Sources tell Crime Watch Daily that Homicide Unit may send cadaver dogs to Turpin residence

Sheriff's Department Also in Discussions to DNA Test All 13 Children to Determine Relation

UPDATE Jan. 20, 2018, 8:15 p.m. PT:

LOS ANGELES — (CWD) — Sources familiar with the investigation tell Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen that Riverside County Sheriff's Homicide Detectives are in serious discussions to send cadaver dogs to the Turpin residence. Authorities want to know if it's possible that there may have been other children. Those discussions also include performing DNA tests to determine if all of the children are related. The Sheriff's Department would not confirm this information to "Crime Watch Daily."

Earlier this week, police discovered 13 children starved and chained and suffering from years of abuse and neglect at a Perris, CA residence. The children's parents David Turpin, 56, and Louise Turpin, 49 were each charged on Thursday with 12 counts of torture.

Story developing...

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. -- (CWD) --

David and Louise Turpin, accused of torturing and imprisoning their 13 children, could face up to 94 years to life in prison each if convicted of their charges, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

David and Louise Turpin entered not-guilty pleas on all counts at their arraignment Thursday afternoon. Their next court date is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2018.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office announced charges against David and Louise Turpin in a news conference Thursday.

Charges:

• 12 counts of torture against David and Louise Turpin

• 1 count lewd act on a child by force/fear/duress against David Turpin

• 7 counts abuse of dependent adult

• 6 counts of child abuse/neglect

• 12 counts of false imprisonment

Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin described some of the conditions of the children and their alleged captivity.

Some of the children had psychological and nerve damage from being bound. Frequent beatings and occasional strangulation are alleged.

The children have never seen a dentist, the D.A. said, and despite being home-schooled, they lacked basic knowledge of life. Some of the kids didn't know what a police officer or know what medication is.

The D.A. said the kids were allowed to keep journals, hundreds of which were recovered and were being reviewed.

"This is depraved conduct," Hestrin said.

The D.A.'s Office planned to ask for bail to be set at $13 million for each defendant.

The couple was arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time in Riverside County, California, approximately 57 miles east of Los Angeles.

If convicted of all charges as currently filed, the D.A. said, David and Louise Turpin face up to 94 years to life in prison.

The D.A. appealed for the public's help in California and in Texas for further information about the case. Anyone with information is asked to call (951) 955-5400.

Ambrosio Rodriguez, who spent 13 years as Senior Deputy District Attorney of Riverside County with experience in the sexual assault child-abuse unit, discusses the torture and child abuse case against David and Louise Turpin with Crime Watch Daily.

An investigation began after a 17-year-old girl “escaped” from her home in the 100 block of Muir Woods Road and called 911 early on the morning of January 14, 2018 to report that her 12 brothers and sisters were being held captive by their parents, according to a sheriff's news release, KTLA reported.

She alleged some of her siblings were bound in padlocked chains. After interviewing the teen, investigators went to the residence and contacted her parents, identified as 56-year-old David Allen Turpin and 49-year-old Louise Anna Turpin, KTLA reported.