Brother of man held captive in Philadelphia basement tells of horrors
(CBS) PHILADELPHIA - The brother of one of the men held captive in a Philadelphia basement told CNN that his brother, whom he hadn't seen in more than 10 years, is slowly opening up about the horrors he endured while imprisoned.
Pictures: Philly basement of horrors
Robert Sanabria, 29, said his older brother Edwin Sanabria, was born with just one functioning lung and spent years in special education. According to Robert, Edwin left home at 18 to be with his girlfriend Tamara Breeden, who was also found in the basement.
"When I saw their names together, I knew it was my brother and his girlfriend. I couldn't believe it," Robert told CNN.
Robert said he believes the abuse may have begun soon after Edwin left home although authorities have not yet said how long Edwin was held captive.
Robert, a U.S. Army sergeant who served two tours in Iraq, reportedly drove up to Philadelphia from Fort Bragg, N.C. to reunite with his brother after reports named him as one of the people found locked in a filthy basement.
Robert told CNN that his brother has slowly been telling him about what happened in the basement, and why he was never able to escape. Robert said Edwin remembered being cut with a knife and shot with a BB gun by captors. He also didn't flee because he didn't want to leave Breeden behind.
Edwin also reportedly told Robert that his fellow captive, Herbert Knowles, had seizures and that Edwin would try to sooth him by giving him water and a cold cloth for his head - but that the water came from the same bucket they used to bathe and as a toilet.
Four people, including alleged ringleader Linda Ann Weston, 51 and her daughter, Jean McIntosh, 32, now face multiple charges - including kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and unlawful restraint - for allegedly locking four mentally disabled adults in a basement boiler room and taking control of their social security checks.
All four suspects are scheduled to appear in court on December 19.
In addition, authorities reportedly suspect that Weston victimized six children, two of whom are thought to be Tamara Breeden's. Robert told CNN that his family believes Edwin is the father.
Robert said he plans to have Edwin come live with him now.
"The first thing I wanted to tell him was that this was not his fault, that everybody gets tricked," he told CNN. "It's disturbing. It still messes with me. They (the defendants) all deserve life in prison."