Elderly Men Held in Dungeon Up to 10 Years for Social Security Checks
Channel: WesterNNews
Date: 19/07/2013

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Four elderly men being held in a "dungeon" garage were discovered in a North Houston home on Friday. Police believe the men were being held captive for their social security checks.

Ages 79, 54, 74 and about 65, at least one of the men found had been held in the house for over 10 years, according to local news stations. The men appeared to be living in poor conditions and were being held against their will.

"They were prisoners in that house," Houston Police Department Sgt. Steve Murdock said according to The Houston Chronicle.

Police were alerted to the home after a 911 call was made. The report said the men, three of whom were found sleeping on the linoleum garage floor, were living in "deplorable" conditions. At least one man appeared to be underfed, three of the men were transported to a nearby hospital. The fourth man was being interviewed by police.

Monica Booker, whose mother lives in the neighborhood, told The Chronicle that a mother, son, daughter and granddaughter all lived at the house. She also alleged that she had seen elderly men living there for years. Police said the house was equipped with elaborate locks.

"It's so upsetting," Booker said.

Police believe that the men may have been invalids. Some of them ex-military, it is possible that they were all homeless and living on the streets.

"One of them seemed to think he was picked up off the street and brought here," said Police Sgt. JW McCoy, according to KTRK. "In exchange for beer and cigarettes and a place to stay, he had to turn over his Social Security check."

Three of the men taken from the home were unable to walk. It is still unclear who placed the 911 call, but a police investigation has been launched.