Ep 7. 20/20 'Escape from a House of Horror' - A Diane Sawyer Special Event

In this episode of ABC 20/20, viewers are taken on a journey inside a nightmare scenario - the story of a family of 13 who were held captive in their own home, subjected to unimaginable abuse and torture. The hour-long program presents a chilling tale of how parents David and Louise Turpin kept their children shackled, malnourished and prevented them from receiving any education or leaving their home in California.

Diane Sawyer anchors the special report and leads a powerful discussion with the survivors that exposes the dark and sinister world that they lived in. The siblings who are now adults speak up about their painful experience and how they dealt with it. The program illuminates how the survivors were able to escape from one of America's most severe cases of abuse.

The episode includes interviews with law enforcement who first responded to the scene and provides insights on the investigation that led to the turpins' arrest. ABC 20/20 also shows the Turpin family’s social media postings that had mask the horror they were living in from public eye. Authorities provide a step-by-step account of the early morning when their discovery took place, and the physical and emotional states of the 13 Turpin children at the time.

ABC 20/20 highlights the Turpin's trial with of court records and surveillance footage of their legal proceedings. The episode covers the recent years of the survivors' lives, including the progress they have made in overcoming the trauma of their childhoods. Sawyer interviews physicians and mental health experts who evaluated the siblings and provided care.

"Escape from a House of Horror" is a gripping and emotionally charged investigation that highlights the perseverance and resilience of survivors in the face of unimaginable adversity. The episode provides an eye-opening look at the Turpin family's life and the lasting impact of their abuse on the 13 children as they work to heal, recover and rebuild their lives as adults.