A woman allegedly held her “severely emaciated” stepson in captivity for over 20 years, since he was 11 years old, and forced him to endure “prolonged abuse."

The stepson of a Connecticut woman told detectives he had been held captive for two decades, beginning at the age of 11. Although his former principal and elementary school reportedly told authorities about the now-grown man's alleged mistreatment,

An investigation into a house fire in Waterbury has led to the arrest of a woman accused of holding her stepson captive for decades.

A man held captive by his stepmom for 20 years deliberately set fire to their home last month in Connecticut to escape because he wanted his freedom, police said.

“Detectives determined that the victim had been held in captivity for over 20 years, enduring prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect and inhumane treatment,” police said. “He was found in a severely emaciated condition and had not received medical or dental care during this time.”

Police in Connecticut say a house fire revealed a man being held against his will by his stepmother for decades. Police in Waterbury say on February 17, the victim, who is a 32-year-old man, set fire to the room he was allegedly being held in.