Police observed an 'extremely emaciated' man being taken from the home after it caught fire in February 2025.
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School officials contacted DCF 20 times before boy spent 2 decades in bedroom: claim
School officials contacted the Department of Children and Families 20 times before a boy spent two decades captive in a room, according to a recently filed claim.
An arrest warrant reviewed by PEOPLE described the room as an eight-by-nine-foot storage space with angled ceilings.
According to the publication, a court-appointed conservator for the man, who is referred to in the documents as "S," has filed a claim seeking permission to sue the State of Connecticut for its alleged failure to remove the man from Sullivan's care, despite school officials making 20 calls to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) decades prior to his rescue.
The claim states that Tom Pannone, who was the principal of Barnard Elementary School when the man was a student, "indicated in an interview that he knew 'S' was being abused and reported the abuse to DCF, and not a damn thing was done." Pannone further indicated that "'S' was very small and thin and reported to administrators that he wasn't allowed food at the family home since he was 5." Pannone reportedly said that "school officials called DCF at least 20 times" in regard to the situation, per the publication.
The claim alleges that if DCF had properly investigated early reports of abuse, the man would have been "freed and allowed to live a normal life outside of captivity, without torture or abuse."
Exner told the publication that she will be seeking at least $50,000 in damages on behalf of the man. PEOPLE noted that the filing must first be approved by the commissioner's office before she would be allowed to formally proceed with a lawsuit.
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