I was starved & tortured by my sick ‘Turpin 13’ parents… but I’ve turned life around to become influencer with 1.5M fans
TO the outside world, pretty Jordan looks like any other young social media influencer – posing happily for the camera, showing off her brand new boyfriend and even hanging out with celeb pals.
But behind her smile and carefully applied makeup lies a past marred in anguish, as just six years ago she bravely fled her family home after being abused by her parents alongside her siblings, who became known as the ‘Turpin 13’.
It was a case that shocked the world – and to this day, questions still remain around how the abuse was allowed to continue for over a decade given the signs that something was seriously amiss.
David and Louise Turpin had held their 13 children – aged between two and 29 – captive in the most unthinkably horrendous conditions, with their home later dubbed the ‘House of Horrors’.
They’d been starved, taunted with food, beaten, chained to their beds, and allowed to shower just once a year.
Despite this cruel start to life, incredibly the children have worked hard to turn their lives around, with Jordan Turpin, now 23, especially striving for success.
From becoming a social media star with over 284k Insta followers, to introducing her followers to her new boyfriend and hanging out with celeb pals – here we take a closer look at what Jordan overcame to get to where she is today…
‘Severe, pervasive, prolonged’ suffering
For a time, to the outside world at least, the Turpins appeared like the perfect family, however the reality was anything but.
For Jordan and her siblings, their suffering was described as “severe, pervasive, prolonged”, and it only came to an end when 17-year-old Jordan Turpin made a daring escape in January 2018 and called 911.
She bravely escaped via a window, and told an emergency operator, “My two little sisters right now are chained up.”
Later revealing the extent of the abuse the children suffered, Attorney Mike Hestrin said: “The victims report as a punishment starting many years ago they began to be tied up.
“At first with ropes, one victim at one point was hogtied… and they eventually began using chains and padlocks.
“The children, when they were not chained up, were locked in different rooms and fed very little on a schedule.
“They lacked a basic knowledge of life, and didn’t even know what a police officer was.”
Left ‘homeless’
Even after they were rescued, some of the children claim to have suffered mixed fortunes.
While they were saved from their parents – who were later sentenced to life in prison, with the chance of parole after 25 years – they claim to have endured further mistreatment at the hands of their foster parents.
At one point Jordan was moved from one foster home to another, with Jordan saying at the time: “They separated me from my younger siblings and basically left me to be homeless.”
Speaking on their behalf, attorney Elan Zektser revealed earlier this year to The Sun U.S they’re seeking a settlement after they allegedly went on to suffer physically and mentally when living with abusive foster parents.
Jordan was among those who filed a complaint against a foster care agency and Riverside County in 2022, alongside five of her siblings.
Then, in 2021, Jordan – alongside older sister Jennifer – spoke out publicly for the first time about their suffering in an interview with Diane Sawyer for ABC News.
Survivor… & social star
Even before Jordan Turpin escaped she’d already somehow began to carve out a social media presence, posting secret singing videos on YouTube under an alias, Lacey Swan.
Among the tracks she shared were ‘Where is the key’, ‘You blame me’, and ‘So weak’ – clearly revealing the teen’s torment long before it came to an end.
She made at least eight videos, with one posted just days before she escaped, however they went unnoticed.
Since then, she’s rapidly gained a huge following, boasting 1.4m followers on TikTok and 284k on Instagram, posting inspirational quotes, dancing videos and makeup tutorials.
In 2022, Jordan thanked her followers who had been sending her money, which she said enabled her to support her siblings.
She said: “Now I can afford to give all my siblings some really good, nice gifts this year and I am so happy and thankful that I can do that.
“I hope some day that I can help you guys and others, just like you guys have helped me. It means so much to me.”
THE TURPIN 13: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS
1985: David and Louise Turpin marry, after meeting at their local church when David was in his early twenties and Louise was a young teen.
1988: The couple welcome their first child.
1992: They set up home in Fort Worth, Texas, where their son is born. David earns six figures working as an Engineer.
1998: Louise and her seven children disappear out of view, and she cuts ties with her worried family.
June 2001 & February 2003: Texas authorities interact with the family only on these two occasions – first time after a child is bitten by a dog, and the second time after their pig escaped and ate 55lb of the neighbour’s dog food.
October 2011: David and Louise Turpin renew their wedding vows at a Las Vegas chapel. They are accompanied by all of their children.
2014: The family move to Muir Woods Road, Paris, California – which will later be dubbed the ‘house of horrors’.
January 14, 2018: Jordan Turpin, then 17, escapes the home and calls 911 for help, which is when police enter the property. David and Louise Turpin are arrested on suspicion of child abuse and torture and later charged with 12 counts of torture, seven counts of abuse of a dependent, six counts of child abuse, and 12 counts of false imprisonment.
February 2019: David and Louise Turpin plead guilty to one count of torture, four counts of false imprisonment, six counts of cruelty to a dependent adult and three counts of wilful child cruelty.
April 2019: The couple are sentenced to life in prison, with the chance of parole after 25 years.
2021: Jennifer and Jordan Turpin speak out about their horrific experiences in an interview with Diane Sawyer.
2022: The Turpin siblings claim they were abused in a foster home after their rescue, and file two separate lawsuits.
Finding love after ‘toxic relationship’
Most recently, Jordan introduced her followers to her boyfriend, photographer Matt Ryan, 25 – no doubt a huge milestone and a sign she’s hopefully learned how to trust again.
The pair have even set up a joint Instagram account, with their bio simply reading: “Finding joy in the little things” featuring cute videos of the pair playing games, doing challenges and enjoying date nights.
Speaking previously before this romance, Jordan shared on Instagram: “It’s been a hard journey… I got stuck in a bad toxic relationship.
“Only two of my sisters were there for me. I end up in the hospital because my health was failing.
“I had to go to therapy to see why I kept going back to him and I learned it was a trauma bond.”
Influential new friends
As well as nurturing her new romance and also ensuring she’s still close to her siblings, Jordan has also made some new, rather high-profile friends too.
Singer Demi Lovato has leant her support to Jordan and her sister Jeanetta, with Jordan telling People magazine last year: “She’s actually really kind of been here for me.
“In the beginning of the year, it was rough, and she was somebody that was there for me out of just the few people. It was really sweet.”
The year before that Jordan delighted fans when she posted a video of herself dancing to a Kesha track with TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, who has 155m followers.
Jordan also previously met Justin Bieber and his now-pregnant wife Hailey, after attending one of his concerts with her siblings.
‘I want people to know they’re not alone’
Now, Jordan has set up her own online store, called Braveness, selling hoodies and T-shirts featuring motivational quotes, such as ‘Practice courage: You don’t have to wait until you’re drowning to ask for help’, and ‘Doing my best’.
She has also spoken about wanting to become a motivational speaker, and has mentioned the possibility of writing a memoir on her experience, previously telling People magazine: “I want to take what I went through and turn it into something positive.
“I want people to know they’re not alone. There is a way out.”