The Turpin siblings received roughly $2 million in donations. Much of it hasn't reached them, report says.

• Strangers from around the world donated roughly $2 million to the Turpin siblings in 2018.
• The 13 siblings made international news when they were freed from their parents, who often tortured and shackled them.

When 13 siblings in California were freed from their parents' "house of horrors," where they were often shackled, starved, and abused, people across the country and around the world sent roughly $2 million in donations to help the siblings start new lives.

But according to an eight-month investigation commissioned by Riverside County, "much of the funding has not yet reached them." Instead, the Turpin siblings were "failed" by the social services system and deprived of over $1 million in donations that could have improved their quality of life and eased their transitions to independent living, according to a report written by the law firm Larson LLP that was presented to the county's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

The siblings, aged 2 to 29, were first freed from their parents' home in 2018, after one of them escaped through a window and called police. David and Louise Turpin later pleaded guilty to torturing and abusing their children and were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

After their parents' arrests, the seven adult Turpin siblings were initially placed under conservatorships, while the six minor siblings were placed in foster care.

But many of them struggled to get by. Some of the adult siblings endured "food and housing insecurity," the report said. Some of the children were also "placed with caregivers who were later charged with child abuse."

"Across the state, the nation, and the world, people who learned of the atrocities the siblings had endured made financial donations to benefit them," the report said. "These donations were all intended to benefit the 13 rescued Turpin's, but much of the funding has not yet reached them."

The report said people sent donations for the siblings to three entities: $400,000 went to the Riverside University Health System; $309,000 went to the City of Corona Chamber of Commerce, where it was overseen by SAFE Family Justice Center, and $1 million went to the JAYC Foundation.

It was often unclear how the siblings could access money from the various funds, the report found.

"Some of the adult Turpins report that they have been given gift cards from the SAFE Family Justice Center and can ask SAFE staff for things they need, but others say they have experienced housing and food insecurity," it said.

Report says Riverside County's social services system 'failed' the Turpins and many other children in its care

Due to privacy laws and inaccessible government documents, the report notes that there are still major questions surrounding the county's treatment of the Turpin siblings and why some of them endured financial hardship while in the care of Riverside County.

The report's main author, former federal Judge Stephen Larson, also told the county supervisors in Tuesday's board meeting that he found "absolutely no evidence" any of the donated funds were misued by the county, according to the Palm Springs Desert Sun.

"It is unclear why County Counsel ever directed OPG not to marshal the donated funds meant to support the Turpin children and adults," the report said, referring to the county's Office of Public Guardian. "It is clear, however, that OPG's failure to marshal these funds … may have resulted in food and housing insecurity for at least some of the Turpin siblings, in direct contravention of the donors' wishes."

Beyond the Turpin siblings, the 634-page report documented numerous failures within the social services system in Riverside County and regarding its ability to care for children. The report found severe understaffing and vacancy rates, as well as too few placements for children and suitable foster care options.

"While there are many examples of dedicated Riverside County personnel succeeding despite the systemic obstacles in their way, there are too many other examples of falling short or even failing outright," the report said.

The report made hundreds of recommendations and "actionable steps" for the county to take, including ramping up hiring and compensation and increasing funding for new placements for children.

Tuesday's board meeting was open to the public, and multiple people reportedly confronted the county supervisors over the report's contents and the treatment of the Turpin siblings.

"It's time for you to resign or face a recall by citizens," one person told Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, according to ABC News.

In a statement to Insider, Spiegel said she was committed to improving the county's resources for children.

"As public servants, our duty is to ensure that our most vulnerable communities are receiving the care and protection they deserve. I am dedicated to making sure we have the tools, resources and staffing to provide that care," Spiegel said. "This is the time to act and I will support all efforts to meet the challenge."