Police from Perris, southeast of Los Angeles in California, have arrested a mother and father after finding 13 siblings ranging in age from two to 29 allegedly being held captive in a home.
A 17-year-old escaped from her home on Sunday morning local time and alerted officers that her 12 brothers and sisters were being held captive, Riverside County Sherriff's Department said in a statement.
After police investigated the claim, officers discovered several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in "dark and foul-smelling surroundings".
David Allen Turpin and Louise Anna Turpin. Source: Facebook
"Deputies located what they believed to be 12 children inside the house, but were shocked to discover that 7 of them were actually adults, ranging in age from 18 to 29. The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty," the police statement said.
Police said the parents "were unable to immediately provide a logical reason why their children were restrained in that manner."
Police arrested 57-year-old David Allen Turpin and 49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin, and charged them with torture and child endangerment.
Their bail was set at $13.1 million each.
The six children were taken to Riverside University Hospital and the seven adults were transported to Corona Regional Medical Center.
49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin. Source: Riverside County Sheriff's Department
