Parents Accused of Holding 13 Kids Captive Are Charged With Torture

[Limehouse]

Originally Posted by Robert

and even the father's hairstyle, although the source of some amusement, just seems to add to the creepiness of the whole thing.

It's certainly put me off re-watching the Morecambe and Wise Andre Previn sketch.

[Pcdunn]

Watched a 20/20 News special on this case last night, and the history is weird. Originally both were from West Virginia, had fairly strict upbringings, and belonged to the Church of God. They married due to family pressure after they had eloped when the woman was only sixteen. They left West Virginia after some unspecified argument with their families. (The only relative to stay in touch was a sister, who at times would visit the couple.)

They lived in two other states before ending up in California. Pattern seemed to be to settle into a house, have kids, spend extravagantly, eventually pack up and move, leaving their former house very dirty on the inside.

The sister said they left the Church of God and researched other religions, from "voodoo" to Mormonism, and that she wasn't allowed to talk to the children without one of the parents present. Eventually they stopped inviting her to visit or stay with them.

Besides Disney, they went to Las Vegas often, and renewed their marriage vows three different times. Usually the ceremony was conducted by an Elvis impersonator. Their two small dogs were found well-fed, while the children were all underweight.

Bizarre, bizarre story.