Philly Prosecutors Step Aside For Feds In Tacony 'Basement Of Horror' Case
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- As expected, Philadelphia prosecutors will step aside so federal authorities can pursue charges over the alleged kidnapping of mentally disabled adults for their disability checks.
The city Monday has dropped charges against 52-year-old paroled killer Linda Weston, her daughter and two others.
Federal prosecutors will now pursue charges that include hate crimes and two murder counts, for the deaths of two women in their care.
The defendants are due in federal court Monday afternoon for a brief appearance. A fifth defendant has been added to the case.
Authorities rescued five disabled adults from a locked Philadelphia basement in late 2011, and say they had been starved and beaten over the years. They also removed eight juveniles from Weston's care.
Weston long ago served time for the slow starvation death of a man locked in her Philadelphia apartment.
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