The half-sister of a man who was held captive and starved in a Connecticut house of horrors for decades is seeking justice for his tragic ordeal. Heather Tessman, who spent years searching for her brother, expressed outrage after his dramatic rescue from a burning Waterbury home revealed a disturbing pattern of alleged abuse that authorities likened to a horror movie.
The victim’s stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, has been charged with cruelty and kidnapping after he accused her of keeping him locked in a small room, starving him, and depriving him of water to the extent that he had to drink from the toilet bowl.
Heather Tessman, who shares a biological mother with the victim, had only met her brother once when she was 3 years old. She had been relentlessly searching for him since he turned 18. Tessman condemned the stepmother and stepsisters, insisting they deserve solitary confinement for life and to be held accountable for their actions.
Tessman described her shock upon discovering the truth and emphasized the urgency of reaching out to her brother to let him know he is cared for. The victim, who weighed a mere 68 pounds upon rescue, is currently recovering in a hospital. The disturbing details of his captivity only came to light after he bravely escaped by setting the house on fire and seeking help.
Authorities described the victim’s condition as comparable to a survivor of Auschwitz’s death camp due to the prolonged abuse and neglect he endured. Despite Sullivan’s claims of innocence, Tessman is determined to seek justice for her brother and ensure he knows he is valued and supported.
Her court appearance is scheduled for March 26.
