PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – An attorney says the children of two defendants in the so-called “basement of horrors” case have now been formally adjudicated dependent and they have been placed outside the city by the Department of Human Services.

Authorities say eight children had been living in the home where disabled adults were allegedly held captive to steal their government benefits.

Attorney Karen Deanna Williams says DNA tests have confirmed that her client, defendant Linda Weston, and defendant Gregory Thomas are the parents of three of the children, all teens, and DHS has placed them well outside of the city, in part because of the nature of the case.

“These are young people who are hearing about predominantly their mother. I don’t hear anything about the father, but hearing about the mother and what must be a very, very, very distressing circumstance for them because that may well not be the woman that they know,” Williams said.

The status of the remaining five children is unclear following yesterday’s long Family Court hearing, which was closed to reporters.

Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060