The biological mother of a Connecticut man allegedly held captive for decades by his stepmother has revealed new details about why she gave up custody — and vowed to be there for him now.

Heather Tessman, the half-sister of the 69-pound man known as “Male Victim One,” joined NewsNation to discuss his case.

For 14 years, Heather Tessman had looked for her half-brother, whom she'd last seen as a young child in the 1990s, yet nothing turned up in internet and public records searches beyond the fact he ...

During an exclusive sit-down interview with NBC Connecticut, Vallerand said she gave up custody of her son shortly after his ...

I have no words." Vallerand and the accuser’s half-sister, Heather Tessman, have vowed to attend the court proceedings. The biological father of the man at the center of the case died in 2024.

Family Seeks Reunion With Man Who Says He Was Held Captive for 2 Decades For 14 years, Heather Tessman had looked for her half-brother, whom she'd last seen as a young child in the 1990s ...