Emotional statements from parents, kids in torture case

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California couple who pleaded guilty to locking up and abusing 12 of their 13 children for years, as well as some of the victims, made their first public comments Friday during an emotion-charged hearing where the parents were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Louise Turpin wept and said she hoped to hug her children again one day. Her husband, David Turpin, was overcome with emotion as he tried to read his statement just after the two eldest of the couple's 13 children, also in tears, described the impact of the abuse.

The children, ranging from 3 to 30, have not been publicly identified. Here are excerpts from their statements and from the judge:

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Jane Doe 4, age 30:

"My parents took my whole life from me but now I'm taking my life back. I'm in college now and living independently.

"I believe everything happens for a reason. Life may have been bad but it made me strong. I fought to become the person I am. I saw my dad change my mom. They almost changed me but I realized what was happening. I immediately did what I could to not become like them.

"I'm a fighter, I'm strong and I'm shooting through life like a rocket."

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John Doe 2, age 27:

"Sometimes I still have nightmares of things that have happened, such as my siblings being chained up or getting beaten. But that is the past and this is now. I love my parents and have forgiven them for a lot of the things that they did to us.

"Since January I have learned so much and become very independent. In June of last year I learned how to ride a bike and ever since then I've been hooked and ride it everywhere, such as to school, the store, or sometimes I just go on long rides because I enjoy it so much.

"I'm getting a bachelor's degree in software engineering and after I...