Episode 143: Surviving the Unthinkable - The Turpin Family Story Part 2

A mother and father are supposed to be a child’s first love, their safest place. But in some homes, the people meant to protect you are the ones you have to survive. Unfortunately, for the Turpin children, that was their reality. David Turpin and Louise Turpin presented themselves as devoted parents, guided by their Pentecostal faith and committed to raising a large family. Over nearly three decades, they had 13 children. From the outside, there were few signs of what was really happening inside their home. But behind closed doors, those children endured years of severe physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. Isolation. Control. Fear. And a reality that most of us can barely comprehend. But one day, everything changed. After years of unimaginable abuse, a 17-year-old girl made a decision that would alter all of their lives. She escaped. With very little understanding of the world outside and clutching a phone, she called for help. That single act of courage led authorities to the home and to the rescue of all 13 siblings. But rescue was only the beginning. Because what came next wasn’t the immediate safety, stability, and healing you’d hope for. After being removed from the Turpin house, some of the children would face new challenges and, in some cases, another kind of hardship altogether. This story reminds us that evil is everywhere, but also so is hope.   Evil Everywhere - Movie Recommendations   Sources: Hulu – Escape from a House of Horror – Diane Sawyer Hulu – ‘The Turpins: A New House of Horror’ – Diane Sawyer Wikipedia – Turpin case - Turpin case - Wikipedia Wikipedia – Perris, California - Perris, California - Wikipedia People – What Happened to the Turpin Family Home? Inside the ‘House of Horrors’ 8 Years After Authorities Discovered a Disturbing Scene – Christopher Rudolph – February 4, 2026 - What Happened to the Turpin Family Home? Inside the ‘House of Horrors’ The Mercury News – New California law seeks to bridge a gap exposed by child torture Turpin case – Jeff Horseman – September 27, 2022 - New California law seeks to bridge a gap exposed by child torture Turpin case The Advocate – House of Horrors: The Story of the Turpin Family – Kaeden Wise – September 29, 2023 People – Where are David and Louise Turpin Now? Inside Their Lives After Confessing to Torturing their 13 Children in a ‘House of Horrors’ – Jordana Comiter – February 6, 2026