Ringleader in Philly "Basement of Horrors" case gets life plus 80 years
The dank sub-basement room in Philadelphia where four weak and malnourished mentally disabled adults, one chained to the boiler, were found locked inside was shown Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Prosecutors said the captives were part of a scheme to steal benefit checks from defenseless and vulnerable people. Five, including the accused ringleader Linda Ann Weston, were eventually charged in a federal case.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Linda Ann Weston was charged following the discovery of four malnourished mentally disabled adults chained to a boiler in a locked northeast Philadelphia basement room too small for an adult to stand up straight in. It also reeked of waste from the buckets the captives used to relieve themselves, police said on Oct. 16, 2011. Weston was sentenced to life in prison plus 80 years on Nov. 5, 2015.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Sgt. Joseph Green stands in the dank basement room in Philadelphia where four weak and malnourished mentally disabled adults, one chained to the boiler, were found locked inside on Oct. 17, 2011.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
The Philadelphia basement, pictured on Oct. 17, 2011, where four weak and malnourished mentally disabled adults, one chained to the boiler, were locked inside by Linda Weston and others.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey on Oct. 17, 2011, at the entrance to the dank basement room in Philadelphia where four weak and malnourished mentally disabled adults, one chained to the boiler, were found locked inside over that weekend. Police initially arrested three adults staying in an apartment upstairs, including the accused ringleader, Linda Ann Weston.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Sgt. Joseph Green walks down the steps leading to the Philadelphia sub-basement where four mentally disabled adults were found locked inside in October 2011.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Four adults -- three men and one woman -- were found locked in a room, suffering from malnutrition. Officials say the adults, three of whom were identified as Tamara Breeden, Derwin McLemire, and Herbert Knowles, above, were found locked in the basement of a Philadelphia home. The victims were there for a little over a week, but their ordeal started several years ago. Police say the victims were transported from Texas to Florida and then finally confined to the basement in Northeast Philadelphia.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Herbert Knowles has been identified by police as one of four mentally disabled persons locked in the squalid basement of a Philadelphia home. Four mentally disabled adults were rescued from the basement in the northeast Philadelphia home on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, after the landlord shined a flashlight behind a steel door that had been chained shut. One victim was shackled to the boiler, police said. Detectives have been able to make contact with the families of three of the victims, but were still trying to reach the family of Knowles.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Derwin McLemire, above, was one of four adults -- three men and one woman -- found locked in a room, suffering from malnutrition in the basement of a Philadelphia home in 2011.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Tamara Breeden, above, was one of four adults -- three men and one woman -- found locked in a room, suffering from malnutrition in the basement of a Philadelphia home in 2011.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Eddie Wright, above, was one of four adults -- three men and one woman -- found locked in a room, suffering from malnutrition in the basement of a Philadelphia home in 2011.
Philadelphia "Basement of Horrors" Case
Gregory Thomas, above, was one of four adults -- three men and one woman -- found locked in a room, suffering from malnutrition in the basement of a Philadelphia home in 2011.