A 58-year-old Connecticut man was arrested for confining his sister to a filthy, feces-strewn room for years.
Police have charged Arthur Gauvin with reckless endangerment and cruelty and unlawful restraint for keeping his sister locked in a bedroom inside their family home, the New York Daily News reported. When authorities found his sister, who has not been named, inside the room the odor was so overpowering they needed hazardous material suits.
The sister, whom Gauvin was apparently supposed to be caring for, was found weak and underfed. The room had only one window that was painted black and the bed and walls were covered in urine and feces, Seymour Police Deputy Chief Paul Satkowski told the newspaper.
Gauvin was arrested after an anonymous person told the Police on Thursday they were concerned about the sister's wellbeing. The brother was released on $20,000 bail, but was rearrested after police heard him threatening a family member, the Daily News reported.
In addition to his sister, Gauvin lived in the house with other family members including children. The house was placed under Gauvin's control after his sister signed the house over to him nearly seven years ago.
The brother was to take care of his sister for nine years before Connecticut would pay for her wellbeing, according to the newspaper.
It is not clear why Gauvin locked his sister away, nor is it clear why she needed to be looked after. Gauvin could have done it so the state would not take the house away, the Daily News reported.
The sister was removed from the house and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Gauvin's bail was increased to $145,000 after police heard him threaten his relative. He now faces additional charges of witness tampering. Gauvin was arraigned on Friday and is still in custody, the newspaper reported.
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