The sister of the woman accused of holding her 13 children captive in a filthy California home said that she was never allowed to visit or talk to her nieces and nephews.

Speaking with the Daily Mail, Elizabeth Jane Flores, 41, (pictured left) also claimed that she hadn’t seen her sister, Louise Anna Turpin, 49, in 19 years. Despite not being able to see her nieces and nephews, Flores, who lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, said she knew something was off about her older sister’s parenting skills.

READ More: House of Horrors Update: Jailed parents accused of starving, abusing 13 kids reportedly said it was ‘God’s will’ to have so many children

“Something didn’t seem right about her parenting but never would I have expected it to be like this,’ she told the tabloid. “They wouldn’t let anyone visit and we didn’t know their address…We would talk on the phone from time to time, but every time I would ask to talk to her kids, she wouldn’t let me.”

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Riverside County police got involved Monday after a 17-year-old girl reportedly fled the Perris home and called for help. The teen told officers that she and her 12 siblings were held captive in the squalid home.

“Deputies located what they believed to be 12 children inside the house, but were shocked to discover that 7 of them were actually adults, ranging in age from 18 to 29,” the police statement detailed.

“The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty.”

Along with their mother, the children’s father, David Allen Turpin, 57, was arrested and charged with torture and child endangerment.

Flores went on to recall several instances where their late parents flew out to see the Turpins but the couple refused to provide an address.

READ More: House of Horrors Update: Neighbors say children ‘rolled’ in front yard at night, never spoke to anyone, dug in trash for food

The mother-of-seven told the Daily Mail, “My parents booked several flights to go see them but when they got there they wouldn’t tell them where to go and my parents left crying every time. They died before they got to see them again.”

“It’s just heartbreaking and I’m so embarrassed about all of this.”

Louise and David are each being held on $9 million bail.

This is a developing story. Check back with CrimeOnline for updates as they become available. 

[Featured Image: Elizabeth Jane Flores/Facebook; Louise Anna Turpin/Riverside County Sheriff’s Department]