Philadelphia basement kidnapping event
Encyclopedia
On October 17, 2011, a basement in a seven unit apartment building in Northeast Philadephia, Pennsylvania was found to contain four people, being held against their will, in conditions of deprivation. The owner of the building discovered their presence after investigating suspicious activity in the basement area. Three people were arrested as initial suspects in the Philadelphia basement kidnapping: Linda Weston, Gregory Thomas and Eddie Wright. A fourth person, Jean McIntosh, the daughter of Weston, was arrested on October 19. Ten people, including six children, were taken into custody on October 18 in connection with the discovery. A niece of Weston's, Beatrice Weston, 19, was among them, and was found to be malnourished and suffering from multiple wounds. She had been reported missing in 2009. A Police investigator stated he had never seen such signs of abuse on a living person. An investigation by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department
is currently underway to determine if the suspects were part of a larger multi-state kidnapping scheme, as identifying papers of at least 50 other people were found in the initial search. Evidence so far suggests that people had been held for collection of their Social Security Disability benefits, as the four people initially found were mentally disabled.
at the time. Records show a person living with Weston in 2008 died that year, from what was at the time listed as natural causes. The person's family has asked that her death be reexamined.
process.
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
is currently underway to determine if the suspects were part of a larger multi-state kidnapping scheme, as identifying papers of at least 50 other people were found in the initial search. Evidence so far suggests that people had been held for collection of their Social Security Disability benefits, as the four people initially found were mentally disabled.
Principal defendant history
Weston had previously been sentenced eight years in prison for starving a man to death after he refused to support Weston's sister's unborn child. She served four years of her sentence.She had been given a diagnosis of schizophreniaSchizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
at the time. Records show a person living with Weston in 2008 died that year, from what was at the time listed as natural causes. The person's family has asked that her death be reexamined.
Aftermath
The event has received national and international attention, and raised awareness of the issue of the potential abuse of mentally disabled people for their benefits through the representative payeeRepresentative payee
A representative payee, or substitute payee, is a person who acts as the receiver of Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income for a person who is not fully capable of managing their own benefits, i.e. cannot be their own payee. The need for the service is generally due to some...
process.