Man held captive for 20 years

[Allan]

This poor man was held captive by his step mother for 20 years.

He set the house on fire to get help.

CNN —
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 two small bottles of water a day, he’d recall, in the storage space where he was held.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/us/waterbury-connecticut-man-captive-stepmom-hnk/index.html

 

[Utility Man]

How very sad.

"......After the fire, an officer who saw the man described him as “extremely emaciated.” He stood 5-foot-9 and weighed 70 pounds. He was dirty. His hair was matted. All his teeth looked rotten........

.......Waterbury detectives, themselves shaken by the inhumanity they say they’ve been investigating, took up a collection to buy the man clothes, books and other items that might make him more comfortable.

“We’re committed,” Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski said, “to supporting him in every way possible as he begins to heal from this unimaginable trauma that he suffered.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/us/waterbury-connecticut-man-captive-stepmom-hnk/index.html

 

[Threegoofs]

That story is just insane.

 

[Jessie C]

That woman is one horrible excuse for a human being and deserves to spend the rest of her life locked up in isolation. 5 foot 9 inches and 70 pounds says it all. What a tragedy. I hope this young man can recover from this.

 

[Artymoon]

So much weirdness to this story. Were these the last two left in their extended families? Seems like someone at some point over the years would begin to question where's Johnny? I can't even imagine this person being locked up and basically tortured his entire life. I don't know what the punishment should be but a den of lions or a walk off the plank come to mind.

Glad to see the agencies and town are rallying to help him.

 

[Rumpel]

How can that be possible?

 

[dseag2]

I saw a brief mention on the news this morning. How horrible. In the picture they showed of Kimberly Sullivan she looked like Baby Jane. She was nuts and I hope this young man can get past this.

 

[Josie]

That reminds me of the horrific story of Elisabeth Fritzl. People are demented.

This Man Held His Daughter Captive In A Room For 24 Years And Had 7 Kids With Her

Elisabeth Fritzl spent 24 years in captivity, confined to a cellar and repeatedly tortured at the hands of her own father.

allthatsinteresting.com