Turpin sisters who escaped Perris ‘house of horrors’ speak out: ‘I thought I was going to die’
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Two of the 13 Turpin siblings, who were held captive and tortured by their parents inside a Riverside County home for years before managing to escape in 2018, are speaking publicly for the first time about the horrifying ordeal.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer, the two Turpin sisters recounted a life of cruelty at the hands of their parents.
"The only word I know to call it is 'hell,'" one of the sisters said in the "20/20" special airing Friday, Nov. 19.
13 children were held captive by their parents in a survival story like you’ve never seen. Now, hear from the family for the first time. Watch the @DianeSawyer special event - “Escape From A House Of Horror” - premiering Friday, November 19th at 9/8c on @ABC and stream on @Hulu. pic.twitter.com/JrxeQBuR2O
— 20/20 (@ABC2020) November 9, 2021
The other sibling said their mother choked her to the point she thought she "was going to die."
David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty to torture, child cruelty and false imprisonment after years of abuse and were sentenced in 2019 to 25 years to life in prison. They were arrested in January 2018 after Jordan, who appears in the interview, escaped their Perris home and called 911.
"My whole body was shaking. I couldn't really dial 911 because..." an emotional Jordan recalls before choking up.
Jordan, then 17 years old, is heard telling the dispatcher in the 911 call that her parents are abusive, adding that her two younger sisters were chained up to their bed.
The gut-wrenching 911 call was just the tip of the torture and horrifying conditions found inside the family's home.
In a trailer of the special, never-before-seen police bodycam video of the rescue shows law enforcement questioning the parents and searching through the home, exposing the cruel living conditions.
Locks on the beds of the Turpin children 
Bodycam video of law enforcement's response to the 911 call 
Inside the Turpin home 
Malnourished Turpin child speaking with authorities
The sisters are now speaking out to share their strength, courage and will to survive.
"Escape from a House of Horror - A Diane Sawyer Special Event" airs Friday, Nov. 19 on ABC.
Story Courtesy of ABC NEWS, Click Here to Check Out Original Report
VIDEO: Turpin child speaks during sentencing: 'I'm strong, I'm a fighter'
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