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Four homeless men found in Texas 'dungeon' | Four homeless men found in Texas 'dungeon' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Four homeless men have been found in squalor in a house in Houston, Texas, where they were held for up to 10 years, police said. | Four homeless men have been found in squalor in a house in Houston, Texas, where they were held for up to 10 years, police said. |
The men, three locked in a garage and a fourth in the home, were malnourished and "almost invalids", said police. | The men, three locked in a garage and a fourth in the home, were malnourished and "almost invalids", said police. |
They told officers they had been lured to the house with promises of beer and cigarettes, then were forced to hand over monthly benefits cheques. | |
One person was reportedly taken into custody, according to the AP. | One person was reportedly taken into custody, according to the AP. |
Police are investigating whether four women found at the house were also being held captive. | |
Those four - a grandmother, daughter, granddaughter and another woman - are described as mentally challenged. | Those four - a grandmother, daughter, granddaughter and another woman - are described as mentally challenged. |
'Deplorable' | |
Three of the rescued men, who range in age from mid-50s to 80 years, have been taken to hospital. | |
Police were alerted when a concerned neighbour reported the presence of the men at the house. | Police were alerted when a concerned neighbour reported the presence of the men at the house. |
Steven Murdock, a police sergeant, described the living conditions as "deplorable", saying the space was like a "dungeon". | Steven Murdock, a police sergeant, described the living conditions as "deplorable", saying the space was like a "dungeon". |
He added that at least one of the men was a military veteran. | He added that at least one of the men was a military veteran. |
Neighbours in the working-class, residential area of north Houston expressed shock. | Neighbours in the working-class, residential area of north Houston expressed shock. |
Police were seen moving in and out of the house as bystanders watched. | Police were seen moving in and out of the house as bystanders watched. |
The property was sealed off with police tape. |
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