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California County, Foster Agency to Pay $13.5 Million to Turpin Siblings After Abuse in Care
Six of the Turpin children, who were initially rescued from horrific conditions in their parents’ home only to face further abuse in foster care, have reached a $13.5 million settlement with Riverside County and a foster care agency.
Riverside County will pay $2.25 million while ChildNet, the foster care agency responsible for placing the siblings, will contribute $11.25 million to settle claims that the system failed to protect the children after their high-profile rescue in 2018.
The lawsuit detailed disturbing allegations against the Olguin family, who took in the Turpin siblings following their rescue. According to court documents, the foster family hit the children with sandals, pulled their hair, forced them to eat their own vomit, and made them repeatedly recount their traumatic experiences.
“They literally told us, ‘Nobody wants you. You’re never going to find a better place than this,'” Jolinda Turpin, now 20, told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in a recent interview alongside two of her siblings. “Something good needs to come from this. It has to, and I can’t accept it not.”
The abuse in foster care represented a devastating secondary trauma for children who had already endured years of mistreatment. Marcelino Olguin, the foster father, pleaded guilty to lewd acts on a child, false imprisonment, and child injury charges. He received a seven-year prison sentence earlier this year, while his wife and adult daughter were sentenced to probation for child cruelty.
Attorneys Roger Booth and Elan Zektser, representing the six siblings, emphasized that the settlement has prompted meaningful improvements to Riverside County’s child welfare system. “These concrete and long-overdue steps toward improving child safety were accomplished as a direct result of the Turpins bravely coming forward and insisting that their suffering lead to meaningful change to protect other children,” they stated.
The case first gained international attention in 2018 when authorities rescued all 13 Turpin children from their parents’ home in Perris, California. David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty to torture and severe child abuse that included chaining some children to beds, starving them, and providing minimal education. The parents were sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
The siblings, who ranged from 2 to 29 years old at the time of their rescue, were discovered after the 17-year-old sister managed to escape and call 911. The conditions in the home shocked investigators, with children found malnourished and living in squalor.
While both Riverside County and ChildNet denied wrongdoing in the settlement agreement, county officials acknowledged the systemic failures that occurred. Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen said in a statement that the county remains “committed to the wellbeing and long-term healing” of all 13 siblings and has implemented changes since the case emerged.
“The trauma endured by this family is heartbreaking. The abuse these children suffered in both their biological and adoptive homes was tragic and unacceptable,” Van Wagenen said. “No one wants this to happen again.”
These changes include increased coordination between child welfare services and law enforcement agencies, as well as expanding the number of trained social workers in the county system.
ChildNet spokesperson Eric Rose stated that the agency did not receive any complaints or allegations of abuse while the children were in their foster care program, noting that concerns were raised only after the siblings were no longer under ChildNet’s supervision.
“Our mission has always been, and remains, to help vulnerable children heal, grow, and succeed. That mission guided every decision in this case and continues to guide our work today,” Rose said.
A subsequent investigation into the handling of the Turpin case found significant failures in the social service system that was supposed to protect them. The report highlighted how the very institutions meant to help these vulnerable children after their rescue instead subjected them to further harm.
The settlement marks a significant development in the ongoing story of the Turpin siblings, whose case has prompted broader discussions about oversight and accountability in America’s foster care system.
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10 Comments
The details of the abuse the Turpin siblings faced in foster care are truly horrifying. No child should have to endure such cruelty, especially after being rescued from a horrific home environment. This settlement is a step towards accountability, but the real work is in addressing the systemic failures that allowed this to happen.
Agreed. This case highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reform to the foster care system, including stricter vetting, training, and oversight of foster families. The Turpin siblings deserve justice and the assurance that no other child will suffer a similar fate.
The details of the abuse the Turpin siblings faced in foster care are absolutely horrifying. No child should have to endure such cruelty, especially after being rescued from a horrific home environment. This settlement is a step towards accountability, but much more needs to be done to protect vulnerable youth.
Agreed, this case highlights systemic failures within the foster care system that must be addressed. Rigorous screening, training, and ongoing monitoring of foster families are critical to prevent future tragedies like this.
This is a sobering reminder that the foster care system often fails to adequately safeguard children. While the settlement is substantial, it pales in comparison to the immense suffering the Turpin siblings experienced. I hope this case sparks meaningful change to improve oversight and accountability.
Sadly, stories like this are all too common. It’s crucial that authorities thoroughly vet and monitor foster families to prevent future cases of abuse. The Turpin siblings deserve justice and support as they continue their recovery.
Heartbreaking that the Turpin siblings experienced abuse even after being rescued from their parents’ horrific home. $13.5 million settlement is a small consolation, but hopefully it can help provide them the support and care they desperately need to heal and rebuild their lives.
No child should have to endure such trauma, especially after being placed in the foster care system meant to protect them. This case highlights the urgent need for reform to ensure the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable youth.
While the $13.5 million settlement is substantial, it’s tragic that the Turpin siblings experienced further abuse in the very system meant to protect them. This case underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children in foster care.
Absolutely. The Turpin siblings deserve justice and support as they continue to heal from their ordeal. I hope this case leads to meaningful changes that prevent other vulnerable children from suffering similar fates.