LOS ANGELES—A Southern California couple accused of beating, shackling, and starving their 13 children as captives in the family’s home pleaded not guilty on Aug. 31 to dozens of charges of torture, false imprisonment, and abuse.
Signs of Severe Abuse
The siblings were found to be suffering from malnourishment, muscle wasting, stunted growth, and other signs of severe abuse. They were taken into protective custody and the parents were arrested.Defense lawyers have never offered an explanation for the circumstances alleged by authorities.
The defendants were each charged with 12 counts of torture, 12 counts of false imprisonment, seven counts of abuse of a dependent adult, and eight counts of child abuse. Louise Turpin, 50, also faces an assault charge.
David Turpin, 56, who worked as an engineer for aeronautics and defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, also was charged with one count of committing a lewd act on a child, plus eight counts of perjury over his claims that he was running a private school with his children as the students.
Not Guilty Pleas
The couple entered not guilty pleas to all charges and denied all allegations on Aug. 31, said John Hall, a spokesman for county prosecutors.Judge Bernard Schwartz denied a defense motion to try the perjury counts apart from the other charges.
Hall said the next court date would be Oct. 5 for a trial-readiness conference.