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Judge Considering Sentence For Suspects In North Philly Human Trafficking Case

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A Philadelphia judge is considering the sentence for two people who pleaded guilty in a human trafficking and torture case.

This week the judge heard from the two victims, young women, subjected to unimaginable torture for weeks and months.

The victims were lured to a North Philadelphia home, held with threats and horrible abuse, and their money was stolen.

And one troubling question was repeated by the victims and their family members, how could people do this to other human beings?

The victims were routinely beaten, tortured, one of the women was burned repeatedly and defendants Tamara Rhoades and Steven Mills laughed.

Both victims still suffer physically, emotionally and psychologically.

The mother of one of the victims says it's been a devastating ordeal.

"I don't go to bed until one o'clock in the morning, two o'clock in the morning, because I just want to make sure she is asleep, everybody is where they are supposed to be. I am like the watch dog," says the mother.

Hanson: "And she's afraid?"

Mother: "And she is afraid, we are all scared. She is afraid and I am afraid for her."

The judge will impose a sentence later this month.

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