First came their daughter's escape from an alleged house of horrors. Now come the charges. David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49, of Perris, Calif., were charged Thursday with multiple felony counts of torture, child abuse, abuse of dependent adults, and false imprisonment. David Turpin was hit with an additional count of a lewd act on a child under 14. The Los Angeles Times reports that a conviction could bring 94 years to life in prison. The update came via Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin during a Thursday press conference on the couple and their 13 children, who were found shackled and malnourished in the home Sunday. "This is severe, emotional, physical abuse. ... This is depraved conduct," Hestrin said. More on their state, the situation, and the charges:
- CNN explains the couple will each face 12 counts of torture regarding the children's malnutrition, not 13, as the youngest child—age 2—appeared sufficiently fed, said Hestrin. The oldest of the Turpins' children is a 29-year-old female who weighs 82 pounds. He said some of the children suffered cognitive impairments from the lack of food. ABC News adds that the siblings were allegedly only able to bathe once a year. Hestrin said that if they washed their hands above the wrist it was considered playing, and they were chained.