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The 57-year-old husband remained impassive in court, but his 50-year-old wife cried.
A California couple pled guilty to imprisoning, shackling and torturing some of their 13 children.
David and Louise Turpin each admitted 14 counts, including cruelty to a dependent adult, cruelty to children, torture and unlawful imprisonment.
They were arrested in January 2018 when their 17-year-old daughter managed to escape Perris's home.
The children, aged two to 29 at the time, were found severely malnourished and abused.
The 57-year-old husband remained unmoved on Friday in Riverside High Court, but his 50-year-old wife cried guilty.
- The "happy family" accused of torture
District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in the brief hearing that the plea agreement spared the children a trial that would have further traumatized them.
He added that the decision was made in part because of "the attention of the international media" brought to the case.
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David-Louise Turpin / Facebook
The couple's Facebook page contained many family photos
"We decided that the victims had endured enough torture and abuse," he said.
"I have personally met the victims and, rest assured, they are all relieved to know that this case has been resolved."
Officers who raided the family home 112 km south of Los Angeles discovered a scene of misery and a stench of human waste that contrasted with the neat facade of the property in a middle-class neighborhood.
The growth of some adult victims had been so slowed by malnutrition that the authorities had first confused them with children.
Prosecutors said the parents had beaten, strangled and starved all the children, except for their young daughter.
Some of them were chained to furniture during a campaign of abuse dating back at least to 2010.
Victims were prohibited from taking a shower more than once a year and none of them had ever consulted a dentist.
The kids – whose names all start with the letter J – were left inside, but allowed out for Halloween, or on family trips to Disneyland and Las Vegas.
Turpins face life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
They will be sentenced on April 19th.
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