From One 'House of Horrors' to Another: Youngest Turpin Siblings Break Silence on Abuse and Foster Care Ordeal
By PEOPLE Staff
LOS ANGELES — Six years after their dramatic rescue from their parents' Perris, California home—a case that shocked the nation—three of the youngest Turpin siblings are speaking publicly for the first time. Their account, shared in an exclusive ABC News special with Diane Sawyer, reveals a second chapter of trauma that unfolded within the very foster care system meant to protect them.
The one-hour special, "The Turpins: A New House of Horror," airs Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10 p.m. EST on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. It marks a pivotal moment for the siblings, who were among the 13 children rescued in 2018 after their then-17-year-old sister, Jordan, escaped and alerted authorities.
Life inside the Turpin family home was one of unimaginable deprivation. The children, ranging from toddlers to adults, were starved, beaten, and at times chained to beds for breaking arbitrary rules. Their parents, David and Louise Turpin, are now serving 25 years to life for their crimes.
"We literally were dying in there from starvation," one of the Turpin daughters recalls in the interview.
Yet, for the six youngest siblings, liberation was followed by a devastating betrayal. Placed with foster parents Marcelino and Rosa Olguin and their adult daughter Lennys, they allege the abuse continued—this time, they say, compounded by psychological torment.
"They would do everything in their power, it seemed like to try to break me," a Turpin son says.
Their attorney, Elan Zektser, told PEOPLE the foster experience was, in some ways, "worse" than their original captivity. "They constantly told these children, ‘Your parents were right. You are worthless. You're a nobody. You're a Turpin,’" Zektser said. "It brought their confidence to an all new low."
The legal aftermath has seen the Olguins face justice. In 2024, Marcelino Olguin pleaded guilty to multiple counts of lewd acts on a child and other charges. Rosa and Lennys Olguin pleaded guilty to charges of willful child cruelty, false imprisonment, and witness intimidation.
The case has ignited fresh scrutiny over foster care vetting and oversight. How could children rescued from such notoriety be placed in a home now convicted of similar abuses? The interview promises to amplify calls for systemic reform.
Voices from the Public
Marcus Chen, Social Worker from Sacramento: "This interview is crucial. It forces us to confront the catastrophic failures in our child welfare safety nets. These children fell through the cracks not once, but twice. We need rigorous, trauma-informed foster placements and relentless follow-up."
Rebecca Vance, Child Advocacy Lawyer: "The plea deals for the foster parents, while securing convictions, feel inadequate for the suffering inflicted. The system's priority must shift from mere placement to genuine, verified safety and healing. The Turpin case should be a watershed moment."
Derek Holt, Commentator (Sharply Critical): "It's an absolute disgrace. We patted ourselves on the back for the 'rescue' in 2018 and then handed these kids over to monsters. The state of California and its agencies have blood on their hands. This isn't just a failure; it's bureaucratic negligence of the highest order. Where was the monitoring? Where was the compassion?"
Anita Garcia, Foster Parent Advocate: "While this horrific case is real, we must remember it represents a fraction of foster families. Thousands provide loving, stable homes. We must fix the system without demonizing all foster parents, lest we scare away the good ones needed more than ever."
"The Turpins: A New House of Horror — A Diane Sawyer Special Event" airs Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453), or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are confidential and available 24/7.