Children’s escape plan two years in the making

They were starved and shackled to their beds, sometimes for months.

They were given scant medical care, often denied use of a toilet and allowed to shower only once a year.

They lived mostly at night and knew virtually nothing of the outside world.

And yet, some of the children of David and Louise Turpin hatched an escape plan.

It took two years to carry out, but last weekend a 17-year-old girl and her sister climbed out of the window of their Southern California home. The other girl turned back out of fear, but the teen persisted and called 911. That act of courage freed her 12 siblings.

Mr Turpin, 56, and his 49-year-old wife have pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of torture, child abuse, dependent adult abuse and false imprisonment.