Woman in “Basement of Horrors” Case Pleads Guilty

One woman in the “Basement of Horrors” case in Philadelphia has pleaded guilty.

Jean McIntosh entered a surprise guilty plea today. McIntosh is the daughter of Linda Ann Weston, who federal prosecutors say was the ringleader of a scam where they defrauded mentally disabled people of their Social Security benefits.

Four people were found locked in a basement in Tacony in October 2011. The federal goverment took over the case last year, saying Weston led a group that stole from the mentally disabled for 10 years starting in 2001. Prosecutors say two people died in their care.

“Weston and her co-defendants warehoused these people while soaking up Social Security payments,” Zane David Memeger said last year. “Victims were tied up and confined like zoo animals and treated like property akin to slaves. […] They controlled them by beating or threatening them, fed them low-energy diets, and drugged them to keep them calm. She forced two of the female victims into prostitution in order to obtain additional money.”

McIntosh — who is listed in court documents as Jean but who the Daily News says goes by Jane — pleaded guilty to charges including hate crimes against the disabled and kidnapping resulting in death. She admitted to beating this one person — who later died — with fists, sticks, hammers, and bats alongside her mother. Prosecutors didn’t say if she’s cooperating. She faces a mandatory life sentence.

The city was sued over the case in 2012; one victim got $45 million.

The four other defendants in the case have pleaded not guilty.

[KYW 1060]