Philly basement case suspects face court today

Three suspects who police say held four mentally disabled adults captive in a filthy basement as part of a Social Security fraud scheme will make their first appearances in court today.

Linda Ann Weston, Eddie Wright and Gregory Thomas are charged with kidnapping, assault, false imprisonment and other counts. They are slated to appear at a hearing in Philadelphia’s Common Pleas Court.

Update, 10:40 a.m. WHYY/NewsWorks reporter Tom MacDonald tells us from court: A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 19 while attorneys in the meantime evaluate the competancy of the accused. Weston’s attorney says he’ll know by the end of the week whether he’ll need an evaluation for his client, but says a review of Weston’s competancy is likely.
Original report The victims were discovered by a landlord on Oct. 15. Police say they were malnourished, and that one was chained to a boiler. The case’s details have only become more gruesome since then.

Charges have also been filed against Weston’s daughter, who is slated for court Wednesday.