I am just stunned by everything I am reading about this. How could people not know?
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5276289/Girl-escaped-California-home-window-alert-police.html
I’m stunned by this also and eager to hear more about it. So far the facts have been few and far between.
So many questions! One of the ‘kids’ was 29! It’s amazing that no one (apparently) ever came into that house and saw all of this. No deliveries, no repairmen? What about doctor visits? Did none of the kids ever require a doctor or a dentist? And how did they get the money to live in that house? I heard they had filed for bankruptcy.
Sick, sick people in this world.
Here is an announcement from law enforcement: http://nixle.us/9TFYK
Here is another article: https://patch.com/california/murrieta/perris-torture-case-5-things-know
I know that there are legitimate reasons for some to homeschool. However, I think the idea that these parents could just send in some paperwork once a year claiming that they were homeschooling the kids, with NO assessments and NO visits to the “school” is ridiculous. It’s just too easy for someone to abuse kids who never go to a school.
What astonishes me is how do you get 2 people to go along with this? One nut job yes, but when/how did it start? Hey honey, let’s tie junior to his bassinette? Okay, dear - good plan.
They may have been bankrupt, but the dad had a middle income job. Poverty isn’t the reason why these kids were starving. And it’s clear from photos that the mother ate enough to nourish herself well.
I think the parents were people hoarders. Their children were objects to them, and when they asserted their wills, the parents couldn’t handle it.
What get’s me is that 7 of these “children” are adults! And how can people that need to file bankruptcy afford multiple trips to Disney and Las Vegas and specialty license plates???
It looks like hoarding to me as well.
Sick, twisted people.
Imo this is why I largely don’t support homeschooling. Schools serve as, among other things, a way to catch neglect and abuse.
Of course there are always exceptions and blah blah blah.
There is something really off too about how the paternal grandparents responded but I can’t put my finger on what.
My impression is the parents wanted to keep their offspring as childlike as possible. Note the photos where all of the girls are dressed in identical plaid dresses and white patent leather shoes suitable for children under 10 at best. Malnourished children stay small. Minimal contact with the outside world.
Was the paternal grandmother the one gushing about how they were an amazing family?
How do all of these “concerned” relatives go years without seeing the children? No visits or even skype?
Just too crazy.
what about the neighbors that said they only saw the kids out at night and going threw trash bins for food and no one thought to call get someone to check in on this family?
^ I think it’s a combination of the bystander effect (thinking someone else must have already called) and a desire not to be a nosy neighbor. A few years ago I started seeing an exceptionally skinny woman walking on a commuter road in my town. Twice I offered her a ride but she refused. She really looked unhealthy and I was concerned but I hesitated to call the first couple of times I saw her, thinking “what if she’s just naturally very skinny or she is being treated for a disease and she’s sick of people butting into her business?” I finally did call our town’s social services coordinator but I felt guilty doing it. The social worker confirmed that she was on their radar and without saying so directly indicated that there was a problem with the family and that I had been right to call.
It probably helped that I live in a small town where neighbors are pretty connected. If the same things had happened when I lived in the city I hope I would have made the same call but I can’t say with any confidence that I would have.
I know many folks who homeschool their kids…and this is polling to them too.
What is weird is that this family supposedly went to places like Disney and Vegas…but n9 one ever noticed anything unusual?
And not seeing anyone in the extended family for years? That a little odd too.
This is an appalling situation, and I hope there is some healing that can take place for these abused kids.
There’s more info coming out and it just gets weirder and weirder.
The parents–presumably the mother–actively participated on social media. Real people responded to some posts she made. In response to one of the wedding reenactment photos, someone posted saying “Happy Birthday.” Mom answered that she missed “you” and “your office staff”. Adds that she “hasn’t had much desire to reproduce without you around.” Googling reveals the poster is an OB/GYN in Ft. Worth, where the family used to live, so it appears mom did get prenatal care for at least some of the kids.
There’s a picture of a baby with Santa Claus, apparently taken at a mall. Another pic of a baby in a high chair, with a face smeared with food. There are more photos of all the kids. Based on Facebook/you tube, you’d think the parents were pretty dorky but normal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jli6vFfhMvE
20 year old who used to work at the local pizzaria says Louise came in about every other day. She bought one slice or a sandwich without tomatoes. Sometimes her husband and one little girl came with her. He never saw any other kids and she never mentioned them.
Texas neighbor says kids were let out to play in the evening sometimes when they first moved in. Her kids sometimes played with them, but when asked the kids said they couldn’t tell anyone their names. Neighbor assumed that they were part of some religious cult.
His parents said he called them about twice a month. Mom told a media caller that they are hiring an attorney for him.
Yep…it’s weird they didn’t see her family but she left home at 16 to marry him. He;s quite a bit older, so maybe her parents didn’t approve.
Of course this story is horribly shocking. I cannot understand how this “private school” can fly under the radar. I know that in NYS, home schoolers must file curriculum plans/student evaluations with their local school district as the school district provides resource materials. Private schools are still required in NYS to comply with state regulations and standards although they may opt out of standardized tests, such as Regents exams. For example there is a big issue in NYS now regarding very religious yeshivas and their lack of compliance with NYS state standards.
In our area of San Diego County, the parent is supposed to file lesson plans and the district provides the mandated curriculum. Each district is different, but they all are supposed to meet with the homeschooling rep often. They need to file those plans and submit test results via email or take the tests at the district.
I don’t get it. Sick, sick, sick.
There were at least 8 girls. Was Dad hoping for mostly boys?
I hate to mention this but, family planning would help lessen some of those expenses.
Even farmers now have less children.
@Massmomm “I think the parents were people hoarders.”
What an interesting idea… Is there such a thing in mental health?
My thoughts are with those oldest kids… the 29 year old and so on. Imagine the extent of brain washing it would take for several people of similar ages treated so badly – it appears for years – not to rebel earlier. Oh, the issues all of these people will face…
I am more worried about the girls. I think there is something very creepy about keeping them so young looking. I hope there is nothing more going on ( they have already been through enough).