'The system failed him.' Half-sister of Waterbury captive man calls stepmother a 'monster'
Heather Tessman and the 32-year-old victim share the same mother, who has asked to remain anonymous.
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The half-sister of a rescued Waterbury man said the system is to blame for her brother’s 20 years in captivity at a home on Blake Street.
Heather Tessman and the 32-year-old victim share the same mother, who has asked to remain anonymous.
“I was put into foster care. I was adopted by lovely people. I was lucky. The system failed him,” Tessman said.
In an audio interview with morning talk show program Chaz & AJ that was shared with News 12, Tessman said she made multiple attempts to locate her half-brother through his biological father’s email but was unable to find any information.
“I have no kind words. I’m disgusted, I’m disappointed. How could you be such a monster? How could you do that to a child?” Tessman said.
Tessman said she met her half-brother once, when he was still a newborn. She said she is willing to reconnect and help him through his recovery.
“He needs to know he has family—be it estranged—but family that loves him, and we never stopped,” Tessman said.
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'Heartbreaking.' Waterbury woman kept stepson hostage for 20 years
Released 911 call and body camera footage from the rescue:
A GoFundMe account setup by Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury has raised more than $110,000 to help cover costs for the 32-year-old man's medical, dental care, counseling and housing.
