DA's Office Reverses; Will Refile Charges Against 1 'Basement of Horrors' Figure
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia District Attorney's office has changed its mind and now says it will recharge the defendant who was about to be freed in the local "Basement of Horrors" kidnap-and-fraud case.
After a two-day preliminary hearing this week centering on the main defendants -- Linda Weston, her daughter, Weston's boyfriend, and Eddie Wright -- Judge Patrick Dugan dismissed all charges against Wright. The other defendants were ordered held for trial.
Wright had faced similar charges in the alleged kidnapping scheme that ended with the discovery of four mentally challenged adults locked in a Tacony basement in October. Wright slept in the same boiler room, and in courtroom testimony, it came out that his Social Security checks were allegedly diverted to Weston.
The judge said he couldn't "in good conscience" hold Wright for trial because when Wright was in Philadelphia, "he was one of the victims."
Yesterday, the Philadelphia DA's office indicated it would not re-file charges against Wright (see previous story).
But now, prosecutors have re-filed the same charges, and Wright will remain in custody for another preliminary hearing, scheduled for January 20th.
