Death connected to basement case was meningitis

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities in Virginia have wrapped up their investigation into the death of a woman who had been in the care of a benefits fraud suspect charged with locking four mentally disabled adults in a filthy Philadelphia basement.

Norfolk police tell the Philadelphia Daily News a review of Maxine Lee’s 2008 death showed she died of bacterial meningitis. That’s the same conclusion as the initial investigation.

Officials reopened Lee’s case after her former caretaker was arrested last month when an apartment building landlord discovered the basement victims.

Philadelphia police suspect Linda Ann Weston ran a massive fraud operation targeting disability benefits. She and four others are in custody awaiting preliminary hearings.

Norfolk police spokesman Chris Amos tells the Daily News no charges are planned in Lee’s death.

Lee was originally from Philadelphia.