Waterbury, Connecticut – A Connecticut man who said they kept him captive for 20 years was rescued after burning his room and telling the first to answer that he did it to win his freedom, police said Wednesday.
The stepmother of man was accused of cruelty and kidnapping.
The first to respond to Waterbury rescued the 32 -year -old demacrated man from a room above after they were deployed in a firefire last month, police said in a statement. While being treated by smoke inhalation, he revealed that he intentionally put the fire.
“I wanted my freedom,” said the man, according to the police. He said he had kept captive since he was about 11 years old.
An investigation revealed that the man, whose name was not released, “had been in captivity for more than 20 years, supporting prolonged abuse, hunger, severe negligence and inhuman treatment,” said the police, and added that he had not received medical or dental attention during that time.
“The suffering that this victim suffered for more than 20 years is heartbreaking and unimaginable,” said Chief Fernando Spagnolo in a statement.
Kimberly Sullivan, 56, identified as man’s stepmother, was accused of assault, kidnapping, illegal moderation, cruelty and reckless danger. It was prosecuted on Wednesday and retained instead of a bail of $ 300,000.
Sullivan’s lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, said his client was “stunned to hear the accusations” and denies them.
“What she told me was that they were not absolutely true, and as we get more information, we intend to put a vigorous defense,” Kaloidis said by phone. “But she is inflexible, did not do the things she is accused of.”
He said he was still collecting information and that he couldn’t say immediately if someone else lived at home.
