Home school oversight sought after 13 found captive
LOS ANGELES — City officials couldn’t find any records that the fire marshal conducted required annual inspections at a California home that doubled as a private school where authorities say 13 malnourished siblings were kept captive in filthy conditions by their parents.
On Wednesday, a state lawmaker for the area said he’s considering introducing legislation requiring state officials to conduct at least annual walk-throughs of schools.
Private schools in California are not licensed by the state education department and no agency regulates or oversees them, although they are supposed to register the number of students.
They are, however, subject to an annual inspection by the state or local fire marshal.
“I am extremely concerned about the lack of oversight the State of California currently has in monitoring private and home schools,” Assemblyman Jose Medina, a Democrat who represents the area, said.
In response to a public records request by The Associated Press, Perris Assistant City Clerk Judy Haughney said Wednesday that there were no records of any fire inspections conducted at the home. The city’s fire marshal, Dave Martinez, did not return repeated phone messages seeking comment.
David Allen Turpin and his wife, Louise Anna Turpin, were arrested Sunday after authorities found the malnourished children in their home in Riverside County. The couple was jailed on $9 million bail each. Charges could come Wednesday and a court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, authorities said.
Deputies said some siblings were shackled to furniture in the foulsmelling home in suburban Riverside County. They were so malnourished that the older ones still looked like children.
Medina’s plan was still in the early stages but could include an annual walk-through of home and private schools by state or county officials “to ascertain the safety and well-being of the students,” he said.