Why stepson wasn't reported missing after being 'held captive' by mum for 20 years in 'house of horrors'

Despite not being seen since he was 10 years old by friends and school teachers, a man claiming he was held captive for 20 years by his stepmother was only recently found, and never reported missing.

Earlier this year, a man from Waterbury, Connecticut, set fire to the home where he had allegedly been held captive in for over 20 years, by stepmother Kimberly Sullivan.

Despite essentially disappearing off the face of the Earth at the age of 10, the man's former school and nearby neighbours have explained why he was never reported as missing.

Kimberly, 56, is now facing a number of charges, including assault, kidnapping, and unlawful restraint, having reportedly kept her stepson locked inside his own room for more than 20 years.

Missing children have often dominated the news, especially when they are found after a significant amount of time, but in this tragic case, many people weren't even aware of the man's existence.

Police say there was only Kimberly and the stepson in the home at the time of the fire. (Waterbury Police Department)

He had attended Barnard Elementary School in Waterbury until fifth grade (age 10) before being pulled out, with the former school headteacher told that he had transferred and later that he was being homeschooled. The school raised concerns on a number of occasions, due to him being 'constantly hungry' and even eating food from the bin.

Tom Pannone, the former principal of the now-closed school, said: "We knew it. We reported it. Not a damn thing was done. That's the tragedy of the whole thing. Everyone really was concerned with this child since he was 5 years old. You knew something was wrong. It was grossly wrong.

"I hope the student remembers the staff at Barnard School and how much they really loved him. Sorry we couldn't do more. Because you went through more than any of us ever will go through with our lives."

Despite contacting Department of Children and Families (DCF) 'over 20 times', the boy was told to lie to police and everything was deemed to be ok.

She faces a number of charges. (Waterbury Police Department)

The man eventually risked his own life to escape, somehow setting a fire using hand sanitiser and printer paper, before being collected by police and sharing the horrific details of his last 21 years, in which he claims he was kept captive.

Having been fed very little food and water over the years, the now 32-year-old man weighed just 68 pounds (31kg) at the time of his escape.

A state prosecutor described the case as 'something out of a horror movie', while police also detailed the 'endured prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect and inhumane treatment' that the man was put through over the last two decades.