Riverside Couple Allegedly Chained 12 Children Inside Home

Riverside County sheriff's officials are slated today to disclose more details about a couple suspected of imprisoning their 13 children, several of whom are adults, inside a Perris house where they were allegedly starved and forced to endure other abuse.

David Allen Turpin, 56, and his wife, 49-year-old Louise Ann Turpin, were arrested Sunday on suspicion of committing multiple acts of torture and child abuse. Each is being held in lieu of $9 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

Investigators are expected to offer additional insights as to what went on and for how long but will withhold key findings pending review of the case by the District Attorney's Office.

According to sheriff's officials, an investigation was initiated Sunday morning after a 17-year-old girl fled from the suspects' residence in the 100 block of Muir Woods Road, near Goetz Road.

The victim, whose identity was not released, used a mobile phone to call 911, reporting that her 12 brothers and sisters were

imprisoned within the home and in need of help, according to a sheriff's statement.

Deputies spoke with the girl, who appeared to be much younger than her teenage years, possibly due to under-development from malnutrition, then proceeded to the house to speak with the Turpins, officials said.

"Further investigation revealed several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings, but the parents were unable to immediately provide a logical reason why their children were restrained in that manner,'' according to the agency statement.

"Deputies located what they believed to be 12 children inside the house, but were shocked to discover that seven of them were actually adults, ranging in age from 18 to 29. The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty.''

Several of the victims told deputies they were starving. Six children were taken to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for
treatment, officials said.

The 13 individuals removed from the home ranged from 2 to 29 years old. They were placed in protective custody, under the care of either county Child Protective Services or Adult Protective Services personnel.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to call the sheriff's Perris station at (951) 210-1000.