Diane Sawyer interviewed Julissa, Jolinda, and James Turpin in ABC’s true crime special, The Turpins: A New House of Horrors. It’s the first time the trio have come forward about the abuse they endured from their parents, David and Louise Turpin, as well as the foster home they moved into after being placed in care. The special is just one of the new true crime documentaries that is available on Hulu and Disney+ in the U.S. from February 4.
David and Louise were arrested in January 2018 when Jordan Turpin, who was 17 at the time, escaped from the family home in Perris, California, and called the police about the torture and abuse faced by the 13 siblings. When the authorities arrived at the property, they discovered that the children were malnourished and had been shackled to their beds for weeks at a time.
In February 2019, the couple were charged with 14 felonies, including child abuse, torture, and false imprisonment. They were both given life sentences, and won’t be eligible for parole until 2044.
A New House of Horrors isn’t the first time that Sawyer has examined the Turpin case, as she previously interviewed Jennifer and Jordan Turpin in 2021 for the “Escape from the House of Horror” special. Now, Sawyer has interviewed three of the younger siblings James, Julissa, and Jolinda, about their childhoods as well as the abuse five of the kids faced from a foster father in October 2019.
Some of the Turpin children live independently after A New House of Horrors special
As many of the Turpin children are now over the age of 18, most of them live independently after transitioning out of the foster care system. However, Julissa, and Jolinda Turpin recalled living with abusive foster parents, Marcelino and Rosa Olguin, when speaking to Sawyer in the Hulu special. The Olguins adopted six of the Turpin children, including Julissa, who was 11 at the time.
She told Sawyer that Marcelino called her “sexy” and later physically assaulted her. “I didn’t know very much, but I did know that that didn’t feel right,” she said. “And I did feel very uncomfortable. And it made me feel so unsafe in the home.”
In 2024, Marcelino pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14 and will spend seven years in prison, while Rosa was given four years of probation.
Jennifer Turpin, the oldest Turpin sibling at 37, got married in 2024 to her long-term partner Aron in California. She revealed the news on Instagram and wrote in the caption: “I am so blessed to find the most amazing guy. He is everything I’ve wanted plus more.”
Meanwhile Jordan is 25, and has become an influencer with 1.7 million followers on TikTok where she makes fashion content and jumps onto viral trends. She also maintains a close relationship with Jennifer, and they posted photos together at Disneyland in August 2025.
James Turpin is also 25, and explained to Sawyer that he still wishes he had a normal upbringing, but he’s learnt to adapt instead. “I’ve always wished I had normal parents or just someone I could like go to and, you know, rely on or ask questions or whatever, but I have the internet, so it’s okay,” he explained.
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