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Yo-Yo Ma Performs Private Concert for 'House Of Horror' Children
The Grammy-winning cellist played a show for the Turpin children.
As the Turpin children continue to acclimate back to society, they got a famous visitor. The "House of Horrors" siblings were treated to a private concert by world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, according to the Press-Enterprise.
The 18-time Grammy winner performed for the group prior to an arts discussion at Historic Civic Center Theater in Corona, California on March 2, according to the city's mayor Karen Spiegel.
Yo-Yo is perhaps the most famous cellist in the world, being awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. He's also embedded himself into pop culture and has made cameos on "The Simpsons" and "Arthur."
As previously reported, the 13 Turpin siblings (dubbed the "Magnificent 13" by locals) were found living in alleged captivity at the hands of their parents, 56-year-old David and 49-year-old Louise. An older daughter escaped and went to authorities. It's alleged that the parents tortured and starved their children (who ranged in age from 2 to 29) and kept basic comforts like showers rationed.
“They would buy apple pies [and] pumpkin pies, put them on counter, let the children to look at it, but not allow the children to eat the food," said a District Attorney.
The siblings were not allowed to leave the house. Neighbors spoke about the family's reclusive and strange behavior.
“It was waist-deep in filth. There were dead dogs and cats in there,” said former neighbor Ricky Vinyard of the Turpin home. “Everything had locks on it: The closet had locks, the toy chest, the refrigerator ... There were no beds, just mattresses ... There wasn’t a place in that house that wasn’t filthy.”
Once the children were rescued in early January, they began the process of acclimating into modern life. This includes using technology like iPads that they were initially kept away from. The adult children have also been given guitars and are learning music by Tom Petty and John Denver, a hospital official told People.
The Turpin parents pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including torture, child abuse, abuse of dependent adults and false imprisonment. The father has also pleaded not guilty to his additional charge of committing a lewd act on one of the female children by force, according to The Washington Post.
[Photo: Getty Images, Facebook]
