Man rescued after being held captive for two decades

In the United States, a 32-year-old man was rescued from a life of captivity when he started a fire in the home he shared with his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan. He reported being held in a small room since he was approximately 11 years old, indicating decades of abuse. Medical personnel found him severely malnourished following his rescue on February 17, 2025. This shocking case came to light after authorities investigated a house fire in Waterbury, Connecticut, with the man revealing that he had been denied food and water and confined for the majority of his life. Tracy Vallerand, the biological mother of the captive man, shared insights into her past when she lost custody of her son shortly after his birth in 1993. Vallerand had previously lost custody of her daughter, Heather Tessman, due to allegations regarding child abuse. Following the collapse of her relationship, she believed she was making a better decision for her son by allowing him to live with his father, Kregg Sullivan. Regrettably, she stated that she would have acted differently had she been aware of the negligence and abuse her son would face. Kregg Sullivan, the child’s father, passed away last year, leaving Kimberly Sullivan to care for him alone. The young man reported being confined in an 8-by-9-foot room, emerging only briefly for chores. Authorities, including the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, had received complaints about the family but found the claims unsubstantiated and erased records after five years. This has raised numerous questions about the accountability of the involved agencies and whether they adequately monitored the family situation. Heather Tessman has been searching for her half-brother for 14 years, frustrated with the lack of information available in public records. Following his rescue, she expressed her love for him and her desire to support him. Alongside her mother, she believes that both the stepmother and state officials failed to protect her brother. This incident calls into question not only the responsibilities of family members but also systemic failings that allowed the prolonged abuse to persist without intervention.