After the Turpin guilty plea, what’s next for the abused children?
David Allen Turpin, 56, and Louise Anne Turpin, 49, pleaded guilty this morning to torturing, starving and imprisoning 12 of their 13 children in their Perris home.
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Watch: Parents accused of torturing, starving, imprisoning children take plea deal
It was an emotional morning for everyone in court. Louise Turpin teared up multiple times as she and her husband pleaded guilty to 14 felonies, including torture, child cruelty and false imprisonment.
The Turpins will not be eligible for parole unless a parole board affirmatively decides that they should be released. Without that decision, they will serve life in prison. They are eligible for a parole hearing after 25 years.
Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a news conference after court that the safety and privacy of the Turpin children were among his top priorities. Hestrin said a plea deal with their parents ensured the children would not have to retell their horror story in court.
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Hestrin’s team made sure a “no contact order” is in place. This means that the children won’t be able to their abusers, at least until sentencing, after which point it will be up to them.
“They may or may not decide to speak at the sentencing they certainly have the right to do that,” Hestrin said.
Hestrin also said he spoke with the kids this morning and that he believes they are doing well.
“I was very taken by them…by their optimism…by their hope…for the future…for their future,” Hestrin said. “They have a zest for life and huge smiles and I’m optimistic for them and I think that’s how they feel about their future.”
Hestrin told the room he believes justice was served in Riverside today. As for the defense, we asked for their reaction, but the attorney said no comment.
