Fourth Person Arrested for Holding Disabled Adults in Basement
1 year ago
Daughter of ringleader arrested in dungeon case
A fourth person has been arrested in a scheme to kidnap four mentally disabled adults, lock them in the basement while their captors collect disability checks. The suspect is the daughter of the alleged mastermind.
Jean McIntosh, 32, is the daughter of the supposed ringleader Linda Weston, a 51-year-old convicted murderer, MyFoxPhilly.com reports. Weston's 19-year-old niece was found malnourished with signs of abuse, police spokesman Lt. Raymond Evers said.
McIntosh faces charges of kidnapping, conspiracy and other counts that are expected to be arraigned late Wednesday.
On Tuesday, 10 young people were taken in to protective custody, who were believed to be related to suspects and victims. Philadelphia police are obtaining birth certificates and DNA samples to see if six juveniles and four young adults were related to victims. They will also try to figure out if anyone was a part of the scheme.
Through a lack of follow-through by government agencies in Philadelphia and West Palm Beach, Fla., Weston was able to cash disability checks, although she was legally disqualified due to her legal past, MyFoxPhilly.com reports.
The dungeon case came to light after a landlord found four mentally disabled adults chained in a boiler room. Three people between the ages of 29 and 41 were arrested. Power of attorney records and other documentation was found, which made police believe that more people were involved.
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