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Judi Lynn

(164,155 posts)

21. Abuse in house of torture was 'severe, pervasive, prolonged'

Thu Jan 18, 2018, 10:12 PM

Jan 2018

Amy Taxin and Brian Melley, Associated Press
Updated 7:57 pm, Thursday, January 18, 2018

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A California couple tortured a dozen of their children for years, starving them to the point that their growth was stunted, chaining them to their beds for up to months, preventing them from using the toilet at times and forbidding them from showering more than once a year, a prosecutor said Thursday.

"The victimization appeared to intensify over time," Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in announcing charges. "What started out as neglect became severe, pervasive, prolonged child abuse."

David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49, were charged with multiple counts of torture, child abuse, dependent adult abuse and false imprisonment. David Turpin was also charged with performing a lewd act on a child under age 14.

The litany of physical and emotional abuse was enough to invoke a house of horrors that apparently went unnoticed for years in California and Texas until Sunday, when a 17-year-old girl managed to escape and call 911.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Grandparents-shocked-by-reports-of-13-starved-12506474.php#photo-14895661

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13 captive siblings forced to shower once a year, strangled, subject to frequent beatings:Prosecutor [View all] DonViejo Jan 2018 OP

on one hand, I frankly hope they don't survive to trial. on the other hand, this is an niyad Jan 2018 #1

WTF Skittles Jan 2018 #29

I know. it was a momentary reaction. niyad Jan 2018 #30

I CERTAINLY understand that Skittles Jan 2018 #31

No words... Canoe52 Jan 2018 #2

"Prosecutors said the teen plotted the escape with her siblings for two years." Javaman Jan 2018 #3

Grandparents said it was God who gave them so many children.... pbmus Jan 2018 #4

Mind you, the grandparents never saw the kids Blue_Adept Jan 2018 #10

Different set of grandparents. The father's parents visited as recently as 6 years ago. yardwork Jan 2018 #15

Pentecostals dalton99a Jan 2018 #22

When they said foul odors and mess I was thinking garbage . Sounds a lot sicker lunasun Jan 2018 #5

..and nobody suspected a thing was wrong in there. TheCowsCameHome Jan 2018 #6

Religious. I saw their FaceBook page a couple of days ago. C Moon Jan 2018 #7

I agree pandr32 Jan 2018 #26

Time for a little Old Testament eye for an eye for the good christian (intentional little c) parents MLAA Jan 2018 #8

What I wonder when reading a story like this spiderpig Jan 2018 #9

1 in 3, my dear spiderpig, 1 in 3 0rganism Jan 2018 #19

this may get me juried rtracey Jan 2018 #11

Bail matt819 Jan 2018 #12

9 million each is what I read. They're not going anywhere for the rest of their fucked up lives.... Bengus81 Jan 2018 #13

Seven of the "children" were 18-29. So, only 6 under 18.... deurbano Jan 2018 #14

I didnt even think of that Clarity2 Jan 2018 #17

Personality Disorders bucolic_frolic Jan 2018 #16

Of Course They Are Evangelicals, ... DoctorJoJo Jan 2018 #18

A lot of blame to go around NCDem777 Jan 2018 #20

Abuse in house of torture was 'severe, pervasive, prolonged' Judi Lynn Jan 2018 #21

I can't imagine a lawyer wanting to represent the parents. Ilsa Jan 2018 #23

speechless AllaN01Bear Jan 2018 #24

The "private school" was just a way to milk the state Blue_Tires Jan 2018 #25

The kids had no idea what police or medicine was ripcord Jan 2018 #27

OK, this is horrific, but still I am reminded of an old joke... Rollo Jan 2018 #28