Turpin Children: House of Horrors 2 - Diane Sawyer Exclusive on ABC/Hulu

You may recall the worst case of child abuse in recent history in America, the Turpin children - 13 children starved, chained, beaten, living in their own feces - only rescued because 17-year-old sister, Jordan, escaped the house and dialed 911.

Thus, it may shock you that they were abused again in foster care - the Olguine family -  who took in 5 of the youngest children (who received $15,000 a month for doing so) - despite a claim of sexual abuse by a prior foster child in their care.

And yes, this time, 2 of the girls were sexually abused by the foster father.

How could this happen, especially to such a high profile case?

Because press, CPS, and everyone so enthralled with them simply wanted to believe it was happily ever after for them without ensuring it, thus abandoning them - that's how.

Their new foster family took the $15K a month and got drunk on a nightly basis, verbally and physically abusing them, telling them no one would ever love them, they were less than worthless, and that their parents were right about them, they deserved abuse, and imprisoned in the home again - with the father  trying to make them believe that being wanted sexually (as children) was the closest they'd ever come to being loved.

Confused about what love was and what was normal and what wasn't, scared no one would believe lightning struck twice, at first, they told no one except each other. 

However, they'd had just enough counseling when first rescued that therapy had sunk in enough for them to at least try to tell someone.

When they did try to tell their CPS workers, they weren't believed - blamed on trauma flashbacks instead of reality. 

That is until older sister, Jordan - not housed with the foster family -  rescued them once again by appealing to a child advocate she'd met during the original process, who launched another investigation - and proof of abuse was found.

The Olguines were arrested - father, mother, and adult daughter  living with them - and plead guilty to various child abuse crimes, with the father in  pleading guilty to 7 counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a minor child.

I am beyond disgusted that this can go on even with high-profile cases like theirs, whom they should've ensured went to a fully vetted family with no prior complaints filed. 

I am beyond disgusted with the press who dropped them like hotcakes and didn't follow up.

And worse, with the social workers of CPS, trained to know better, how to recognize the signs - who dismissed and gaslighted them - all to find out it was actually true - again.

Even sadder, two of the children considered suicide as the only way out, beginning to believe their abusers, that they deserved the abuse and there was no hope for them.

These children are full of wonder at the world and grateful - so if they ever speak about anything ever again, listen - because you can bet it's real.

Because though PTSD/trauma triggers are real- like a war veteran running for cover with a car backfiring - more often than not, it's actually their PTSD hypervigilance that kicks in, setting off alarm bells - usually for good reason. 

And if nothing else good can come from their story, I hope it's this ... 

We need to stop believing the following myths, which keep people trapped in abuse cycles:

    

1) Good things only happen to/God blesses good people and bad things only happen to/God doesn't bless bad people. 

(Catholics might take issue with that  - they make saints  out of those who suffered most in life.)  

 

2) People always bring bad things on themselves.

Though it's true bad choices lead to bad consequences, sometimes bad things just happen, and sometimes people prey upon them  - and they actually happen more to powerless people than others - not because they're bad people, but bad people choose them specifically because they won't be believed. 

Consider the young girls Epstein chose purposefully  - from broken, abusive and/or poor families or foster care, little social support, won't be believed - same thing.  

 

3) They're the common denominator of both situations, so  they're the problem.   

Erm - not always. Though there are genuinely people who chronically have trouble everywhere they go, here's what's also true  ...   

We also live in a power-abusing society, especially currently, and power-abusing people love to  "punch down,"  taking their stress out on others - or sometimes even prey on -  the most vulnerable, powerless, naive people they can find, considering them weaker, knowing no one will believe them.    

And once again, consider the girls Epstein chose - girls from  broken, poor, abusive families and foster families with no support, purposefully, knowing they wouldn't be believed.

 So though they might be the common denominator, it might not be for the reasons that you think - and it's not because they're cursed or chronically unlucky, either. 

Their only responsibility in the situation could just be low self-esteem, they don't believe they deserve better or even know there's better, so they take it for far too long.

Or  because others consider them weak/vulnerable or powerless,  which rings like a dinner bell to power-abusers and predatory people.

What can they do about that?

Well, you can't do much about power if you're genuinely powerless.

But you can learn to be less naive, less open, less trusting, learn better boundaries and how to say "no" from the get-go rather than waiting, and learn how to either actually be, or at least appear, stronger and more confident than the vibes you're giving off - and above all, start believing you DO deserve better!

How to tell the difference between troublemakers versus chronically "vulnerable" or people with low self-esteem or naive/vulnerable people?

Who they blame. 

If they ever blame themselves - sincerely - even momentarily (before their therapy kicks in and balances their responsibility versus others lol)  - you're likely dealing the low-self-esteem or vulnerable types who get picked on a lot instead of true troublemakers.  

 

On a positive note - upon watching the new Diane Sawyer series on Hulu (whom I don't mind saying I'm a little pissed at for her lack of follow-up after the first interview 4 years ago)  I said this to my husband ... 

"I know it sounds weird, but ... those children glow, they radiate. It's not just great skin now, but there's a little light with all of them - it's like the light of innocence and finding joy despite sorrow, it's remarkable."

Hold onto that light, joy, and wonder at the world still, Babies ... 

There might be many drawn to it who want to exploit it, benefit from it, or even smash that light and joy, just because they can and they perceive you as weaker/vulnerable - don't let anyone steal  your joy and light.  

Throw away the tapes playing in your head about deserving this treatment where they belong, in the trash.

Because they are all lies - and it doesn't matter how many adults picked up and sang that song to justify their abuse, that doesn't make lies true.

Also, you have learned everything there is about what ISN'T normal - so now continue counseling so you can learn what IS normal.

Praying for you, if God listens xo

 

Genesis 50:20 "What was done to me was done for evil, but God, in turn, intended for good for the saving of many lives."