Podcast Summary

20/20 True Crime Vault: Escape from a House of Horror

Air Date: Feb 3, 2026
Host: Deborah Roberts, ABC News
Guests: Jordan Turpin, Jennifer Turpin, Deputy Anthony Kolachi, District Attorney Mike Hestrin, Investigator Wade Walsvik, Reporter David Scott, Melissa Donaldson

Overview

This harrowing episode revisits the notorious Turpin family case, where 13 siblings were rescued in 2018 from horrific conditions of abuse and captivity in a seemingly ordinary California home. Featuring exclusive interviews with Jordan and Jennifer Turpin and key law enforcement and welfare voices, the episode reconstructs the escape, the rescue, and the challenges the siblings faced—both with their parents and after their liberation. The program combines emotional firsthand narratives with investigative reporting to spotlight systemic failures in safeguarding vulnerable children.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Night of Escape and Rescue

[00:00–16:40]

• Jordan Turpin, age 17 at the time, describes her trembling, desperate escape from the family home, her panic during the 911 call, and fear of being caught by her parents.
• The 911 call reveals Jordan’s limited view of the outside world; she is unsure how to describe her location, displaying both courage and unfamiliarity with simple things like sidewalks and street signs.
• Jordan’s principal motivation: rescuing her siblings who are chained, starved, and crying at night.
• Law enforcement arrives, and the initial deputy, Anthony Kolachi, is unsure what to make of Jordan’s story—until she provides photographic evidence of the abuse. (Photos of chained siblings.)

Key Quotes:

• “That was my only chance. At least if something happened to me, at least I died trying.” — Jordan Turpin [02:00]
• “The reason I ran away from home was because the chains would make them places. They would wake up at night and start crying…I wanted to call y’all so y’all can help my sister.” — Jordan Turpin [06:26]
• “If we went back, there’s no way I would be sitting here right now.” — Jordan Turpin [07:15]

Inside the “House of Horror”

[16:40–56:52]

• Police body cams reveal scenes of filth, chains, emaciated children, squalor, and hidden malnourishment.
• The parents, David and Louise Turpin, feign normalcy and even attempt to distract the officers.
• Children are initially evasive and display little understanding of the outside world, including questions about basic concepts like “medication.”
• Evidence of years-long starvation and manipulation through twisted biblical justifications for abuse.
• The children, especially the older ones, acted as caretakers and were forced into impossible moral choices.

Key Quotes:

• “They literally use the Bible to explain their behavior toward us...they loved to point out things in Deuteronomy: ‘we have the right to do this to you, we have the right to even kill you if you don’t listen.’” — Jennifer Turpin [25:46]
• “All of us went through a lot...not even all of us know every single thing each one of us went through.” — Jennifer Turpin [21:35]

The Roots of Abuse and Family Dynamics

[21:56–38:31]

• David and Louise Turpin’s backgrounds detail their religious upbringing, early marriage, and evolving isolation.
• Abuse escalates with more children, relocation, and Edwardian control: dog kennels as cages, beatings for minor infractions, stunted growth due to lack of food and hygiene.
• Jennifer is forced to mete out punishments, causing deep psychological wounds.

Key Quotes:

• “But living in that, you kind of feel like you’re torn–you don’t know what to do. Because I was on the brink of suicide. I wanted to just end it all, all my pain, everything.” — Jennifer Turpin [28:38]
• “We would literally live houses piled with trash...and there’s no good way to get rid of a smell like that.” — Jennifer Turpin [24:57]

The Spark of Hope, Planning Escape

[39:08–49:41]

• Jordan discovers hope and information through a forbidden smartphone. Justin Bieber’s videos and Disney movies show her another world is possible, catalyzing her to dream of freedom.
• She secretly learns language, culture, and self-esteem by watching music videos and interviews.
• Jordan collects photographic evidence of her siblings’ abuse, plans with Jennifer, and bravely runs for help on news of an imminent move in which everyone would be chained again.

