# California couple charged with torture after police rescue 13 children. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 16, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724 "2018-01-16T01:08:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/121 "2018-01-23T20:53:04Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Look, I sympathize with your attempt to make rational sense of this. But nothing about this is rational. If there is a reason behind this, it’s not a reason that is accessible to non-pathological people. We could speculate that they were more concerned about keeping a water bill low than having their home not smell like a death camp, but there’s as much evidence for that as them believing their children were demon-spawn deserving of punishment. I actually think the latter idea is more plausible. > > I’m a fairly imaginative person and yet I lack the capacity to imagine what life must’ve been like in that household. And I’m really relieved about that. I disagree that a reason cannot be accessible to non-pathological people. Just because we wouldn’t think or feel a certain way ourselves does not mean it’s impossible to imagine what could drive someone else to act in that way. I actually wondered about not letting the children bathe or go to the bathroom myself. I’ve heard enough previous horror stories in the news to understand that some people get some sort of sick pleasure out of torturing other people. But when you live in a house that stinks of feces and children who haven’t bathed in months, then we’re no longer talking simply about torturing other people. Since the torturers had to live in the same home, they are subjecting themselves to the same smells, which is undoubtedly extremely vile. Why would you do that to yourself?? And I think what **aceplace57** said about saving money makes a lot of sense. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/122 "2018-01-23T21:02:58Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I actually wondered about not letting the children bathe or go to the bathroom myself. I’ve heard enough previous horror stories in the news to understand that some people get some sort of sick pleasure out of torturing other people. But when you live in a house that stinks of feces and children who haven’t bathed in months, then we’re no longer talking simply about torturing other people. Since the torturers had to live in the same home, they are subjecting themselves to the same smells, which is undoubtedly extremely vile. Why would you do that to yourself?? Why do hoarders keep milk bottles full of their own urine? At the very least they’re mentally ill. But this goes beyond that. I think the journals will make for extremely interesting reading. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/123 "2018-01-23T22:37:05Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > I disagree that a reason cannot be accessible to non-pathological people. Just because we wouldn’t think or feel a certain way ourselves does not mean it’s impossible to imagine what could drive someone else to act in that way. > > I actually wondered about not letting the children bathe or go to the bathroom myself. I’ve heard enough previous horror stories in the news to understand that some people get some sort of sick pleasure out of torturing other people. But when you live in a house that stinks of feces and children who haven’t bathed in months, then we’re no longer talking simply about torturing other people. Since the torturers had to live in the same home, they are subjecting themselves to the same smells, which is undoubtedly extremely vile. Why would you do that to yourself?? Your second paragraph explains why I think it’s crazy to suppose certain motives from the vantage point of a rational, non-pathological person. It is not a thing that can be puzzled out without deeper insight into their mind. I mean, why indeed would anyone would want to live in a home filled with misery and filth? There is nothing about this mystery that I’m going to be able to crack by drawing from my understanding of how humans normally act, because it’s insane on its face. That’s all I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/124 "2018-01-24T00:02:00Z")
I wonder if life in prison is a possibility for this couple? They probably won’t get the death penalty though. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/125 "2018-01-24T00:06:56Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I wonder if life in prison is a possibility for this couple? They probably won’t get the death penalty though. They haven’t been accused of a capital crime, so the death penalty doesn’t apply. It seems likely that the sentences for all the crimes they committed will add up to so many years that it will amount to life, even if no one conviction carries a life sentence. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/126 "2018-01-24T01:26:50Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > It seems likely that the sentences for all the crimes they committed will add up to so many years that it will amount to life, even if no one conviction carries a life sentence. Or commitment to a mental institution. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/127 "2018-01-24T01:42:52Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > They haven’t been accused of a capital crime, so the death penalty doesn’t apply. It seems likely that the sentences for all the crimes they committed will add up to so many years that it will amount to life, even if no one conviction carries a life sentence. Torture is a life sentence offense in California. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/128 "2018-01-24T04:24:38Z")
It’s being said that their home in Texas was filled with garbage…amongst which they have found large amounts of feces and dead animals (cats and dogs). This story gets worse and worse and I imagine the worst hasn’t come out yet. ---
**Author:** ![biometricks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@biometricks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biometricks)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/129 "2018-01-24T15:23:29Z")
So what happens to the kids now? Presumably they were hospitalized for a few days or so, but after that do they immediately get split up and moved into foster homes? I can’t imagine their relatives would be in a position to suddenly care for a dozen people. And what about the kids that are over 18, it doesn’t seem like they would be in a position to care for themselves or their siblings. Are adults ever placed with foster families? And what’s the process for getting them acclimated into society? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/130 "2018-01-24T16:17:10Z")
