who are the turpins

The Turpins are a California family whose name became infamous in 2018 when it was revealed that parents David and Louise Turpin had been violently abusing and imprisoning their 13 children in what the media called a “House of Horrors.”

Who the Turpins Are

• David and Louise Turpin are the parents of 13 children who lived in Perris, California.
• In January 2018, their 17‑year‑old daughter Jordan escaped the home at night and called 911, leading police to discover years of extreme abuse and neglect.

• The children ranged in age from about 2 to 29 when they were rescued.

What Happened in the “House of Horrors”

Reports and later court records describe extremely severe, long‑term abuse:

• Several children were shackled to beds or furniture with chains and padlocks.

• They were starved, beaten, and strangled, with food and basic hygiene strictly restricted; many were underweight and in poor health when found.

• The children had minimal education and little understanding of the outside world; some did not even know what police were when officers arrived.

An example often mentioned: Jordan, the daughter who escaped, was shaking so much during her 911 call that she struggled to dial, but still managed to describe the situation and show officers photos of her chained siblings.

Legal Outcome for the Parents

• David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty in 2019 to multiple felony counts, including torture, false imprisonment, child cruelty, and abuse of dependent adults.

• They were sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after roughly 22–25 years, depending on the specific count breakdown.

What Happened to the Turpin Children

After the rescue, the story remained tragic and complex:

• The younger Turpin children were placed into foster care in California, but several of them were later abused again by their foster family.

• In 2024, three foster parents (members of the Olguin family) who had taken in several Turpin children pleaded guilty to child endangerment and related charges; one was also convicted of lewd acts on a child.

• Some of the now‑adult siblings have spoken publicly about their recovery, mental health struggles, and efforts to build independent lives, including Jordan, who has talked about learning to cope and staying protective and close with her brothers and sisters.

Public figures have also stepped in: for example, Oprah Winfrey recently said that filmmaker Tyler Perry has been quietly helping support the Turpin children in the years since the case drew attention to how badly the system failed them.

Ongoing Media and “Latest News”

• The case remains a major topic in true‑crime podcasts, forums, and documentaries, with many discussions focusing on systemic failure in child protection and foster care.

• A new ABC News special with Diane Sawyer, featuring three Turpin siblings speaking about abuse they faced in foster care after escaping their parents, is scheduled around early 2026, signaling that more of their story is still emerging.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.