Instant Alert: California couple accused of holding 13 children captive in their home charged with torture and could face life in prison

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   California couple accused of holding 13 children captive in their home charged with torture and could face life in prison by on Jan 18, 2018, 3:30 PM Advertisement A couple in California was arrested on Sunday for alleged torture and abuse of their 13 children.  David and Louise Turpin were charged with 12 counts of torture on Thursday. They face 94 years to life in prison. The 13 victims were found extremely malnourished.  The parents of 13 malnourished children found in alleged captivity in Southern California have been charged with committing years of torture and abuse and could face up to life in prison. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced the charges against 57-year-old David Allen Turpin and 49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin at a press conference Thursday. Authorities say the situation came to light early Sunday when a 17-year-old daughter climbed out a window of their home, called 911 and showed deputies photos that substantiated her story. Deputies found some of the children chained to furniture when they entered. Prosecutors say the children were chained as punishment and the 17-year-old plotted her escape for two years. Another sibling escaped with the 17-year-old over the weekend but turned back out of fear. Hestrin says all 13 victims were severely malnourished and as a result some have cognitive impairment and a lack of basic knowledge of life. He says a 29-year-old female victim weight 82 pounds. Hestrin says none of the victims were allowed to shower more than once a year. Betty and James Turpin of Princeton, West Virginia say they were in shock when they learned of the arrest of their son David Turpin and his wife, Louise Turpin this week. They say the family looked happy and healthy when they last visited California six years ago. They told the Southern California News Group that their grandchildren all called each other "sweetie" when they visited their home in Murrieta, California six years ago, and none of them appeared malnourished. Betty Turpin says her son told her he had so many kids because God wanted him to. She says her son shared her Pentecostal Christian faith but he wasn't affiliated with a church in California. SEE ALSO: Police say this California couple held their 13 children captive and shackled them to beds with chains — see inside the family's horrifying life   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to: nguyenvu1187.love5@blogger.com   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011