13 Siblings, Some Shackled to Beds, Were Held Captive by Parents, Police Say
A 17-year-old girl who said she was being held captive by her parents in her home about two hours southeast of Los Angeles escaped on Sunday
and alerted the authorities, who then rescued her 12 siblings — several of whom were found shackled to their beds and malnourished — the authorities said on Monday.
California records show that Mr. Turpin had received state approval to run a private school, the Sandcastle
Day School, at the family’s home, a one-story stucco house in a subdivision built in recent years.
Officers found the girl’s 12 siblings — who range in age from 2 to 29 — in the foul-smelling house in
Perris, Calif., living in the dark without access to adequate food or water, the department said.
The 17-year-old used a cellphone she found in the home to call the police with her startling claim
about her siblings being held against their will, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
Dennis Cooke, who lives two blocks from their home, said he saw Mr. Turpin once but never the siblings.
They had 12 at the time of their bankruptcy, Mr. Trahan said, adding that the children never visited his law office.
The school enrolled six students this year, in grades six through 12, and Mr. Turpin was listed as the principal.
A 17-year-old girl who said she was being held captive by her parents in her home about two hours southeast of Los Angeles escaped on Sunday
and alerted the authorities, who then rescued her 12 siblings — several of whom were found shackled to their beds and malnourished — the authorities said on Monday.
California records show that Mr. Turpin had received state approval to run a private school, the Sandcastle
Day School, at the family’s home, a one-story stucco house in a subdivision built in recent years.
Officers found the girl’s 12 siblings — who range in age from 2 to 29 — in the foul-smelling house in
Perris, Calif., living in the dark without access to adequate food or water, the department said.
The 17-year-old used a cellphone she found in the home to call the police with her startling claim
about her siblings being held against their will, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.
Dennis Cooke, who lives two blocks from their home, said he saw Mr. Turpin once but never the siblings.
They had 12 at the time of their bankruptcy, Mr. Trahan said, adding that the children never visited his law office.
The school enrolled six students this year, in grades six through 12, and Mr. Turpin was listed as the principal.
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