GUILTY PA - Four mentally disabled people held captive in Philly dungeon, 2011

New Posts

mysteriew said:
In one of the articles on Maxine it said she died of Meningitis and she suffered from a "wasting disease." Wasting disease of course was to cover for the fact that she was malnourished. I think what happened was only a quick look was given to her death, maybe even not a full autopsy. I would also guess that history given by Weston the "caretaker" was given a lot of weight in the determinations.
Click to expand...

My point was that I think there was more than one victim that died of meningitis according to official records. They take spinal fluids to determine meningitis. I don't think they would rely on history given by the "caretaker" to make that kind of diagnosis. Since it is so rare, I don't think the meningitis label is given easily.

For the last 30 or so years, if there was a death by meningitis in the US, it would make at least local media, if not large local to almost national level.
 
fran said:
Horror deepens in Tacony basement case

AS JANE McIntosh, daughter of Linda Ann Weston, moved from state to state, her mother usually would follow.

McIntosh lived in Texas with her husband, who was in the military. She moved to Norfolk, Va., where her husband was to be stationed, said a man named Cameron - Weston's boyfriend in Norfolk and in Killeen, Texas.

Weston, 51, the alleged mastermind behind a plot to defraud mentally disabled people of their Social Security benefits, recently ended up back in Philadelphia, where her daughter was living in a Tacony apartment building with a dank, dirty sub-basement.

"The mom goes wherever the daughter goes

"When it comes to torture, [it's] Weston," this person said. "When it comes to logistics, it's her daughter."

(Police and the District Attorney's Office list McIntosh's first name as Jean, but she is identified as Jane by the landlord of her Tacony apartment, a public database, her cellphone voicemail and sources who know her.)

McIntosh appeared via video last night for her arraignment. She burst into tears and shook her head while Magistrate Timothy O'Brien read her charges.

