Warning: This article contains details and imagery some readers may find upsetting
Sickening photos from inside the 'house of horrors' where a man was allegedly kept captive by his stepmother for over 20 years have finally been released.
An unnamed 32-year-old man in Waterbury, Connecticut, launched a daring escape from the house where his stepmom Kimberly Sullivan is accused of keeping him locked inside a tiny room since the age of 11 by intentionally setting fire to it.
After being discovered by police, with the 5 ft 9 man weighing just 31kg, they quickly realised something was very wrong and shocking details quickly emerged on how he was reportedly taken out of school and forced to live on little food and water in a tiny space for over two decades.
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Tragically, former teachers have come forward to share more details which back up the man's claims, suggesting that he would regularly try and eat from a bin during the few years he was permitted to attend school.
And now, with Sullivan still on bail - which led to the alleged victim asking a heartbreaking question - Waterbury Police Department have shared some truly disturbing photos from inside the house where the man has sadly spent much of his life.
The pictures show a cluttered and messy home that clearly fell into disrepair over many years, and was only made worse by the damage from the fire the victim started.
An ominous lock is pictured, presumably where the man was allegedly kept inside his room, while there is also junk piled high in certain areas of the house.
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The man also claims that he was made to urinate and defecate using a bottle and newspaper which was inside his room, with him being denied access to the bathroom.
The areas which look to have been inhabited by Sullivan appear slightly tidier and cleaner, but still highlight the horrible conditions the victim would have been subject to.
Sullivan's husband, and the man's father, reportedly passed away last year and the 56-year-old's attorney Ioannis Kaloidis is claiming that he was the one who dictated how his son would be raised.
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“These allegations are not true. They are outlandish. She was blown away when she heard these allegations,” Kaloidis said, per NBC Connecticut.
“We look forward to being able to vindicate her and show that she’s done nothing wrong.”
While a final verdict has not yet been delivered after Sullivan posted the reported $300,000 bail, police have already described it as 'one of the worst acts of inhumanity' they have ever seen.
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Waterbury Police Chief, Fernando Spagnolo, said: “The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable. This case required relentless investigative effort, and I commend the dedication of our officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office.
"Their unwavering commitment ensured that justice is served, and the perpetrator is held fully accountable for these horrific crimes.”
Sullivan denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on March 28.
James Moorhouse