As David and Louise Turpin are due to appear in court on Friday, lawyers representing their adult children gave an update on their progress nearly six weeks after the siblings were rescued from the family’s ‘house of horrors’ in Perris, California.
The couple were arrested last month after one of their kids escaped and alerted police that they were being held against their will in horrific conditions – many of the adult children chained to their beds for days and weeks at a time.
All 13 of the kids were taken to the hospital after their rescue and it was determined that all but the youngest, a two year old, were malnourished.
Since then, the six underage siblings have been discharged and sent to live in two foster care homes, while the seven adult children (the oldest being 29) continue to recover at the Corona Regional Medical Center.
The lawyers representing the seven adult Turpin children say they continue to recover from their years of abuse at the Corona Regional Medical Center. The six younger siblings have been split between two foster homes
Last month, David (left) and Louise Turpin (right) were arrested after one of their daughters escaped the home and alerted police that they were being held against their will in horrific conditions. The couple are due in court for a hearing on Friday
Attorneys Jack Osborn and Caleb Mason are representing the adult children, and gave an update on their progress to CBS This Morning on Friday.
They say the hospital staff have converted a portion of the hospital to suit the needs of the adult Turpins, giving them outdoor space to exercise and play sports.
They are also getting the chance to watch Harry Potter movies and use iPads for the first time.
While they haven’t been able to be reunited with their younger siblings yet, they keep in contact with them via Skype.
The older Turpins are just getting used to the idea that they have rights as adults and can make their own decisions, like what they wear every day or read.
Staff at the Corona Regional Medical Center have converted a portion of the hospital to suit the needs of the adult Turpin children – including giving them an outdoor space so they can exercise and play sports
‘That’s a big deal, deciding what they’re going to read, deciding what they’re going to wear, these are all things that are decisions they make every day that are new and empowering,’ Osborn said.
The adult children are excited by the prospect of getting to go to the beach, the mountains and the movies.
‘I just want you to understand just what special individuals they are,’ Osborn said. ‘They all have their own aspirations and their own interests and now they may have an opportunity to address those, which is really exciting.’
The resilient kids have already started planning for their futures, many saying they aspire to get a college education.
Attorneys Jack Osborn (right) and Caleb Mason (left) are representing the adult children. They say the abused adults are just learning that they have rights, and are getting used to the idea of making decisions for themselves
Corona Mayor Karen Spiegel has worked closely with the nurses taking care of the older children.
She says the kids are very thankful for the kind treatment they have received.
‘They talk about how warm and loving these kids are and so appreciative,’ Spiegel said. ‘Some of them have never really seen a toothbrush before. … Things that we just take for granted mean so much to these kids.’
David and Louise Turpin’s procedural hearing will take place at 1:30pm PT.
The couple have pleaded not guilty to nearly 40 charges each of torture, false imprisonment, abuse on a dependent adult and child abuse.
David Turpin faces an additional charge of a lewd act on a child under the age of 14.