A California couple, David and Louise Turpin, have been sentenced to life in prison for the prolonged abuse and starvation of 12 of their 13 children. The sentencing took place on Friday, following their arrest in January 2018 after their 17-year-old daughter escaped their home in Perris and alerted authorities.
The children, ranging in age from two to 29 at the time of the rescue, had been subjected to severe maltreatment for at least nine years. Some were found chained to beds in filthy conditions, and all were malnourished. The victims were forbidden from showering more than once a year, denied access to toilets, and had never seen a dentist. The abuse stunted the growth of some adult siblings, leading authorities to initially mistake them for children.
During the hearing, four of the children delivered victim-impact statements. One child described nightmares of siblings being chained or beaten but expressed forgiveness. Another, in a statement read by her brother, said the abuse made her the person she is today. A visibly shaking daughter declared she was taking her life back, calling herself a fighter. The couple wept as they apologised; David Turpin claimed his homeschooling and discipline had good intentions, while Louise Turpin said she was 'truly sorry' and looked forward to hugging her children again.
Judge Bernard Schwartz rebuked the couple for their 'selfish, cruel and inhuman treatment,' noting that their early guilty pleas spared the children from reliving the trauma in court. The Turpins are expected to serve life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
