Diane Sawyer revisits the Turpin siblings case in new prime-time special

A new one-hour television special hosted by Diane Sawyer airs Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET, featuring first-time on-camera accounts from three of the youngest Turpin siblings. The program renews attention on a case that became a national symbol of hidden child abuse—and on what happened after the rescue, when some of the children entered foster care and later alleged they were harmed again.

The timing matters because the foster-care chapter has moved from allegations to courtroom outcomes, and civil claims tied to oversight failures remain a live issue in California’s child welfare system.

What the special adds now

The new program centers on life after the initial escape and the long recovery that followed. The Turpin siblings’ story has often been summarized as a single moment—one teenager fleeing and calling for help—but the aftermath stretched for years, with new placements, new rules, and new vulnerabilities.

In this latest installment, the youngest survivors describe the daily realities of rebuilding: learning basic life skills, navigating medical and psychological care, and making sense of a childhood shaped by isolation and control. Some details discussed in recent coverage have not been publicly documented in full, and the special leaves parts of their current circumstances private.

Diane Sawyer interview focuses on “after” as well as “before”

This Diane Sawyer interview revisits the original confinement while emphasizing that freedom did not immediately mean safety. The special frames the siblings’ experience as two distinct chapters: the years inside their parents’ home, and the years that followed under the supervision of institutions meant to protect them.

That second chapter has become central to public debate because it raises a harder question than criminal wrongdoing alone: what systems did—or did not—do once the doors were opened, the handcuffs removed, and the children placed into care.

A brief timeline of the Turpin case

The Turpin case came to light in January 2018, when 17-year-old Jordan Turpin escaped the family’s home in Perris, California, and contacted authorities. Investigators found 13 siblings, then ranging from very young children to adults, living in extreme deprivation. Prosecutors later described patterns of starvation, physical abuse, and confinement over many years.

David and Louise Turpin pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges. In April 2019, they were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, with parole eligibility after 25 years. The sentencing established legal accountability for the parents, but it did not resolve the practical question of what stable recovery would look like for 13 people emerging from prolonged trauma.

Foster-care abuse and court outcomes

For some of the younger children, the foster-care system became another site of alleged harm. Three members of a foster household—Marcelino Olguin, Rosa Olguin, and their adult daughter Lennys Olguin—faced criminal charges connected to treatment of children placed in their care, including several of the Turpin siblings.

Court outcomes in 2024 marked a turning point. Marcelino Olguin was sentenced in October 2024 to seven years in state prison. Rosa Olguin and Lennys Olguin received probationary sentences. The charges and pleas included allegations of child cruelty, false imprisonment, and sexual misconduct, with the specific counts varying by defendant.

Those outcomes shifted the public narrative from “what might have happened” to “what was proven in court,” while still leaving open broader questions about monitoring and accountability.

What comes next for the siblings

Several siblings have pursued civil action against public agencies and a foster-care contractor, arguing that warning signs were missed and that the state failed to provide adequate protection after the 2018 rescue. The status of any negotiations or settlement discussions has not been publicly confirmed in a comprehensive way, and timelines in civil cases can stretch for years.

Key takeaways as the story re-enters the spotlight:

• The criminal cases against the parents and the foster household are largely resolved, but civil claims tied to oversight remain active.

• The newest interviews underscore the long arc of recovery, not a single rescue moment.

• Public attention is likely to increase pressure for reforms around placement, supervision, and follow-up services for high-risk children.

Looking ahead, the practical test will be measurable: sustained services, stable housing, consistent access to therapy and education, and clearer accountability standards when children with known extreme trauma enter foster placements. If reforms follow, they will likely be judged less by announcements and more by audits, staffing levels, and enforceable monitoring requirements.

Sources consulted: ABC News; Associated Press; Los Angeles Times; People Magazine