Good critical thinking. Several members on the thread now live in CA or have resided there before. I spent a nice long vacation in Napa Valley after flying into Sacramento International. S is like so many other large cities in America where we find blight, barren and crime-ridden demolished areas. Napa, otoh, is totally an escape from the hustle and bustle although I have not returned since the devastating wildfires.
Could the Hispanic captors have been field workers or grape smashers for one of the many vineyards? We really need to narrow down this basement thingy. I read last night, in one of the multiple online news articles, that someone posted a link to, that SP was held in a basement; however, it was not in quotes.
Do the homes in and around Napa have basements? I would say, "O, heck, yeah! Duh." Wine is stored in basements in Napa Valley and, of course, other grape growing areas in CA, too. The best asparagus I've ever eaten was grown fresh in this area.