A Connecticut man who endured two decades of captivity in a single room has detailed the horrific conditions he suffered, authorities say.
The 32-year-old, who was rescued from his stepmother’s home, told investigators he had been confined since he was 11 years old, subjected to extreme deprivation and cruelty, according to digi24.ro.
The now 32-year-old was kept in a room without heat or air conditioning and was given only two sandwiches and two glasses of water per day.
When authorities discovered him, the man—who stands 1.75 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall—weighed just 31 kilograms (68 pounds) and was near starvation. Also, due to a complete lack of dental care, his teeth frequently broke when he ate.
He rationed the small amount of water he received, using it to wash himself without soap and to cut his own hair.
Without access to a bathroom, he devised a way to dispose of waste by creating a makeshift drainage system using straws and a hole in the window. Each morning, he was permitted to leave his room for a limited time—ranging from 15 minutes to two hours—to complete household chores before being locked away again.
He told authorities the last time he left the house was nearly 20 years ago, when he was just 14 or 15.
The man was finally rescued after setting fire to the house using a lighter, hand sanitizer, and printer paper, according to CNN.
He found the lighter in a jacket that had belonged to his father, who passed away a year ago.
"I wanted to gain my freedom," he told police.
His stepmother, 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, cruelty, and other crimes. She was released on Thursday after appearing in court in Waterbury, Connecticut, and posting $300,000 bail.
The victim was treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation and diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo, reflecting on his 33 years in law enforcement, described the case as the most severe instance of inhumane treatment he had ever encountered.
