David & Louise Turpin Sentenced To 25 Years To Life After Years Of Torturing Their 12 Children

David and Louise Turpin, who pleaded guilty to holding captive and torturing their children for years in their California home, were each sentenced to 25 years to life in prison during an emotional hearing that included testimony from some of the victims.

“My parents took my whole life from me,” said one of their daughters, identified as Jane Doe Number 4. She was one of the two adult children who read statements to the court before the sentencing.

“Life may have been bad, but it made me strong,” she continued. ”But now, I’m taking my life back.”

The California couple pleaded guilty in February to 14 felony counts each, including counts of torture, false imprisonment, cruelty to dependent adults and child endangerment.

They were arrested early last year after the couple’s then-17-year-old daughter escaped through a window of the family home in Perris, Calif., and called police. It was the culmination of a two-year plan.

The girl directed police to the house where officials found the children — ages 2 to 29 at the time — living in appalling squalor. Some were “shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings,” according to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities discovered the parents had held their children captive, starving them and forcing them to live in horrific conditions. Officials also concluded several of the victims suffered cognitive impairment and neuropathy as result of the extreme and prolonged physical abuse.

The siblings had been isolated from the outside world and were often denied showers, medical care and food. They were sometimes tied up for “weeks or even months at a time,” the Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said last year, calling it the one of the “worst, most aggravated child abuse cases I have ever seen.”

The youngest child, who was 2 when the Turpins were arrested, was apparently spared of the abuse, Hestrin determined.

“I cannot describe in words what we went through growing up. Sometimes I still have nightmares of things that happened, such as my siblings being chained up or getting beaten,” said the couple’s son, Joshua, 27.

“But that is the past and this is now,” he added. “I love my parents and have forgiven them for a lot of the things they did to us.”

Both parents offered tearful apologies in court, expressing their own hopes that their children succeed in all their endeavors.

“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to hurt my children,” Louise Turpin said, weeping. “I love my children so much. I’m blessed to be the mother of each one of them. I only want the best for them; their happiness is very important to me. They are very smart, amazing individuals. I hope they get all the education they need.”

Their father, David, spoke briefly before breaking down in tears. “I am so proud of each and every one of my children. I miss all of my children and I will be praying for them. I long for the opportunity to have contact with them again,” he said.

His lawyer finished reading the statement saying, “My home schooling and discipline had good intentions. … I’m sorry if I’ve done anything to cause them harm.”

Before sentencing the couple, Judge Bernard Schwartz addressed the defendants, emphasizing, “Children are indeed a gift,” not only to their parents and families, but also to society.

50 CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

“The selfish, cruel and inhuman treatment of your own children has deprived them, your family, your friends and society — and especially both of you — of those gifts,” Schwartz said.

“Their lives have been permanently altered in their ability to learn, grow and thrive. You have delayed their mental, physical and emotional development,” the judge continued. “To the extent that they do thrive…it will be not because of you both, but in spite of you both,” he rebuked the pair.

The court also placed new protective orders for each of the children, tailoring their length to each child.  Ten of the children have 10-year restraining orders in place. Two have 5-year restraining orders and one had the restraining order dropped.

The orders prevent David and Louise Turpin from having personal contact with the children – whether in person, by mail, phone, social media or through third parties.