despite repeated requests by abc news county officials have yet to explain why it has taken so long for the preliminary steps in the outside probe to be taken or whether the pace would delay the investigation riverside county spokeswoman brooke federico told abc news on thursday and friday that explanations would be forthcoming then on saturday she wrote in an email that sometimes this can take longer than originally anticipated learn more during a probate court hearing in riverside county thursday lawyers for the adult turpin children the county and an outside firm hired to investigate grappled with balancing the need for information with the turpins privacy judge kenneth fernandez said he does not need to abide by anyones timeline but his own in ruling on the request to turn over the records even though the county announced in november that investigators findings would be turned over by the end of march just one month away during thursdays probate hearing which was held only in regard to the adult turpin cases potashner disclosed to the court that the firm had also been unable to access the records for the minors at issue now is the strict confidentiality order shielding documents in the adult childrens cases on monday federico told abc news that the investigation into the countys adult and child welfare systems continues despite the delay we would very much like to be able to assess and evaluate these records in terms of the care to the turpin family said hilary potashner a lawyer with larson llp the firm conducting the investigation last fall an abc news investigation found that some of the turpin children continued to face challenges and hardships since they were rescued and placed in the care of the county none of the parties involved in the case are opposing that the records be turned over to investigators where they would remain confidential but the firm representing some of the adult children in the case are asking a protective order to be put in place to prevent the documents from becoming public sisters jennifer and jordan turpin are seen here during an exclusive interview with abc news diane sawyer for 2020 airing nov 19 2021 some of them have even faced danger again now hear from two of the turpin siblings for the first time watch the diane sawyer special event escape from a house of horror on hulu the assertions are serious and important to be reviewed a hearing on the motion is scheduled for next week more 4 years after rescue some turpin children still living in squalor despite donations pledges of support our concern would be although we think that the investigator appointed by the county should have access to everything that there should be no risk that by the investigator getting it it becomes public record and accessible to the public said kenneth white an attorney for brown white and osborn which represents some of the adult turpin