California: Parents of "House of Terror" pleaded guilty

Barely more than a year ago, the Turpin marriage was declared on Friday guilty of 14 counts of indictment and two steps away from life imprisonment as part of the so – called "House of the Nation" case. ;horror".

It all began in January 2018, when a 17-year-old girl managed to escape her home in Perris, Southern California, and warned the authorities that she and her 12 brothers were brutally tortured, ill-treated and kept in captivity. by his parents.

On Friday, David Allen Turpin (56) and Louise Ann Turpin (50) have accepted charges of torture, child abuse and cruelty to children, which means at least 25 years in prison. The conviction will be known on April 19, according to CNN.

At first, the couple had been found innocent of the charges, but in order to avoid the lawsuit, they changed their statement. Riverside attorney Mike Hestrin said at a press conference that, to prevent victims from testifying, he had accepted the parents' plea agreement.

"We want justice, but this justice also involves victims and we do not want them to suffer anymore," said Riverside District Attorney Mike Hestrin.

In addition, he said: "This is the most horrible case I've seen in my entire career as a prosecutor," and said the couple would be sentenced to the life imprisonment, although after 25 years he may apply for parole. In this case, a court will have to determine whether it accepts the claim, according to the BBC.

The prosecutor said it was "the heaviest sentence that can be handed down in California" after the coming into force last year of a law banning the sentence of more aged 25 to an elderly person without the opportunity to ask for freedom. conditional

The 13 children of the couple are responsible for social services in Riverside County. "We decided that the victims had endured enough torture and abuse, I personally met them and, of course, everyone is relieved to know that this case has been resolved," said the prosecutor. "I was very captivated by his optimism, his hope for the future, they want to live and big smiles," he said.