After receiving a tipoff, police rescued four elderly men from a converted Houston garage where they had been held for an unknown period of time. Neighbors saw the men on the lawn occasionally, but the unfurnished garage had bars over the windows and there were locks and nails in the door. The men appeared malnourished when released. All three were sent to the hospital.
The four men, ages 79, 74, 65 and 54, were apparently lured to the house by promises of alcohol and cigarettes, then forced to turn over their government-issued checks. According to police, at least one was a veteran, and at least three appeared mentally disabled. 31-year-old Walter Jones, the grandson of the owner of the house and grandson of one of the men, was arrested and charged with elder abuse, Fox News reports. Jones has previously been charged with possession of marijuana, theft, and failure to register as a sex offender. Police say that Jones had power of attorney over the men.
The man who didn’t go to the hospital was taken for questioning, according to Reuters. Police believe 10 people were living in the 1,400 sq. foot home.
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