The sister of a woman accused of torturing her children in California said Tuesday that she is devastated to find out about the conditions her nieces and nephews were living in.
“Across the U.S., you can’t really do anything for your nieces and nephews. There’s no words,” Teresa Robinette said.
Robinette lives in Cleveland, Tennessee. Her sister and brother-in-law, David Allen Turpin, 57, and Louise Anna Turpin, 49, are being held on a $9 million bond accused of starving and torturing their 13 children for years.
When deputies arrived at the family’s Southern California home on Sunday, the children and young adults were found malnourished, in filthy conditions, and some were chained to furniture.
The deputies had been summoned by a 17-year-old daughter who jumped out a window and called 911. She was so malnourished, investigators initially thought she was 10 years old.
The children, ages 2 to 29, are all believed to be the Turpins’ biological offspring, authorities said.
“It seems the mother was perplexed as to why they were at residence,” the city of Perris Police Chief, Captain Greg Fellows, said.
Neighbors said there were hints the family was odd, but not to the point of concern.