Four homeless men freed from Houston ‘dungeon’

GlobalPost
The World

Four homeless men found living in "deplorable conditions" in a Houston garage told police Friday they were held captive after being lured by promises of food and cigarettes so their captors could cash their public-assistance checks.

Three of the four men, who range in age from mid-50s to 80 years old, were malnourished and taken to a hospital after being discovered by police responding to a 911 call from a neighbor about the home. Sgt. Steven Murdock described the living conditions as like a "dungeon."

At least one of the men is a military veteran.

Investigators have yet to determine how long the men were held captive there, but they said it could have been weeks.

More from GlobalPost: Cleveland kidnapper Ariel Castro indicted on new charges, now faces 977 counts

The men told investigators they were forced to live in the home's garage — which had only one chair, no bed and a malfunctioning air conditioner — so their captors could cash their assistance checks. Police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said they were "given scraps to eat."

"They clearly stated to us they were being kept against their will," she said.

Police are also investigating whether four women found at the house were being held captive as well. Three of the women — a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter — have been described as mentally disabled. The fourth woman appeared to be a caretaker.

Police described living conditions inside the home itself as more normal.

One person, who did not appear to live in the house, has been detained, but no charges have been filed.

Do you support journalism that strengthens our democracy?

At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.

Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!