Inside the US home where a man was allegedly held captive for decades
Newly released photos of a Connecticut house and body camera footage from the night it was set on fire bring to life an astonishing tale of captivity and abuse that remained hidden for decades.
A 32-year-old man set the fire in February using printer paper and hand sanitiser to escape the house where his stepmother allegedly kept him locked up and nearly starving for 20 years, Waterbury Police said.
His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and felony assault charges and was released on a $300,000 bond last week.
More than 100 photos from Waterbury Police reveal dire conditions inside the home.
Some rooms are visibly charred from the fire, while others appear cluttered and decrepit due to a lack of maintenance over the years.
Mould is visible throughout the house, which is paved with broken floorboards and carpeted areas covered in dirt and trash. The ceiling appears damaged, with exposed beams, and the windows are now boarded up with plywood.
A hot pink room is cluttered with belongings, including a printer, loose plastic drawers and a leopard print cat tower.
Police captured several close-ups of charred door frames and locks in the house, where the man told officers he was allowed to leave his room only to perform chores.
The images bring to life a harrowing tale of abuse that has gripped the nation.
Concerns about the man's well-being reportedly arose when he was still a child.
Former Barnard Elementary School Principal Tom Pannone and his team contacted the Connecticut Department of Children and Families at least 20 times years ago with concerns about their then-student.
The last time he left the property was with his father, when he was about 14 or 15, he told police. After his father died in 2024, he said his captivity became even more restrictive.
"It got to a point where the only time he would ever be out of the house once his father died was to let the family dog out in the back of the property," he told police, according to an affidavit.
Those outings were "only about one minute a day" as he "essentially, was locked in his room between 22 to 24 hours a day," the sworn statement said.
A year ago, he found a lighter in a jacket that belonged to his late father, he told police. That's when he started devising an escape plan.
As for the newly freed man, Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski said, "We're committed to supporting him in every way possible as he begins to heal from this unimaginable trauma".
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