Landlord Checking Water Leak Finds Woman Allegedly Held Captive in Attic for Six Weeks

A landlord checking a water leak at a Massachusetts home discovered a woman who prosecutors say had been held captive in an unfinished attic for about six weeks by a man she met on a dating app.

Jordende Pierre, 29, is accused of sexually assaulting the woman, giving her drugs and arranging paid sexual encounters with other men while keeping the proceeds. He pleaded not guilty in Malden District Court on Sept. 25, 2026, to trafficking a person for sexual servitude, kidnapping and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older.

Pierre was ordered held without bail pending an Oct. 6 dangerousness hearing.

The woman was found Sept. 20 inside a multifamily home on Summer Street in Malden, about five miles north of Boston. Police described her as appearing unwell and disoriented, while prosecutors said she was malnourished and had been living in squalid conditions with a mattress on the floor and a bucket being used as a toilet.

She told investigators she met Pierre on Tinder while staying at a rehabilitation facility, according to a police report filed in court. Pierre allegedly picked her up and brought her to the Malden property.

Investigators say Pierre gave her drugs, arranged sexual encounters with other men for money and kept the proceeds. The woman told police the encounters occurred about 16 times and that Pierre also forced her to have sex with him. She said she feared what would happen if she refused and sometimes went days without food.

Authorities allege Pierre removed the handle from the attic door to keep her from leaving. She told investigators she was allowed out only a few times during the period she was allegedly confined.

The allegations involving paid sexual encounters form the basis of the trafficking charge. Massachusetts law allows prosecutors to charge someone with trafficking for sexual servitude when the person causes another to engage in commercial sexual activity or knowingly receives money or something of value from that conduct. A conviction carries five to 20 years in state prison, including a five-year mandatory minimum.

The kidnapping charge centers on the alleged confinement. Massachusetts law covers forcibly or secretly confining or imprisoning another person against their will, and physical force is not always required. State jury instructions say threatened force can be enough when it constrains someone from leaving.

Malden police responded after the landlord discovered the woman and began investigating the property. Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Pierre on Sept. 23.

Pierre was arrested the following day in Malden by the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and Malden police. Federal authorities said the charges stem from allegations that the woman was held against her will and sexually abused for approximately six weeks.

Pierre was already on release in a separate Somerville case involving assault and battery and weapons charges when the alleged captivity occurred, according to court records.

The investigation remains open, and authorities have indicated that additional charges involving other people are possible. Pierre is scheduled to return to court Oct. 6 for the dangerousness hearing.