A survivor of the infamous Turpin family "house of horrors" is speaking out about the path to recovery for 16 children recently discovered in a similar abusive situation in Ohio.
Julissa Turpin, 20, who was one of 13 children rescued from her parents' abuse in Perris, California, in 2018, expressed faith that the children found in Hamden, Ohio, can heal and thrive. The Ohio children were discovered in a cramped, feces-littered room, a scene described by Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson as "pure evil."
Authorities arrested four individuals in connection with the Ohio case: Elizabeth Siders, 33; her husband Gary Siders Jr., 36; and her in-laws, Gary Siders Sr., 73, and Christina "Lynn" Siders, 66. Each faces 16 counts of child endangerment, a second-degree felony, though all have pleaded not guilty.
In the Turpin case, parents David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty to torture and abuse in 2019. Their 13 children, aged two to 29, were found malnourished and subjected to years of torture, including being shackled to beds and given minimal education. Their diet reportedly consisted of only bread with peanut butter or bologna, while their parents taunted them with forbidden food. The abuse came to light when one of the siblings, Jordan, then 17, escaped and called 911.
Julissa Turpin described her upbringing as being "almost like this prison, where my siblings and I were prisoners." Upon their release, she said, simple freedoms like breathing fresh air felt "like heaven."
She noted that adjusting to society was challenging, recalling her disbelief at common social interactions like people asking "how are you." She also struggled with basic hygiene and learning to form friendships, having believed such concepts were only "stuff that's in the movies."
Despite the trauma, Turpin found healing through therapy and religion, and has since purchased her first home. She continues to find strength by spending time with her siblings and her dogs.
Turpin stated that while she understands the complexities of trauma, she does not believe it excuses abuse. This sentiment echoes in the Ohio case, where Elizabeth Siders' defense reportedly claims she was a victim of a controlling husband. Julissa dismissed such arguments, stating, "She can be a victim, but that does not give her any excuse to do what she did to her kids."
The 16 children in Ohio, ranging from 18 months to 18 years old, were found in critical condition, with some unable to speak. Two were transported to trauma centers. Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain described the conditions as worse than those for livestock, with the children confined to a small room where they allegedly were kept for years. Investigators believe some of the children may be the result of incestuous relationships, though authorities have not elaborated further.
All the children in the Ohio case are reportedly safe and receiving care.