A 17-year-old girl, who appeared to be about 10, escaped from a home in Perris, located in Riverside County, and called police from a cell phone she had taken from the home, according to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department. She claimed that she and her 12 siblings were being held captive.
Sheriff’s deputies went to the house and talked to the parents, David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, before they found the children being held captive in what was described as “dark and foul-smelling surroundings,” according to the Press-Enterprise.
“The parents were unable to immediately provide a logical reason why their children were restrained in that manner,” sheriff’s officials said.
The report said that officials first thought they had discovered 12 children in the home, but they were “shocked” to learn that “seven of them were actually adults, ranging in age from 18 to 29. The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty.”
The Turpins were arrested and charged with torture and 10 counts of child endangerment. Their bail was set at $9 million each, according to officials.
Those with information about the investigation are urged to call Master Investigator Tom Salisbury at the Perris Station who can be reached at 951-210-1000 or through his email at [email protected].
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