Kamis, 08 Maret 2018

The secret internet life of 17-year-old Turpin daughter

INCREDIBLE new details about the 17-year-old Turpin daughter who blew the whistle on her family's "house of horrors" have emerged with revelations she had a third hidden social media account.

Earlier this week US news outlets aired footage from the teenager's YouTube channel, which showed her singing melancholy, self-penned songs about her plight, and revealed she had an Instagram account.

Police say her parents David and Louise Turpin tortured, starved and beat her and her 12 siblings, who range in age from two to 29, while holding them captive inside their Perris, California home.

The children — some who were found shackled to their beds — were rescued on January 14 after the teen climbed out of a window and called 911 using a deactivated mobile phone.

Now news.com.au can reveal that the girl, who can only be identified as "JOR" Turpin for legal reasons, was also tweeting under the same pseudonym that she used to establish her YouTube and Instagram pages.

While her videos and Instagram posts were taken down after they were discovered by Good Morning America and (US) ABC News on Tuesday, her Twitter account remains active under the pseudonym, which has the initials L.S.

Her profile states that she joined Twitter in December 2017 — just weeks before she staged her daring escape — and lists her location as California, USA.

Like her Instagram account, which was filled with selfies and photographs of Justin Bieber, her Twitter account reflects her fascination with the pop star; more than two-thirds of the 88 people she is following are Bieber fan accounts.

She also retweets animal rights activists — particularly those trying to save elephants — and fireworks displays posted by people wishing the world "happy new year" but her first tweet, made on December 19, is perhaps the most poignant.

It's a retweet of a post by @smthnglikekites and it says: "You can't let other people tell you who you are. You have to decide that for yourself".

More extensive footage obtained by Inside Edition and released yesterday, has been subtitled by the outlet to highlight JOR's heartbreaking lyrics.

"Hello everyone. It's me and this is a song I wrote (called) It's over," she says in one clip.

In another original song, she sings: "I will not go back alive. I will stay until I die".

In a third video, in which she is seen wearing a Rainbow Dash (from My Little Pony) baseball cap and matching sweatshirt, she introduces her next number: "This is a song I wrote about two years ago. It's called So Weak," before sighing sadly.

It is believed that the brave teen used her parents' computer to set up the accounts while she and her siblings were left home alone.

Some members of the public have responded cynically to her surprising social media presence, questioning her well-groomed appearance. Her defenders say the teen, like her peers all over the world, was just trying to present the best version of herself.

Others have asked why she did not reach out for help online. She may well have done but authorities have not released details of any such attempt.

There have been reports of at least two occasions where one or more of the Turpin children tried to run away, or ask for help to call police, only to be returned to their parents by well meaning individuals.

It seems more likely that, having worked out an escape plan, she was using social media to take a few tentative steps in the outside world, to prepare herself for freedom.

Last Friday, the Turpin siblings were treated to a private concert by one of the world's most celebrated musicians.

Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma made a detour to California's Corona Regional Medical Center, where the seven adult children of David and Louise Turpin are recovering, ahead of a scheduled arts workshop, authorities said.

Corona Mayor Karen Spiegel and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts spokeswoman Michelle Pendoley confirmed the private performance to local news outlet Press-Enterprise.

Ms Pendoley confirmed all 13 siblings, aged from two to 29, were present for the show, which took place at the hospital's assisted living facilities.

The youngest children, who range in age from two to 17, have been split between two foster homes. Their older brothers and sisters suffer from developmental problems and are unable to care for themselves.

Their court-appointed court-appointed lawyer Jack Osborn said the children have been receiving lessons in music and art as part of their rehabilitation.

And despite having spent most of their lives trapped inside their home and cut off from education and entertainment, they were proving to be extremely creative.

"They love to draw, they love to create things, they're very musical, both listening to it and learning music to play," Mr Osborn told The Mercury News.

"And they do a lot of crafts. It's been really wonderful for them."

Fender Guitars, which has a factory in Corona, has donated 13 instruments to help the siblings in their belated musical education.

Care of the seven adult Turpins is currently being overseen by the Riverside Public Guardian and a court will decide whether to make the conservatorship permanent at a hearing on May 31.

A conservator has the authority to make decisions for people and manage their affairs.

Mr Osborn said his job was to ensure his clients know their options for independent living and understand their legal rights, and to ensure that their wishes are made known to the court.

David, 57, and Louise Turpin, 49, are next due to front Riverside's Superior Court on March 25 for a status hearing.

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