LOS ANGELES — City officials couldn’t find any records that the fire marshal conducted required annual inspections at a California home that doubled as a private school where authorities say 13 malnourished siblings were kept captive in filthy conditions by their parents.

On Wednesday, a state lawmaker for the area said he would introduce legislation requiring state officials to conduct at least annual walk-throughs of schools.

Private schools in California are not licensed by the state education department and no agency regulates or oversees them. They are, however, subject to an annual inspection by the state or local fire marshal.

“I am extremely concerned about the lack of oversight the state of California currently has in monitoring private and home schools,” Assemblyman Jose Medina, a Democrat, said.

Perris Assistant City Clerk Judy Haughney said Wednesday that there were no records of any fire inspections conducted at the home. The city’s fire marshal, Dave Martinez, did not return repeated phone messages.

David Allen Turpin and his wife, Louise Anna Turpin, were arrested Sunday after authorities found the malnourished children in their home in Riverside County.

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They were jailed on $9 million bail each. Charges that may include torture and child endangerment are expected and a court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, authorities said.

Deputies said some siblings were shackled to furniture in the foul-smelling home in suburban Riverside County. They were so malnourished that the older ones still looked like children.

Medina’s plan was still in the early stages but would include an annual walk-through of home and private schools by state or county officials “to ascertain the safety and well-being of the students,” he said.

David Turpin had been home schooling his children at the residence, which he called the Sandcastle Day School.


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