A California couple who held their 13 malnourished children captive in a suburban home were charged Thursday with multiple counts of torture and child abuse.

David Allen Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise Anna Turpin, 49 were hit with 12 counts of torture, 12 of false imprisonment, six of child abuse and six of abuse of a dependent adult at a court hearing in the city of Riverside.

David Turpin was also charged with committing a lewd act against a child by force or fear or duress, District Attorney Mike Hestrin told a press conference.

Bail was set at $13 million for each of the defendants who if convicted face 94 years to life in prison.

Source: AFP