A young man emerged from a burning house after decades of alleged captivity. His city is now reckoning with the fallout
- A 32-year-old man escaped from a house where he endured over 20 years of captivity, abuse, and starvation by setting it on fire, according to police reports.
- Kimberly Sullivan, the man's stepmother, was arrested on charges including kidnapping, assault, and cruelty, with her lawyers planning to enter not guilty pleas on her behalf.
- The community is demanding accountability as former school officials reported concerns about the boy's well-being years ago, but no action was taken.
- A fundraiser organized by Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury has raised over $134,000 to assist the survivor in his recovery.
25 Articles
25 Articles

Family seeks reunion with man who says he was held captive for 2 decades
Relatives are hoping to reconnect with a 32-year-old man who told police he was held captive and given limited food for two decades in his Connecticut home.
A young man emerged from a burning house after decades of alleged captivity. His city is now reckoning with the fallout
City leaders face demands for accountability as residents grapple with allegations of abuse that unfolded behind closed doors at the now-boarded-up house overlooking Chase Park.
Waterbury, CT: How a man used printer paper and hand sanitizer to...
How a man used printer paper and hand sanitizer to escape an alleged 20 years of captivity by his stepmother Both sides of his door had been secured with plywood and a lock, the man would later say, to stop him from getting out. For years, he'd only been given two sandwiches – egg or tuna salad, or peanut butter – and a small amount of water each day, he'd recall, in the storage space where he was held. But now, he had a plan. P…
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