A Southern California couple
accused of beating, shackling and starving their 13 children as
captives in the family's home pleaded not guilty on Friday to
dozens of charges of torture, false imprisonment and abuse.
David and Louise Turpin, who were arraigned in Riverside
County Superior Court, could face life in prison if convicted on
all counts.
Sheriff's deputies raided the Turpins' home in Perris, about
70 miles east of Los Angeles, in January after one of the
captive siblings, an emaciated 17-year-old girl, escaped through
the window of the dwelling and called authorities. Deputies
found the girl's 12 brothers and sisters - ranging in age from 2
to 29 - trapped inside the darkened, foul-smelling house, some
of them chained to beds.
The siblings, found to be suffering from malnourishment,
muscle wasting, stunted growth and other signs of severe abuse,
were taken into protective custody and the parents were
arrested.
Prosecutors said the victims had been denied proper
nutrition, basic hygiene and medical care and were harshly
punished for perceived infractions such as wasting water by
washing their hands above the wrist. The couple also were
accused of taunting their children with pies and other food that
they were forbidden to eat.
Defense lawyers have never offered an explanation for the
circumstances alleged by authorities.
David Turpin's parents, James and Betty Turpin of West
Virginia, have said in media interviews that their son and
daughter-in-law were a deeply religious couple who home-schooled
their children and required them to memorize Bible scripture.
The defendants were each charged with 12 counts of torture,
12 counts of false imprisonment, seven counts of abuse of a
dependant adult and eight counts of child abuse. Louise Turpin,
50, also faces an assault charge.
David Turpin, 56, who worked as an engineer for aeronautics
and defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman,
also was charged with one count of committing a lewd act on a
child, plus eight counts of perjury over his claims that he was
running a private school with his children as the students.
The couple entered not guilty pleas to all charges and
denied all allegations on Friday, said John Hall, a spokesman
for county prosecutors.
Judge Bernard Schwartz denied a defense motion to try the
perjury counts apart from the other charges.
Hall said the next court date would be Oct. 5 for a
trial-readiness conference.