, three of the couple's children were chained to their beds.
The charges against David and Louise Turpin:The charges against David and Louise Turpin: