Police rescued eight people –four men and four women — held hostage inside a Houston home dubbed a “prison room.” The men range from ages 50-80.
The bust brought and end to a scheme to defraud the victims out of welfare, Social Security, and veteran checks. In what was called “deplorable conditions” some of the men, one of which was held captive for 10 years, were “given scraps to eat” while the captor cashed their checks.
Houston Police Department spokesperson Jodi Silva said the men were held in a garage with no bed and one chair. Some of the men were unable to walk. Four women were also found living inside the house in more “normal” conditions. Three of the women appeared to suffer from mental disabilities, the other was a caretaker.
Authorities don’t have a clear idea of how they were abducted. “One of them seemed to think he was picked up off the street and brought here,” said HPD Sgt. JW McCoy said. “In exchange for beer and cigarettes and a place to stay, he had to turn over his Social Security check.”
One male suspect was taken into custody. A mother, son, daughter and grandchild also lived at the residence.
See photos below.
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Photo: CNN
