He requested to be recognized solely as “S” to guard his identification.“My title is my selection, and it’s the first of many selections I’ll make for myself now that I’m free,” mentioned the 32-year-old man who set a Connecticut residence on hearth in February to flee the place the place he allegedly endured greater than 20 years of captivity, abuse and hunger by the hands of his stepmother.“This isn’t the title given to me by my dad and mom after I was born. I’m selecting a brand new title for myself, and I’ll use that title as I reclaim management over my life and my future,” he mentioned in his first public assertion shared by a spokesperson Tuesday.Freedom arrived Feb. 17, when he used a lighter to start out a hearth that led first responders to a small room at 2 Blake Avenue in Waterbury, Connecticut. The 5-foot-9 man was coated in soot and weighed solely 68 kilos.Video above: Police launch new photos from inside residence of lady accused of holding man captive for 20 yearsMonths after the case – identified by some as Waterbury’s “home of horrors” – captured the nation’s consideration, the sufferer is talking out “to start the method of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is instructed,” he mentioned.His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, has pleaded not responsible to felony expenses together with kidnapping, assault and illegal restraint. She is accused of confining her stepson since he was round 11, in line with her arrest warrant.Sullivan, who has maintained her innocence via her attorneys and claims the allegations are false, stays beneath home arrest and was ordered by a decide to put on an digital GPS monitoring machine whereas she is launched on bail. A spokesman for her attorneys mentioned Tuesday there was no quick remark.“I’m a survivor of greater than 20 years of captivity and home abuse,” the survivor mentioned in his assertion. “I used to be held prisoner in my residence from the time I used to be taken out of the fourth grade at age 11 till two months in the past at age 31 after I purposely set the hearth that helped set me free.”He thanked the “first responders, the regulation enforcement investigators and everybody who’s working to carry these answerable for my abuse accountable.” He expressed gratitude to the employees at Protected Haven Waterbury, a middle that provides help to victims of home abuse, and individuals who donated to a GoFundMe in his title. He additionally thanked the well being care professionals “who’ve helped and nurtured me,” alongside along with his attorneys.The survivor mentioned he “is significantly better and stronger than I used to be the day the primary responders carried me out of my residence. I’m past grateful for the care I’ve obtained since then. To all of the well being care professionals who’ve helped and nurtured me, thanks.”‘This isn’t only a story. It’s my life.’He requested folks with information of his story to cooperate with authorities, and for the general public and media to respect his privateness.“This isn’t only a story. It’s my life,” he mentioned. “Thanks all to your ideas and messages, your help and your continued prayers as I get better.”The sufferer instructed investigators he was locked in a storage room with extra locks added over time, surviving every day on two sandwiches – egg salad, tuna, or peanut butter – and a small quantity of water.By his teenage years, he mentioned, he was constrained to his room 22 to 24 hours a day. To alleviate himself, he devised a makeshift funnel to direct urine out the window utilizing straws, in line with an affidavit included with the warrant.The abuse could have begun even earlier than his alleged captivity. He instructed police that by fourth grade, he was scavenging for meals at evening, prompting Sullivan to lock him in his room. Finally, he was faraway from college and was solely allowed out to finish chores.Regardless of two wellness checks by the state’s Division of Kids and Households and police visits in 2004, the alleged mistreatment went undetected. On the time, authorities reported discovering a house that appeared clear and “lived-in,” in line with Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo, and no additional motion was taken.In January 2024, the person’s father died, leaving Sullivan as his sole caretaker. Based on the person, Sullivan’s management over him grew much more restrictive.The person instructed investigators it received to some extent the place “the one time he would ever be out of the home as soon as his father died was to let the household canine out behind the property” and just for about one minute a day, in line with the affidavit.Search warrants later revealed plywood and locks on the door to his room, corroborating his account of confinement.In his assertion Tuesday, the survivor shared a glimpse into his restoration.“I appreciated the possibility to have my first ever celebration to rejoice turning 32,” he mentioned.CNN’s Dakin Andone, Alaa Elassar, Yon Pomrenze, Brynn Gingras and Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.
He requested to be recognized solely as “S” to guard his identification.
