Turpin siblings reach settlement with Riverside County, ChildNet over foster care abuse

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) Two civil lawsuits brought by members of the Turpin family against Riverside County and the foster care agency ChildNet have been settled for a substantial confidential amount, according to a press release issued Wednesday by Oakwood Legal Group and Booth Law, the firms representing the family.

The settlement resolves two cases filed on behalf of Turpin children and young adults who alleged they were abused and neglected while in foster care after being rescued from their parents’ Perris home in 2018.

The cases were settled prior to trial after years of litigation, according to the attorneys.

The County of Riverside and ChildNet did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, the attorneys said.

In their announcement, attorneys for the Turpin family said the lawsuits coincided with changes made within Riverside County’s child welfare system, including increased social worker staffing levels, revised interview policies for children, and earlier coordination with law enforcement when abuse concerns arise.

Riverside County says those reforms were not part of the settlement agreement.

In a statement issued by Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen, the county said the changes were implemented following an independent investigation launched in 2021 — years after the Turpins came forward and were not negotiated terms of the civil settlement. 

County officials said the review was conducted by former federal Judge Stephen Larson and led to reforms aimed at improving oversight, coordination and child safety.

Attorneys for the Turpin family said the siblings’ willingness to come forward helped drive broader accountability.

“These concrete and long-overdue steps toward improving child safety were accomplished as a direct result of the Turpins bravely coming forward and insisting that their suffering lead to meaningful change to protect other children,” the attorneys said in a joint statement.

The attorneys also sharply criticized a public statement issued by ChildNet following a recent ABC News special, calling the agency’s claim that it helped the children “thrive” “profoundly disturbing.”

According to the press release, the civil lawsuits alleged ChildNet placed the Turpin children with caregivers who later faced criminal convictions or abuse allegations. The attorneys said the settlement was reached because the defendants could not justify what they described as repeated failures to protect vulnerable children. Those claims were not admitted by ChildNet as part of the settlement.

The civil resolution follows criminal convictions tied to the case.

David and Louise Turpin are serving 25 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts, including torture and false imprisonment.

A former foster parent later pleaded guilty to lewd acts involving a child and was also sentenced to state prison.

The settlement comes amid renewed public attention following an ABC News interview in which three Turpin siblings spoke publicly for the first time about their experiences. The siblings described abuse in their parents’ home and alleged harm after entering foster care.

Attorneys for the family said the Turpins’ goal extended beyond financial compensation.

“Their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to protecting other foster children is extraordinary,” the attorneys said. “They stood up, spoke out, and demanded accountability.”