A 32-year-old man in Waterbury, Connecticut, managed to escape the captivity and abuse he allegedly suffered at the hands of his stepmother for more than two decades by setting a fire in their home. The man was severely emaciated and had not received medical or dental care for years. He had been locked in a small room and subjected to starvation, neglect, and abuse. The stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful restraint, and other crimes.
The man, who was only identified as MV-1, weighed 68 pounds when he was found and had been locked in an 8-by-9-foot room since the 4th grade. He was only allowed out for chores in the mornings before being locked away again. He described being mentally conditioned by Sullivan and feared longer lock downs and further diminishment of food if he spoke out about his situation.
Authorities were made aware of the situation after the man set the fire to escape. Despite concerns raised by family members in the past about the man’s condition, Sullivan was successful in hiding the abuse from the public eye. Investigators found that governmental officials had deemed the homeschooling plan adequate in 2005, and there had been no contact with law enforcement or other officials in the years since then. The case highlighted the extreme inhumane treatment suffered by the man and the failure of those closest to him to take action to help him.
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