"I'm not a criminal, I'm not a criminal," she sobbed as she rocked in a chair.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< full article at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/2...Weston__moved_from_NO_HEAD_SPECIFIED.html?c=r
Click to expand...


~~~Bolded by me

So, in other words, she would rather be looked upon as an inhumane, torturous monster than a "criminal?"

I have no words.
 
Many many years ago I knew a girl whose baby died of meningitis. At that time I knew only of Viral meningitis and asked my pediatrician about it. He told me it was probably not "viral" but a form caused from conact with unsanitary conditions... neglect often causes this in children he said. hummmmmmm fits here doesn't it.
 
Exclusive: Weston's son speaks of abuse, starvation

"I got hit in the head when I was younger with a high heel shoe, put a hole in my head. I was beaten with extension cords, with table legs," the son said.

For much of his early life, he says his mother would lock him in closets and basements much like the dungeon uncovered this past weekend where four mentally challenged adults were found.

<<<<<<<<<<<< full article and video at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/crime&id=8399941&rss=rss-wpvi-article-8399941


PS............when this same son was given to Linda Weston's sister to raise while Linda served time for manslaughter, her sister then continued in the abuse of this child! :eek:
 
Ex-boyfriend of woman at center of Philly abuse case talks about her time in Norfolk

NORFOLK--When Linda Weston came to Norfolk in August 2008, according to her ex-boyfriend she brought a lot of baggage.

“It was her and her kids and the people that she took care of,” says a Norfolk man named Cameron who asked to keep his last name anonymous.

He counted 8 or 9 people that came with her from Killeen, TX to Norfolk, including a little a little girl and two teenage girls that Weston said were her daughters.

“One of them had a baby and a boyfriend with her,” says Cameron, he often argued with her why none of the kids went to school.

He says there were also several adults with disabilities.

<<<<<<<<<<<< complete article and vide at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.wvec.com/news/local/Auth...eged-incest-in-Pa-dungeon-case-132275273.html


PS...ok, where are these people!?

"According to him, Weston kept several mentally disabled people at a separate apartment somewhere in the Park Place area of Norfolk.

He says there names were Myra, Eddie and Gregory. Weston would make trips to feed them."



ETA Link! my bad! sorry
 
fran said:
Ex-boyfriend of woman at center of Philly abuse case talks about her time in Norfolk

NORFOLK--When Linda Weston came to Norfolk in August 2008, according to her ex-boyfriend she brought a lot of baggage.

“It was her and her kids and the people that she took care of,” says a Norfolk man named Cameron who asked to keep his last name anonymous.

He counted 8 or 9 people that came with her from Killeen, TX to Norfolk, including a little a little girl and two teenage girls that Weston said were her daughters.

“One of them had a baby and a boyfriend with her,” says Cameron, he often argued with her why none of the kids went to school.

He says there were also several adults with disabilities.

<<<<<<<<<<<< complete article and vide at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>




PS...ok, where are these people!?

"According to him, Weston kept several mentally disabled people at a separate apartment somewhere in the Park Place area of Norfolk.

He says there names were Myra, Eddie and Gregory. Weston would make trips to feed them."
Click to expand...

Which link? Thanks so much for updating this thread!
 
Woman accused of holding disabled people captive in basement had history of similar behavior

Weston's former boyfriend, Cameron Wilson, said she put several elderly and disabled people in rented apartments or homes, but Weston stayed elsewhere.

<<<<<<<<<< full article and video at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-woman...r-behavior-20111020,0,4051041.story?track=rss




PS.....ok, who and WHERE are these ELDERLY PEOPLE? This is the first we've heard of 'elderly.' :(
 
I can't get over how when things were about to be investigated, she just seemed to pack up and move. And no matter what the investigation was for, once she moved it was just dropped.

I do wonder about the malnutrition and abuse of the children. Was it premeditated and designed to cause disabling injuries, so that she could collect more benefits for them? Like if they showed signs of brain damage, that she could go sign them up for SSA or SSI? Then she could collect more and longer.
 
mysteriew said:
I can't get over how when things were about to be investigated, she just seemed to pack up and move. And no matter what the investigation was for, once she moved it was just dropped.

I do wonder about the malnutrition and abuse of the children. Was it premeditated and designed to cause disabling injuries, so that she could collect more benefits for them? Like if they showed signs of brain damage, that she could go sign them up for SSA or SSI? Then she could collect more and longer.
Click to expand...


Well, her ex boyfriend said he called LE about Maxine Lee who died and said he believed she was not being fed and was malnurited. (sp?) Anyway, he said LE thanked him and nothing. According to one of the above links from today, I believe, Norfolk LE says they're not planning on anything further on this case. That's not what they told local LE when they contacted them.

This is why this woman was able to have so many victims. :(

JMHO
fran
 
fran said:
Woman accused of holding disabled people captive in basement had history of similar behavior

Weston's former boyfriend, Cameron Wilson, said she put several elderly and disabled people in rented apartments or homes, but Weston stayed elsewhere.

