Calif. parents held on charges of torture, child endangerment

David Turpin, 57, and Louise Turpin, 49, accused of holding their children captive in their Perris, Calif., home, have been charged with torture and child endangerment and were being held on $9 million bail each.

Capt. Greg Fellows, with the Riverside County Sheriff ’s Department, said the situation came to light when a 17year-old grabbed a cellphone, leaped out a window and fled early Sunday. She called 911, claiming her brothers and sisters were being held captive.

Fellows said when deputies went to her home, they found 12 malnourished victims in filthy conditions, some shackled to furniture.

Deputies initially believed all the victims were children, but it turned out they ranged in age from 2 to 29 — seven of them were 18 or older. Authorities fed the victims, and all were subsequently hospitalized.