“My title is my selection, and it’s the first of many selections I’ll make for myself now that I’m free,” mentioned the 32-year-old man who set a Connecticut residence on hearth in February to flee the place the place he allegedly endured greater than 20 years of captivity, abuse and hunger by the hands of his stepmother.
“This isn’t the title given to me by my dad and mom after I was born. I’m selecting a brand new title for myself, and I’ll use that title as I reclaim management over my life and my future,” he mentioned in his first public assertion shared by a spokesperson Tuesday.
Freedom arrived Feb. 17, when he used a lighter to start out a hearth that led first responders to a small room at 2 Blake Avenue in Waterbury, Connecticut. The 5-foot-9 man was coated in soot and weighed solely 68 kilos.
Video above: Police launch new photos from inside residence of lady accused of holding man captive for 20 years
Months after the case – identified by some as Waterbury’s “home of horrors” – captured the nation’s consideration, the sufferer is talking out “to start the method of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is instructed,” he mentioned.
His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, has pleaded not responsible to felony expenses together with kidnapping, assault and illegal restraint. She is accused of confining her stepson since he was round 11, in line with her arrest warrant.
Sullivan, who has maintained her innocence via her attorneys and claims the allegations are false, stays beneath home arrest and was ordered by a decide to put on an digital GPS monitoring machine whereas she is launched on bail. A spokesman for her attorneys mentioned Tuesday there was no quick remark.
“I’m a survivor of greater than 20 years of captivity and home abuse,” the survivor mentioned in his assertion. “I used to be held prisoner in my residence from the time I used to be taken out of the fourth grade at age 11 till two months in the past at age 31 after I purposely set the hearth that helped set me free.”
He thanked the “first responders, the regulation enforcement investigators and everybody who’s working to carry these answerable for my abuse accountable.” He expressed gratitude to the employees at Protected Haven Waterbury, a middle that provides help to victims of home abuse, and individuals who donated to a GoFundMe in his title. He additionally thanked the well being care professionals “who’ve helped and nurtured me,” alongside along with his attorneys.
The survivor mentioned he “is significantly better and stronger than I used to be the day the primary responders carried me out of my residence. I’m past grateful for the care I’ve obtained since then. To all of the well being care professionals who’ve helped and nurtured me, thanks.”
‘This isn’t only a story. It’s my life.’
He requested folks with information of his story to cooperate with authorities, and for the general public and media to respect his privateness.
“This isn’t only a story. It’s my life,” he mentioned. “Thanks all to your ideas and messages, your help and your continued prayers as I get better.”
The sufferer instructed investigators he was locked in a storage room with extra locks added over time, surviving every day on two sandwiches – egg salad, tuna, or peanut butter – and a small quantity of water.
By his teenage years, he mentioned, he was constrained to his room 22 to 24 hours a day. To alleviate himself, he devised a makeshift funnel to direct urine out the window utilizing straws, in line with an affidavit included with the warrant.
The abuse could have begun even earlier than his alleged captivity. He instructed police that by fourth grade, he was scavenging for meals at evening, prompting Sullivan to lock him in his room. Finally, he was faraway from college and was solely allowed out to finish chores.
Regardless of two wellness checks by the state’s Division of Kids and Households and police visits in 2004, the alleged mistreatment went undetected. On the time, authorities reported discovering a house that appeared clear and “lived-in,” in line with Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo, and no additional motion was taken.
In January 2024, the person’s father died, leaving Sullivan as his sole caretaker. Based on the person, Sullivan’s management over him grew much more restrictive.
The person instructed investigators it received to some extent the place “the one time he would ever be out of the home as soon as his father died was to let the household canine out behind the property” and just for about one minute a day, in line with the affidavit.
Search warrants later revealed plywood and locks on the door to his room, corroborating his account of confinement.
In his assertion Tuesday, the survivor shared a glimpse into his restoration.
“I appreciated the possibility to have my first ever celebration to rejoice turning 32,” he mentioned.
CNN’s Dakin Andone, Alaa Elassar, Yon Pomrenze, Brynn Gingras and Lauren Mascarenhas contributed to this report.
