Man held in captivity by stepmother for 20 years, say police

A 32-year-old man who weighed less than 70 pounds was rescued from a home in Connecticut after he set it on fire was the victim of years of neglect by his stepmother, police allege.

The man’s stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, is now facing a slew of charges, including kidnapping, unlawful restraint, and cruelty.

Police said in a statement that first responders in the city of Waterbury, Connecticut, rescued the man from an upstairs room after they were called to a house fire in February.

While the man was receiving treatment for smoke inhalation, he revealed that he had intentionally set the blaze using hand sanitizer, an old lighter and some printer paper, police said.

“I wanted my freedom,” the man said, according to police.

The man added that he had been held captive since he was about 11 years old.

An investigation revealed that the man, who has not been publicly identified, “had been held in captivity for over 20 years, enduring prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment,” police said.

They added that he had not received any medical or dental care during that time.

“The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable,” Chief Fernando Spagnolo said in a statement.

Sullivan was arraigned and held in lieu of $300,000 bond on Wednesday on charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty and reckless endangerment.

The suspect was “stunned to hear the allegations” and denied them, her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, said.

“What she indicated to me was that they were absolutely not true, and as we get more information we intend to put up a vigorous defense,” Kaloidis said over the phone.

“But she’s adamant she did not do the things that she’s accused of.”

Kaloidis said he was still gathering information about the case and could not immediately say whether anyone else lived in the Waterbury home.

Source: independent.co.uk