> [@biometricks](#): > > And what about the kids that are over 18, it doesn’t seem like they would be in a position to care for themselves or their siblings. Are adults ever placed with foster families? And what’s the process for getting them acclimated into society? Nope. People are summarily kicked out of the foster care system at 18. So far as I know, there isn’t a safety net for those over 18 in such a situation. Hell, if they don’t have a valid ID they’re actually a non-person these days. They’re screwed, basically. IF they have some sort of education they MIGHT be able to get a job of some sort, if they aren’t so screwed up by all this they can’t hold one down. If not - they’ll wind up in some underfunded group home if they get any sort of assistance at all. They could very well wind up homeless. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/131 "2018-01-24T16:47:45Z")
> [@biometricks](#): > > So what happens to the kids now? Presumably they were hospitalized for a few days or so, but after that do they immediately get split up and moved into foster homes? I believe with this level of abuse they’re still in the hospital. It’s going to take awhile for them to get to where they should be, if they ever get there. I know there are GoFundMe pages floating about, but I don’t know which ones are legit, so I won’t link to them. I know that they received all the tangible items the authorities asked for…clothing, coloring books, toothbrushes, that sort of thing. I think we’re still in triage mode…what do do with them after they “recover” will come later. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/132 "2018-01-24T16:48:59Z")
The news story I saw last night said the ones over 17 will be placed in “assisted living” facilities for an undetermined period and the ones under 18 will be put into the foster children program. I don’t really know what they meant by assisted living, because the AL facilities I’m familiar with are for infirm elderly and severely handicapped people. I don’t know how these people become socialized and educated, but it’s going to take a lot of work and will probably only be moderately successful at best. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/133 "2018-01-24T17:04:18Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > The news story I saw last night said the ones over 17 will be placed in “assisted living” facilities for an undetermined period and the ones under 18 will be put into the foster children program. I don’t really know what they meant by assisted living, because the AL facilities I’m familiar with are for infirm elderly and severely handicapped people. I don’t know how these people become socialized and educated, but it’s going to take a lot of work and will probably only be moderately successful at best. What I have heard is the adults will be evaluated to determine if they are capable of independent living and if not will be placed into some from of assisted care ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/134 "2018-01-24T17:16:37Z")
Sounds like they’ll be sent to some sort of rehabilitation facility (which some nursing homes provide) to be evaluated and rehabbed… until the money runs out and they’re kicked out. You have to be VERY disabled to get a permanent, state-paid bed in one of those. Anyone less disabled than that winds up on the street. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/135 "2018-01-24T17:18:01Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > The news story I saw last night said the ones over 17 will be placed in “assisted living” facilities for an undetermined period and the ones under 18 will be put into the foster children program. I don’t really know what they meant by assisted living, because the AL facilities I’m familiar with are for infirm elderly and severely handicapped people. I don’t know how these people become socialized and educated, but it’s going to take a lot of work and will probably only be moderately successful at best. “Assisted living” usually refers to facilities for the old and infirm and possibly the physically handicapped- but there are “supported housing” programs that serve various other populations who cannot live independently but do not need to be institutionalized. The ones I am familiar with serve the developmentally disabled, the mentally ill, those aging out of foster care, the formerly homeless, those with substance abuse problems - and I am sure I don’t know every population served by supported housing. I am guessing these adults will fit into one or another of these populations. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/136 "2018-01-24T17:25:51Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I know there are GoFundMe pages floating about, but I don’t know which ones are legit, so I won’t link to them. [GoFundMe accounts set up for Perris victims fake, only 1 source set up for donations](http://abc30.com/donations-being-accepted-for-perris-child-abuse-victims/2963457/) [emphasis mine]: > [@](#): > > The Riverside University Health Center Foundation set up a fund to accept donations and the chamber of commerce created a page listing clothing sizes and items needed for the victims. You can access the page by [clicking here](http://www.mychamber.org/events/details/donations-for-perris-abuse-victims-14222). > > People who want to make donations are warned that any GoFundMe accounts created for the children were fake, as the health center fund is the only legitimate donation source. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/137 "2018-01-25T15:10:19Z")
Is there a report function for fake GoFundMe pages on the site? [Parents to have no contact with children for three years and must stay 100 yards away.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/turpin-family-latest-parents-smile-111405392.html) Egg Donor smiled at Sperm Donor in court. There is something seriously wrong with these people. I hope they don’t skate on an insanity defense. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/138 "2018-01-25T15:35:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Egg Donor smiled at Sperm Donor in court. Where did we get that terminology? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/139 "2018-01-25T16:02:15Z")
The kids are going to need an extensive, tailored course of physical and emotional rehabilitation, not to mention gradual introduction to the larger world that they didn’t even know the basics about (like what a police officer is). It ain’t gonna come cheap, and what they need is likely to be WAY more than the state will pay for. This is one of those situations where a conservative billionaire should step forward and use this as a demonstration case that private charity can handle things like this. I’m looking at you, Koch brothers, Walton family, DeVos family, Sheldon Adelson, etc. You don’t want the government to tax you to help people who need it? Step up to the plate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724/140 "2018-01-25T16:12:05Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Is there a report function for fake GoFundMe pages on the site? > > [Parents to have no contact with children for three years and must stay 100 yards away.](https://www.yahoo.com/news/turpin-family-latest-parents-smile-111405392.html) > > Egg Donor smiled at Sperm Donor in court. There is something seriously wrong with these people. I hope they don’t skate on an insanity defense. She wants to be famous, and all this drama plays into her plans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724.md?page=8)