California Girl’s Escape From ‘Human Depravity’ Led to Rescue of 12 Siblings<br />The parents, David A. Turpin, 56, and his wife, Louise A. Turpin, 49, pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday afternoon to all charges, including<br />12 counts of torture, seven counts of abuse of a dependent adult, six counts of child abuse and 12 counts of false imprisonment.<br />Mr. Hestrin also recounted how the children were allowed to bathe only once a year — if they washed their arms above their wrists, they were accused of “playing in water”<br />and chained to their beds as punishment, Mr. Hestrin said.<br />Mr. Hestrin said that many of the children appear to have cognitive deficiencies<br />and show evidence of nerve damage from “extreme and prolonged physical abuse.” None of the siblings, ages 2 to 29, have seen a doctor in four years and they have never seen a dentist.<br />Before coming to California, the family lived in Fort Worth, Tex., where, Mr. Hestrin said, the parents used rope and “hogtied” the children.<br />“Someone must have seen something, someone must have noticed something,” Mr. Hestrin said.<br />“What started off as neglect became severe, pervasive, prolonged abuse,” Mr. Hestrin said.