<<<<<<<<<< full article and video at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-woman...r-behavior-20111020,0,4051041.story?track=rss




PS.....ok, who and WHERE are these ELDERLY PEOPLE? This is the first we've heard of 'elderly.' :(
Click to expand...


I'm really worried that there could be more people chained up or locked in closets in other houses!
 
Police believe that Beatrice and the four mentally disabled adults arrived in Philadelphia about Oct. 3. Their captors drove them here from West Palm Beach, Fla., in two cars. Police said that Beatrice hadn't lived in Pennsylvania for six to eight years.

Tuesday night, police took Beatrice to an undisclosed hospital. She remains in protective custody. Authorities also placed six children, ages 2 to 17, under the care of the city's Department of Human Services. Police believe that two of the children, a 2-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, belong to Tamara Breeden, one of the four people locked in the Tacony dungeon. The children's father is one of the other victims.

Police said that they will conduct DNA testing to verify that Breeden is their mother. They also will use DNA testing to help determine the parents of the other four children. Some of the kids were extremely malnourished; Ramsey said that the 2-year-old looked more like a 6-month-old.

DHS spokeswoman Alicia Taylor said that the children were placed in foster care after medical evaluations.

"It was really about getting a roof over their heads and making sure they had a warm bed to sleep in [Tuesday] night," Taylor said.

Beatrice Higgins, of Hawthorne Street near Margaret, in Frankford, said that she rented her three-bedroom house to Linda Ann Weston about 10 years ago. She said that Weston, her boyfriend, Thomas, and her daughter lived there with a "bunch" of children. They wrapped a chain around the doorknob on the inside of the front door so that no one could get inside, she said.

"She [Weston] was on drugs and her boyfriend was crazy," Higgins said. "They set my house on fire. They said it was an electrical fire on the third floor, but there was no electrical problem. There was nothing wrong with the outlet."

"She told me the kids were on SSI and that's how she paid the rent - the kids' SSI checks."

After the fire, Higgins had them evicted. "They left in the middle of the night and there was nothing but rats in the house," she said.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< full article at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20111020__Sheer_madness_.html
 
'Sheer madness'

olice believe that Beatrice and the four mentally disabled adults arrived in Philadelphia about Oct. 3. Their captors drove them here from West Palm Beach, Fla., in two cars. Police said that Beatrice hadn't lived in Pennsylvania for six to eight years.

Tuesday night, police took Beatrice to an undisclosed hospital. She remains in protective custody. Authorities also placed six children, ages 2 to 17, under the care of the city's Department of Human Services. Police believe that two of the children, a 2-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, belong to Tamara Breeden, one of the four people locked in the Tacony dungeon. The children's father is one of the other victims.

Police said that they will conduct DNA testing to verify that Breeden is their mother. They also will use DNA testing to help determine the parents of the other four children. Some of the kids were extremely malnourished; Ramsey said that the 2-year-old looked more like a 6-month-old.

DHS spokeswoman Alicia Taylor said that the children were placed in foster care after medical evaluations.

"It was really about getting a roof over their heads and making sure they had a warm bed to sleep in [Tuesday] night," Taylor said.

Beatrice Higgins, of Hawthorne Street near Margaret, in Frankford, said that she rented her three-bedroom house to Linda Ann Weston about 10 years ago. She said that Weston, her boyfriend, Thomas, and her daughter lived there with a "bunch" of children. They wrapped a chain around the doorknob on the inside of the front door so that no one could get inside, she said.

"She [Weston] was on drugs and her boyfriend was crazy," Higgins said. "They set my house on fire. They said it was an electrical fire on the third floor, but there was no electrical problem. There was nothing wrong with the outlet."

"She told me the kids were on SSI and that's how she paid the rent - the kids' SSI checks."

After the fire, Higgins had them evicted. "They left in the middle of the night and there was nothing but rats in the house," she said.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< full article at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20111020__Sheer_madness_.html
 
fran said:
Well, her ex boyfriend said he called LE about Maxine Lee who died and said he believed she was not being fed and was malnurited. (sp?) Anyway, he said LE thanked him and nothing. According to one of the above links from today, I believe, Norfolk LE says they're not planning on anything further on this case. That's not what they told local LE when they contacted them.

This is why this woman was able to have so many victims. :(

JMHO
fran
Click to expand...

I just get the feeling that because they are mentally retarded, they were looked at as disposable, not only Weston but also by authorities.

One of my questions earlier was if these people were reported missing, why wasn't their SSA or SSI checks tracked. I got my answer in one of the articles. They did track it. To PA. And LE went to the house, knocked on the door and someone there said they didn't know him. Nothing further was done. It was just dropped. He was an adult and had the right to move where he wanted, blah blah blah.


