Jennifer & Jordan Turpin Appear In First Interview Since Being Held Captive By Abusive Parents In 'House Of Horrors' For Years
After escaping a real-life nightmare, two of the Turpin siblings are speaking out about their years in captivity.
Jennifer and Jordan Turpin, along with their 11 other siblings, were tortured by their parents for years before they were able to make their escape in 2018.
Now the two sisters are opening up about the “hell” they endured during a sit-down interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer for a new 20/20 episode.
In a preview for the upcoming episode, set to air on Friday, November 19, the Turpin sisters painfully recall how they made their way out of the traumatizing home that has now been dubbed the “House of Horrors”.
The 13 siblings, ranging from ages 2 to 29 at the time they escaped, were starved, beaten and strangled by their parents while they were isolated from the outside world for decades.
Jordan — who was 17 at the time — spearheaded the rescue of herself and her 12 siblings after crawling through the window of her home and dialing 911 on her abusive parents in 2018.
“My whole body was shaking. I couldn’t really dial 911,” Jordan tearfully recalled in the new clip, while Sawyer asked how she got the courage to expose her parents. “I think it was us coming so close to death so many times. If something happened to me, at least I died trying."
In the original audio from the call, Jordan is quoted as saying, “I just ran away from home because I live in a family of 15 and we have abusing parents.” She also told the operator that two of her little sisters were “chained up” at the time.
Jennifer confirmed that she and her siblings were sometimes chained up for months at a time. “The only word I know to call it is ‘hell,’” she added.
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The parents, David and Louise Turpin were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison back in 2019. Both pled guilty to 14 felony counts, which included, child cruelty, cruelty to an adult dependent, torture, and false imprisonment.
Their children testified before their parents' sentencing, where they detailed the effect that the prolonged abuse had on their lives.
“My parents took my whole life away from me,” one daughter under the name of Jane Doe said in court, revealing that she was in college. “But now I am taking it back.”
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” she said. “I fought to become the person I am. I saw my dad change my mom. They almost changed me but I realized what was happening and I immediately did what I could to not become like them. I am a fighter. I am strong and I am shooting through life like a rocket.”
One of the other siblings, Joshua, also told the court that he was still traumatized by the torture he endured during his childhood.
“I cannot describe in words what we went through growing up,” he said. “Sometimes I still have nightmares of things that had happened.”
In court, both David and Louise voiced their regret for the harm done to their children. “I want to say I am sorry for everything I have done,” Louise said. “I love my children so much...I pray for my children every day. I am truly sorry for everything I have done to hurt them. I love them more than they can ever imagine.”
The 20/20 special, "Escape from a House of Horror", airs on ABC on Friday, November 19 at 9pm EST.
