California torture family: 'They’re DEAD to me’ Turpin family aunt condemns sister Louise
THE aunt of the 13 children of the Turpin family who were found tortured and starved in their Californian home has said her sister and brother-in-law were “dead” to her and said she hoped to show the children they have family that loves them.
Louise Turpin's sister got visibly upset during an interview about the House of Horrors
Teresa Robinette, the sister of mother Louise Turpin, made the comments on the US show TODAY.
Her comments come as David, 57, and Louise Turpin, 49, have been charged with 12 counts of torture, seven counts of abuse on a dependent adult, 12 counts of false imprisonment and six counts of child abuse.
Ms Robinette said: “Louise no longer exists to me.
“Her and David are dead to me.”
Louise no longer exists to me
In an emotional interview, she said: “My main hope is that I can put my arm around them and just tell them that they have family that loves them that's not deranged, that this is what it's supposed to be like.”
The Turpin parents have been accused of keeping their children locked in chains, feeding them once a day and forcing them to live in squalid conditions.
The alleged abused children ranged in age from two to 29-years-old.
Cops said when officers entered the suburban home in Perris, California, they found several of the 13 siblings “shackled to their beds” in “foul-smelling” conditions.
Ms Robinette said she only met the eldest four children in person, but she had spoken to some of the other children via Skype a few years ago.
Louise Turpin let her children speak to her sister on Skype a few years ago
The aunt said: “They were very friendly, but it was a very weird conversation every time because they weren't real talkative.”
The Turpin children are now being cared for by mental and physical heath professionals.
The Turpins face 94 years in jail each if convicted of child abuse and torture charges.
Inside the Turpin family’s horrifying former home
Investigators could order DNA tests to confirm all 13 children were actually born to David and Louise Turpin.
Authorities were made aware of the shocking situation when a 17-year-old girl escaped from the house and called police using a mobile phone.
Teresa Robinette appeared on US tv today to discuss the case
The family had moved to Perris, California after reportedly “abandoning” their home 50 miles south of Fort Worth, Texas, after reportedly “abandoning” their home 50 miles south of Fort Worth, Texas.