Scratches on doors and 'cages in the wardrobe' - pictures show Turpin family's squalid former home in Texas

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A Texas house once lived in by the Turpin family, whose 13 children were found in a distressing state at the weekend, was left with scratch marks on the doors, closets turned into what appear to be cages and carpets caked in filth, it has been claimed.

David Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise, 49, were arrested on Sunday after one of their children escaped from their current home in Perris, California, and alerted the police.

On Thursday the couple will appear in court, and are expected to face charges of torture and child endangerment.

And on the eve of that court appearance, local media in Texas reported that the current residents of a house in Fort Worth where the family lived from 1992 to 1999 found a shocking scene inside that home after the Turpins moved out.

The doors were covered with scratch marks, the unnamed owners told CBS News’ Texan affiliate – something they initially believed was due to animals.

The interior of David and Luise Turpin former home in Fort Worth, Texas.
The home in Fort Worth, Texas, where the family lived from 1992 to 1999

The carpets were covered in dirt and stains.

They were so shocked at the conditions they took photos inside.

A second Texan home also contained disturbing components, local media reported.

That property, in Rio Vista, was home to the family from 1999 to 2010, and featured wardrobes with vents installed in the doors – leading the horrified current owners to now suspect they were used as cages.

The interior of David and Luise Turpin former home in Fort Worth, Texas.
The house was left with scratch marks on the doors, closets turned into what appear to be cages and carpets caked in filth, it has been claimed

“There are two vents in the closet, and they are covered up now," the current owner said, adding that she wonders if the couple's children were locked in the closet.

And she said when the Turpin's left the home, it was filled with junk – she claimed there was so much debris it was difficult to walk around the rooms.

The interior of David and Luise Turpin former home in Fort Worth, Texas.
The owners were so shocked at the conditions they photographed the damage

"When they left, they up and left everything," she said.

Neighbours in Rio Vista claimed that the children were not allowed to tell people their names.

Some described the home in Rio Vista as a “religious compound” for the family, who were said by Mr Turpin’s parents to be “deeply religious” and believe that God told them to have so many children.

The carpets were covered in dirt and stains
The carpets were covered in dirt and stains

The Turpins’ children, aged between two and 29, are currently in hospital.

Their horrified relatives have said they had no idea of the abuse they were suffering.

Louise and David Turpin - AFP or licensors
Louise and David Turpin - AFP or licensors