13 Turpin Siblings: Inside The Shocking Aftermath Of The 'House Of Horrors' And Their Ongoing Fight For Justice
The Turpin family case remains one of the most disturbing and complex instances of child abuse in modern American history, but the story is far from over. As of December 2025, the parents, David and Louise Turpin, continue to serve their life sentences, while the true tragedy has shifted to the 13 siblings as they struggle to navigate life and legal battles following their dramatic rescue.
This article provides the most current and in-depth look at the 'House of Horrors' case, detailing the parents' current status, the shocking circumstances of the 2018 rescue, and the ongoing, painful legal fight of the Turpin children against the very system meant to protect them. The latest updates reveal a harrowing second chapter of abuse that has led to major lawsuits against Riverside County authorities and private foster care agencies.
The Complete David and Louise Turpin Biography and Timeline
The perpetrators of the decade-long abuse, David Allen Turpin and Louise Ann Turpin, maintained a facade of normalcy while subjecting their 13 children to unimaginable torture. Their timeline of abuse spans multiple states and decades, culminating in their arrest in Perris, California.
David and Louise Turpin Profile
- David Allen Turpin: Born October 17, 1961. He worked as an engineer for companies like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
- Louise Ann Turpin: Born May 24, 1968. She was described as a homemaker.
- Marriage: The couple married in 1985 in Pearisburg, Virginia, when David was 23 and Louise was 16.
- Children: They had 13 children (seven adults and six minors at the time of the rescue), ranging in age from 2 to 29.
- Key Locations: They lived in Rio Vista, Texas, and Murrieta, California, before settling in the infamous home on Muir Woods Road in Perris, California, in 2014.
Timeline of the Abuse and Arrest
The abuse began subtly but escalated dramatically over the years, marked by extreme isolation and malnutrition. The Turpin children were rarely allowed outside, were denied basic hygiene, and were subjected to a bizarre, restrictive schedule.
- Early 2000s: The family moved from Texas to California. Reports indicate the children were increasingly isolated and subjected to physical abuse and starvation.
- Perris, CA (2014-2018): The 'House of Horrors' era. The children were regularly shackled to beds with chains and ropes for weeks or months at a time as punishment. They were fed only once a day and were severely malnourished, with the oldest children having the body mass of a young child.
- January 14, 2018 (The Rescue): The parents' reign of terror was finally ended when their 17-year-old daughter, Jordan Turpin, managed to escape the home. She used a deactivated cell phone to call 911, providing photographic evidence of the chains and abuse. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department entered the home and rescued the 13 siblings.
The 'House of Horrors' Rescue and Criminal Conviction
The rescue in January 2018 shocked the world, revealing the extent of the long-term torture and neglect. The 13 Turpin siblings, including the seven adult children, were immediately hospitalized for malnutrition and physical ailments, including heart damage and cognitive impairment due to years of neglect. The parents were quickly charged with numerous felonies.
The Charges and Plea Deal
David and Louise Turpin were initially charged with 12 counts of torture, 12 counts of false imprisonment, seven counts of abuse of a dependent adult, six counts of child abuse, and 12 counts of cruelty to a child. In a move to spare their children the trauma of testifying at a public trial, the couple accepted a plea deal.
On February 22, 2019, David and Louise Turpin each pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts, which included:
- One count of Torture.
- One count of False Imprisonment.
- One count of Abuse of a Dependent Adult.
- Four counts of Child Cruelty.
- Six counts of Cruelty to a Dependent Adult.
- One count of Felony Child Abuse.
The Sentence and Current Prison Status
In April 2019, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard J. Schwartz sentenced both David and Louise Turpin to 25 years to life in state prison. The sentence means that David Allen Turpin and Louise Ann Turpin will be eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years, placing their first possible parole hearing around April 2044.
The couple is currently serving their sentences in separate California state correctional facilities. They are barred by court order from contacting their children.
The Shocking Aftermath: New Abuse and the Turpin Children's Ongoing Fight for Justice
The most recent and devastating updates in the Turpin case revolve not around the convicted parents, but around the systemic failures that plagued the children after their rescue. The siblings, who were placed under the conservatorship of Riverside County’s Public Guardian and Child Protective Services (CPS), allegedly suffered a second wave of horrific abuse.
Abuse in the Foster Care System
Multiple reports and court documents have exposed a systemic failure within the county agencies. Six of the youngest Turpin siblings were placed in the care of Marcelino and Rosa Olguin and their adult daughter, Lennah Olguin. This foster family, who were paid by the county through the private agency ChildNet, allegedly subjected the children to further physical and psychological abuse, including:
- Sexual abuse.
- Physical beatings.
- Emotional torture and neglect.
The Olguin family members were eventually arrested and sentenced on child abuse charges. Marcelino Olguin received a seven-year state prison sentence, while his wife and daughter received suspended sentences after pleading guilty to multiple counts.
The Lawsuit Against Riverside County
In a major development, six of the Turpin siblings—represented by their legal teams—filed two separate lawsuits against Riverside County and ChildNet, the private foster agency. The lawsuits allege that the county and the agency failed in their duty to vet the foster homes and provide adequate oversight, effectively allowing the children to be "horrifically abused for a second time."
This legal action highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability. The siblings are seeking monetary damages, but more importantly, they are demanding systemic change to prevent other vulnerable children from falling victim to similar failures in the foster care system. The case remains ongoing, with the Turpin siblings' attorneys fiercely fighting for a resolution.
Life After the House of Horrors: Navigating Freedom and Trauma
The 13 Turpin siblings, now all young adults, are attempting to build independent lives while managing severe physical and psychological trauma. The challenges they face are immense, from learning basic life skills—like cooking, managing money, and navigating public transportation—to coping with the long-term effects of malnutrition and isolation.
The adult siblings were initially placed in the care of a county Public Guardian, which proved ineffective and, in some cases, exploitative, leading to further isolation and difficulty accessing the millions of dollars donated for their care. A key step toward independence came when a court appointed a private attorney to manage the conservatorship, offering a more supportive and transparent process.
The Turpin family's story has become a complex case study for both child welfare and criminal justice systems. Their resilience, particularly the courage of Jordan Turpin in making the 911 call, continues to inspire. However, their ongoing struggle serves as a stark reminder that rescue is only the first step in a long and difficult journey toward recovery and justice against a broken system. The world watches, hoping their fight for a normal life can finally find peace.
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