An emaciated man, 32, says he was held in his room for 20 years and set it on fire to gain his freedom, according to police. His stepmother was charged with cruelty and kidnapping.

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

A Connecticut man allegedly held captive and starved by his stepmother for more than two decades escaped the small room he had been locked away in by setting their house on fire, authorities said Wednesday.

A 32-year-old Waterbury, Connecticut man burned his stepmother's home down last month, revealing to police he had done so to escape 2 decades of captivity and abuse. 56-year-old stepmother Kimberly Sullivan was arrested on March 12 and has been charged with assault,

A man intentionally started a fire in a room he had allegedly been held captive in for more than 20 years during an attempt to escape. Police in Connecticut were called on Feb. 17 for a report of an active fire at a Blake Street residence in Waterbury.