Thirteen people who were allegedly chained and held captive at a home southeast of Los Angeles have been rescued after one of them managed to escape, police say. Their parents were taken into custody.
The investigation began on early Sunday morning when a 17-year-old girl called 911, claiming that she and her 12 brothers and sisters were being held captive at a residence in the 100 block of Muir Woods Road in Perris, a city in Riverside County.
Police officers and deputies who responded to the scene met the girl and said she looked to be only 10 years old. After a brief interview, the officers were contacted by her parents, who have been identified as 57-year old David Allen Turpin and 49-year old Louise Anna Turpin.
“Further investigation revealed several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said on Monday. “Deputies located what they believed to be 12 children inside the house, but were shocked to discover that 7 of them were actually adults.”
The victims, who range in age from 2 to 29 years, were freed by deputies and provided with food and beverages after they said they were starving. “The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.
Both parents were taken into custody.
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