It is like she was running an unlicensed group home and no one ever asked to see her license, let alone ever reported her.
 
SSA looks for answers in captivity case

4 found chained in Philly, SS checks cashed

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Social Security Administration is investigating how Linda Weston allegedly cashed disability checks of several mentally challenged people. Those people, including Herbert Knowles, of Norfolk, were found chained and locked in a Philadelphia basement.

................................... snip ............................

Hochberg told WAVY.com, bottom line, finances are where you must pay attention to detail. "People will do very bad things for money. If there's some evil person out there that wants to take advantage of a disabled person, this is the area that they'll do it in right here."

Here are some local agencies with representative payee programs:

The UP Center
Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
Center for Child and Family Services


<<<<<<<<<<<<< full article at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/norfolk/social-security-looking-for-answers
 
fran said:
'Sheer madness'

olice believe that Beatrice and the four mentally disabled adults arrived in Philadelphia about Oct. 3. Their captors drove them here from West Palm Beach, Fla., in two cars. Police said that Beatrice hadn't lived in Pennsylvania for six to eight years.

Tuesday night, police took Beatrice to an undisclosed hospital. She remains in protective custody. Authorities also placed six children, ages 2 to 17, under the care of the city's Department of Human Services. Police believe that two of the children, a 2-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, belong to Tamara Breeden, one of the four people locked in the Tacony dungeon. The children's father is one of the other victims.

Police said that they will conduct DNA testing to verify that Breeden is their mother. They also will use DNA testing to help determine the parents of the other four children. Some of the kids were extremely malnourished; Ramsey said that the 2-year-old looked more like a 6-month-old.

DHS spokeswoman Alicia Taylor said that the children were placed in foster care after medical evaluations.

"It was really about getting a roof over their heads and making sure they had a warm bed to sleep in [Tuesday] night," Taylor said.

Beatrice Higgins, of Hawthorne Street near Margaret, in Frankford, said that she rented her three-bedroom house to Linda Ann Weston about 10 years ago. She said that Weston, her boyfriend, Thomas, and her daughter lived there with a "bunch" of children. They wrapped a chain around the doorknob on the inside of the front door so that no one could get inside, she said.

"She [Weston] was on drugs and her boyfriend was crazy," Higgins said. "They set my house on fire. They said it was an electrical fire on the third floor, but there was no electrical problem. There was nothing wrong with the outlet."

"She told me the kids were on SSI and that's how she paid the rent - the kids' SSI checks."

After the fire, Higgins had them evicted. "They left in the middle of the night and there was nothing but rats in the house," she said.

<<<<<<<<<<<<< full article at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20111020__Sheer_madness_.html
Click to expand...

So LE found the four locked in the basement, but missed Beatrice locked in a closet? How horrible. I have to wonder if she heard LE in the home and was too afraid to holler out.

LW actually had custody of Beatrice??? Even after she had been convicted of murder? LOL further reading and now I have questions about if she wrote up her own custody order.

Venus is the sister she was arrested with. I wonder where she is now?
 
Cops: This wasn't woman's first scam on disabled

Philadelphia police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers said detectives were working with the FBI and authorities in other states to trace the scope of the scam. In Weston's "personal belongings," police found documents including Social Security cards and power-of-attorney forms for about 50 people, Evers said.

Evers said the son and daughter are cooperating with police.

Cameron said he met Weston in 2006 or 2007 in Killeen, Texas. He said he was shocked to learn yesterday from the Daily News that Weston previously had been convicted of murder in Philadelphia.

In 1981, Weston and a sister beat, tied up and put in a closet a man who had impregnated the sister, after he said he wouldn't support the unborn child. The man died of starvation two months later. Weston was initially judged mentally incompetent to stand trial, then was convicted in 1984 of third-degree murder.

Yesterday, Weston appeared briefly via video for her arraignment in the Tacony case. Her attorney, Michael J. Graves Jr., said afterward that a family member of hers told him that she is schizophrenic.

Weston, Thomas and Wright face kidnapping, conspiracy and related charges and were being held on $2.5 million bail each. All three are listed for a hearing Monday.

Thomas also has served time behind bars. He was convicted of a 1983 rape and served almost 10 years in state prison.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< full article at link >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://articles.philly.com/2011-10-...ston-mental-capacity-mentally-disabled-adults





PS....sorry, but this schizophrenic or bipolar, is being WAYYYY over used, IMHO.

Oh, great! Now we find out her boy friend had served time for rape!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DNASolves

Members online

... and 51 more.
Total: 1,698 (members: 52, guests: 1,646)

Online statistics

Members online
52
Guests online
1,646
Total visitors
1,698
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
616,629
Messages
18,353,845
Members
237,172
Latest member
Pawswald
Back
Top