Police: 63-Year-Old Disabled Man Held Captive In Basement For Social Security Checks
By Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia police are investigating disturbing allegations of abuse after detectives freed a disabled man who was allegedly being held captive for his social security checks.
The 63-year-old victim is deaf and mute, so through his brother he explained to Eyewitness News how he says he was abused by 56-year-old Dwayne Young for months -- a man the family describes as an acquaintance.
Robert Richardson, the victim's brother said, "He was physically abused. No scars, but the body was being beaten. He said he was getting no food and he was urinating in a bucket."
Police confirm they arrested Young after they found the victim locked inside the basement of a Southwest Philadelphia home on Sunday. Investigators say the victim was held against his will after he was abducted off the street at 18th and Washington in April.
Richardson explained, "A lot of things were taken from him, his wallet, his ID."
In addition, the family says his social security checks were cashed by the suspect. Police say that was the motive behind this heinous crime which is similar to another, unrelated case involving Linda Weston where police allege Weston kidnapped and assaulted her mentally disabled victims in a Tacony basement to profit from her victims' social security benefits.
"I was angry. It's enough to make anybody angry," Richardson said.
In this case, police say Young kept the basement relatively clean but kept the door locked from the outside and the windows boarded up so that the victim couldn't see out and no one could peek in.
Richardson concluded, "I hope he doesn't see sunlight again. He needs to rot in jail. I just hope he never comes out. He needs to get what he deserves."
Richardson believes his brother's social security checks came out to at most $600 a month.
Young was charged Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Forgery, Receiving Stolen Property and related offenses. As of Wednesday night, Young remained in jail with his bail set at $1,000,000.
