Engine 11 was first on the scene, and when a member of the crew came out of the home carrying a 5-foot-9, 68-pound person covered in soot, Stoeckert assumed he was a young teenager.

“Over my 37-year career, we’ve had plenty of arson fires, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard that someone lit a fire to be rescued from their confinement,” Stoeckert says.

“To start a fire in a room that small (8’x9’), just hoping that we were going to get there in time to get him out – that …” he takes a long pause, “It’s a different feeling.”

  • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
    381·
    11 days ago

    He also got to see the good that’s still there too.

    Detectives took up a collection and shopped for some things the man might need – clothes, books, puzzles to pass the time – then put together a care package, complete with gift bags and tissue paper, Brownell says.

    Having seen the conditions the young man was living in, Brownell wondered, “Does he even know how to receive a gift?”

    It turns out, he does.

    “He’s appreciative. It put a smile on his face. He was very curious,” he says of the sweet, friendly person who greeted him with a warm smile in the hospital.

    “He’s just kind of staring at it, like, ‘What could be in there?’”

    Residents have offered to help with his care. Some say they plan to come out to demonstrate their support for him when his stepmother has her day in court. And to date, a fundraiser organized by Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, a non-profit that serves people facing domestic violence, has raised over $134,000 to help him recover.

      • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
        9·
        11 days ago

        There will likely be a massive lawsuit against the state and possibly the police force involved … which he should win.

        My wish is that he can surround himself with some of those good people to help him on his way.

        • RowRowRowYourBot@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          61·
          11 days ago

          Hopefully he can go after his step-mother and her family. There’s zero chance multiple people weren’t aware of this and they must be held accountable.