WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — A former classmate of the man allegedly held captive by his stepmother for 20 years spoke to NewsNation affiliate WTNH about going to school with him. 

Ashley Sanchez said she attended first to fourth grade with the victim. They attended the former Barnard Elementary School on Draher Street. 

“I remember he would bring a lunch bag but there wasn’t really anything in there so he’s looking around and he sees us eating,” she said. “Back then, I was obsessed with ham sandwiches and mustard, and I would just give him half or I would just give him my lunch.”

According to the arrest warrant, the victim told police his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, rarely fed him. He was given two sandwiches and two cups of water a day. 

Sanchez said the victim had dark eyes, purple lips and wore baggy clothes. She remembers he had a smaller frame than the other students. Sanchez doesn’t recall seeing him outside of school during holidays or summer vacation. After Sullivan pulled the victim out of school, detailed in court documents, Sanchez thought he and his family had moved away. 

“A lot of us went to Chase Park right across the street from where he lived and you wouldn’t think just the street over there was a kid locked in a room,” she said. 

Police said the boy, now 32 years old, set fire to his home last month to escape captivity. WTNH obtained the 911 call made by Sullivan that night.

The dispatcher asks her what’s on fire and Sullivan replies, “the tv, I don’t know, my son, my stepson, he’s in his room, I don’t know, he did something with the tv.”

The dispatcher then asks if she sees flames or smoke. Sullivan replies yes and pleas for an ambulance. 

Police body camera video shows first responders approaching Sullivan and the victim being carried out by firefighters. 

Police said he suffered smoke inhalation but had other medical issues including rotten teeth and malnourishment.

Police and lawyers are combing through evidence, trying to find out what really happened inside the home. In the meantime, Sanchez has this message for her former schoolmate. 

“Many of his former classmates do still care for him,” she said. “We are hoping he pushes through and hopefully he heals fully.”