By Holly Yan, CNN
(CNN) – For decades, Elizabeth Flores begged to see her nieces and nephews. Even Skype would do.
But her sister and brother-in-law, Louise and David Turpin, kept such a secret life that they wouldn’t let her in.
“When that happens for 20 years, and it was before the kids even were there, you don’t think it’s abnormal,” Flores told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Wednesday. “If it had been like two years ago that she cut us off, then we might think, wow, something’s not right. But this has been going on before they even had children … they were real private, and they didn’t come around much.”
The world now knows some of what was happening inside the Turpins’ 4-bedroom house. Their 13 children were held captive — with some shackled and chained with padlocks.
Now the children are free, and the parents are in custody. The Turpins face charges of torture and child endangerment; bail was set at $9 million. It was not immediately clear whether they have hired an attorney.
Sister-in-law: He watched me when I showered
Flores said she was never really comfortable with her brother-in-law.
Back when she was in college, Flores lived with the Turpins for a few months. At that time, the couple had a few children.
“I thought they were really strict, but I didn’t see any abuse,” Flores told GMA.
But something very disturbing did happen: Turpin used to watch Flores shower, she said.
“If I went to get in the shower, he would come in while I was in there and watch me. It was like a joke,” Flores said. “He never touched me or anything.”
But she said she never told anyone about the shower stalking.
“I was young. I was scared. I was in Texas, where I knew nobody,” Flores said. “I was treated like one of the kids, kind of, so I had rules. Well now that I’m an adult, and I look back, I see things that I didn’t see then.”
As the family grew, Flores said, Louise Turpin even shut out her own father.
Several years ago, she said, her father booked a flight to go see Louise and her family.
“He got the ticket, he was going to surprise her, and he called her to tell him he was coming. And she told him not to come.”
Another sister: The kids looked really skinny
Teresa Robinette, another sister of Louise Turpin, said she sometimes kept in touch with the mother of 13. But she was concerned about the children’s weights, Robinette told NBC’s “Today” show.
“I always made comments to Louise when I did talk to her, about, ‘Gosh, they’re so skinny.’ And she would laugh it off: ‘Well David’s so tall and lanky. They’re going to be like him,'” Robinette said.
After hearing about the children’s alleged torture at home, Robinette broke down in tears.
“We are as hurt and shocked and angry and disappointed as everybody else,” she said.
Flores said she, too, was devastated to hear what happened. But she said she still loves her sister.
“I want her to know that she’s still my blood, and I love her,” Flores said. “I don’t agree with what she did, and her actions has made the whole family suffer. But I want her to know I’m praying for her salvation.”
Flores said she had a more important message for her nieces and nephews:
“I want them to know they do have family that they love, whether they know us or not.” – CNN
Sweden to publish leaflets warning citizens over potential war
By Sebastian Shukla and James Masters, CNN
(CNN) – Sweden is preparing to issue leaflets to 4.7 million households this spring amid growing fears it could be dragged into the perils of war.
The leaflets, which urge citizens to prepare for “crisis and catastrophes in peacetime, but also for different kinds of attacks on society and Sweden,” is the latest step in the country’s revamped defense strategy in response to perceived Russian aggression.
The pamphlet is prompted partly by the “security situation in our neighborhood,” meaning the Baltic area, a Civil Contingencies Agency spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday.
The leaflets, which will be published later this year, aim to educate Swedes on how to prepare in case “their world gets turned upside down,” and ask municipal regions to ready previous Cold War bunkers.
According to a spokesperson for the Civil Contingencies Agency, the literature will also provide practical tips to ensure citizens have all the necessary food, water and blankets stocked at home.
Sweden has been investing heavily in its defense strategy across the country, reintroducing conscription and also positioning troops on the strategically important island of Gotland.
The country suspended conscription in 2010 and instead adopted a recruitment system which relied on volunteers.
But it changed tack in March 2017, announcing conscription would return in 2018.
The decision to boost defense spending by $720 million over five years was taken in February 2015 — but Sweden is lacking suitable numbers for its defense forces.
According to government figures provided in March, the armed forces were 1,000 troops short in terms of full-time squad leaders, solders and sailors.
The plan aims to ensure there are 6,000 full-time members serving with 10,000 available on a part-time basis.
In May 2017 Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told CNN: “The Russian regime has showed they are ready to use military powers to fulfill political goals.”
Sweden is not a member of NATO but it has contributed to NATO-led operations and enjoys bilateral ties with the alliance through the Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. – CNN