Key Quotes:

• “I started realizing there is a different world out there...I want to experience that.” — Jordan Turpin [39:45]
• “If something happened to me, at least I died trying.” — Jordan Turpin [44:40]

The Aftermath: Legal Process and Systemic Failures

[61:34–77:54]

• Parents are arrested, tried, and sentenced to life. The children testify, expressing both forgiveness and determination to reclaim their lives.
• The episode exposes profound child welfare failures: donation funds made inaccessible, substandard foster placements, and even further abuse in care.
• Many Turpin children, despite high-profile promises, lived in poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, and wrestled with mental and practical challenges due to their upbringing.
• Whistleblower Melissa Donaldson voices heartbreak at the system’s compounding of the Turpins' trauma.

Key Quotes:

• “They have been victimized again by the system and that is unimaginable to me…” — District Attorney Mike Hestrin [69:25]
• “When I would ask [the county guardian] for help, she would just tell me, you know, just go Google it.” — Jennifer Turpin [74:32]

Finding Hope and Moving Forward

[78:32–84:24]

• Jordan, Jennifer, and sibling Joshua reflect on their progress: college, work, dreams, and most importantly, staying connected despite hardship.
• Jordan reunites emotionally with Deputy Kolachi and hears from the 911 dispatcher who praises her bravery.
• The siblings dream of future careers, houses, and family, determined that their name should represent strength rather than victimhood.

Key Quotes:

• “My parents took my whole life from me, but now I’m taking my life back. They almost changed me, but I realized what was happening. I’m strong and I’m shooting through life like a rocket.” — Jennifer Turpin [65:04]
• "I want the last name Turpin to be remembered as a name of strength...They’re not weak, they’re not broken. They’ve got this.” — Jordan Turpin [84:12]

Notable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• The Courageous 911 Call:
  “That was my only chance. At least if something happened to me, at least I died trying.” — Jordan Turpin [02:00]

• Childhood in Isolation:
  “We would literally live houses piled with trash, mold and everything...all my clothes, it was on me...I think that had a lot to do with it.” — Jennifer Turpin [24:57]

• Secret Bond and Education:
  “We just did the best we could with what we did know. I knew the whole Alphabet, but I had my sisters help me with that.” — Jordan Turpin [37:16]

• The Catalyst, Pop Culture:
  “I don’t know where we would be if we didn’t watch Justin Bieber.” — Jordan Turpin [39:08]

• The Aftermath, Strength and Recovery:
  “We always know at the end of the day we’re always going to have each other.” — Jordan Turpin [83:26]
  “I want the last name Turpin to be remembered as a name of strength.” — Jordan Turpin [84:12]

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Jordan escapes and makes 911 call | 02:00–06:21 | | Deputy arrives, bodycam footage begins | 09:31–10:03 | | Police enter “house of horror” | 51:06–56:52 | | Discovery of chained children, police intervention | 55:13–56:52 | | Parents arrested, aftermath | 57:03–59:31 | | Legal process, children testify | 61:34–67:10 | | Systemic failures after rescue | 69:01–77:54 | | Jordan reunites with Deputy Kolachi | 78:32–79:57 | | Siblings’ dreams and messages of hope | 80:38–84:24 |

Themes and Tone

• Raw, first-person testimony: Candid, unscripted, sometimes halting as trauma resurfaces (especially from Jordan and Jennifer).
• Outrage and sadness: From both hosts and investigative reporters, especially regarding systemic failures and bureaucratic indifference.
• Triumph and resilience: The closing notes are of hope, determination, and sibling solidarity, with a deliberate shift to future aspirations and reclaiming identity.

Conclusion

“Escape from a House of Horror” is a gut-wrenching narrative that illuminates not only the unimaginable abuse suffered by the Turpin children and their heroic escape but also the long, fraught journey to freedom and safety—both undermined and aided by the very systems meant to protect them. It’s a searing indictment of institutional failings and a tribute to the indomitable spirit of survivors who refuse to let their trauma define them.