MALDEN, Mass. — High above the quiet tree-lined sidewalks of Summer Street, behind the weathered walls of a bustling multi-family home, a nightmare was unfolding in total silence. For six agonizing weeks, a young woman was allegedly held prisoner in a filthy, dark attic—hidden just hundreds of feet from unsuspecting neighbors who had no idea a horror story was taking place right above their heads.
Details of the shocking case—first brought to light through extensive reporting by NBC 10 Boston—paint a chilling picture of captivity, coercion, and survival.
According to prosecutors, 29-year-old Jordende Pierre targeted the woman after connecting with her on a dating app. Exploiting her vulnerability and struggle with substance abuse, Pierre brought her to the Summer Street property, where the atmosphere quickly turned predatory.
Once inside, prosecutors allege Pierre transformed the home’s unfinished attic into a makeshift dungeon.
A Door Handle Removed, A Trap Sealed
The setup was as deliberate as it was cruel. Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Jacob McCrindle revealed in court that Pierre allegedly controlled the woman’s every move by removing the attic’s interior door handle whenever he left. Sealed in the dark with no handle to turn, the victim was effectively trapped.
Inside the uninsulated space, conditions were horrific. When authorities finally reached her, they found the victim naked, malnourished, and living in sheer squalor, forced to sleep on a bare mat. Beside her sat a five-gallon bucket containing urine—her only sanitation.
Prosecutors allege Pierre didn’t just hold her captive; he subjected her to relentless abuse, giving her drugs, sexually assaulting her, and forcing her into sexual servitude with a stream of men he arranged to come to the house.
The Leak That Cracked the Case
The victim’s ordeal might have continued unnoticed if not for a mundane utility issue: a water leak.
Property owner Qing Sun told NBC 10 Boston in an exclusive interview that she and her husband went to the Summer Street building on a Sunday to track down the source of water damage. Upon arrival, tenants mysteriously tried to block the couple from accessing certain areas.
Refusing to back down, the landlords pressed on until they reached the top of the house. Opening the attic door, Sun was confronted with a sight that left her paralyzed: a young, emaciated woman in distress, and a man who sprinted past them into the shadows.
Sun immediately dialed 911. Police arrived shortly after to rescue the victim and secure the crime scene.
“She clearly had not eaten, she was dirty,” ADA McCrindle told the court, recounting the harrowing state in which officers found her.
“It’s a disturbing situation,” Sun told NBC 10 Boston, adding that while shaken, she was relieved the woman was found. “I’m very happy to be able to help this young girl get back to her family.”
Sun emphasized to NBC 10 Boston that Pierre was never an authorized tenant on the property. “This guy is not on the list… Nobody’s supposed to live there.”
“Frankenstein’s Home”
News of the rescue sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, though several residents admitted the property had long carried an unsettling reputation. Neighbors recounted a “rotating cast of characters” constantly drifting in and out, late-night weeknight parties, and frequent police responses to noise complaints.
One resident bluntly nicknamed the structure “Frankenstein’s home.”
“We’ve heard rumors about that house in the past,” neighbor Tarra Sewell told reporters. “I would never, ever imagine something happening so close to my home… That’s really, really scary.”
For neighbor Kirby Tang, the realization that a human being was suffering just doors away remains haunting.
“I just feel so for her, like she was 500 feet away and we couldn’t do anything,” Tang said. “Because we didn’t hear anything.”
The Manhunt and the Charges
While the victim was rushed to safety on Sunday, Pierre initially vanished. It took a heavily coordinated, multi-agency operation involving the Malden Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service to track Pierre down and take him into custody four days later.
The capture brought relief to neighbors who watched the large tactical response unfold on their street. “There were a huge force of police. It sounds like they were very coordinated and organized,” Tang noted.
At the time of his arrest, Pierre was already out on bail for an open assault and battery with a dangerous weapon case in nearby Somerville.
Now, Pierre faces a grim slate of severe criminal charges, including:
- Trafficking a Person for Sexual Servitude
- Kidnapping
- Indecent Assault and Battery on a Person 14 or Older
Pierre is currently being held without bail as he awaits his next court appearance on Oct. 6.
Meanwhile, property owner Qing Sun says she now inspects the building weekly, hoping the tragedy serves as a warning for communities everywhere to stay vigilant.
