Their crimes were only discovered when one of their daughters fled their home and pleaded for help to a 911 operator.
The sentencing of David and Louise Turpin was preceded by the first public statements from some of the children, who alternately spoke of love for their parents and of what they had suffered despite it as the couple wiped away tears.
The Turpins pleaded guilty in February to neglect and abuse.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to hurt my children, I love my children so much,” Louise Turpin said.
The parents told ABC News last year they were “surprised and shocked” by the allegations and couldn’t understand “any of it”.
They said that they are considered to be a good Christian family in their community and that added that “God called on them” to have as many children as they did.
The pair also said their grandchildren had “very strict home-schooling,” and they would memorise long passages of the Bible – some of them aimed to learn the entire Bible.
None of the children have been publicly identified.
One of the adult children walked into court already in tears just after the hearing began, holding hands with a prosecutor.
Louise Turpin appears in court in Riverside, Calif. in January
A daughter said: “Life may have been bad but it made me strong.
“I fought to become the person that I am. I…
… Read More
—
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.