As of now, she is the only relative we know of who has not exploited those kids and is trying to guard their privacy. So maybe a visit from her would be good. .
While I agree that this cousin (who has been silent) has clearly not shown any inclination to exploit the kids, I think that the same (no signs of trying to exploit) could be said about the cousin’s father, Randy Turpin, and his parents (the kids’ grandparents).
Please don’t get me wrong. I don’t think Randy Turpin (a fundie pastor who among other things has written in favor of fasting for spiritual cleansing) is particularly interested in protecting his nieces and nephews. And the grandparents obviously were not able to recognize that the grandchildren were being abused and instead were impressed that the kids “wanted” to memorize huge chunks of the Bible. So they don’t win any awards either.
However, given the way Louise’s sisters (and to a lesser extent, her half brother and cousin) have gotten on the “fame train” over this tragedy, the Turpin side of the family should be given credit for not pushing themselves into the limelight. In fact, they seem to have opted for discretion or even silence.
When the news broke and DT’s parents were first contacted, their immediate response was outrage at the accusation because they apparently had no clue that DT and LT had crossed the line from “strict” to torture. When it became clear that the evidence was overwhelming that DT and LT had starved and tortured their kids, they seem to have decided to be quiet about the case. Since about the second week I have not heard that they are trying to contact the grandkids (though it is likely they did) or even “praying for their son and grandchildren” much less challenged the foster placement of the younger ones. If they were trying to get attention or just justify themselves in the eyes of the world, we would have heard from them more.
And as for Randy Turpin, I believe that he would have preferred to have remained under the radar and not been identified by the press as DT’s brother. The man had to step down from his job as president of a fundie college, and he was obviously asked a lot of embarrassing questions. He is possibly under investigation.
His only public statements about the kids were early in the case and they ranged from the expected, “shocked and praying for them,” to a statement that he would want to adopt the minor kids. To the best of my knowledge, however, he has not come forward again. I am sure that like LT’s siblings, he has been offered opportunities to be interviewed and sell family pictures, etc. but he doesn’t seem inclined to go in that direction. (At least, not yet. He may be quietly writing a religious memoir about the experience, his soul searching, what the Lord said to him, etc., for all we know.)
Given his position as a fundie preacher and his background (Southern and Pentecostal) he pretty much “had” to say he wanted the kids. He didn’t say it to “exploit” their circumstances to get attention. On the contrary, he probably said it to take attention away from himself. (If he hadn’t indicated that he wanted the kids, he would have been harshly criticized by his community.) I fervently hope he doesn’t try too hard to get them.
Anyway, I just wouldn’t call all the relatives inclined to exploit the kids. So far there is a real difference between the two sides of the family.