Man Charged After Woman Allegedly Held Six Weeks in Attic

By Taylor Bennett. Oct 2, 2026

A Dating App Meeting Led to an Attic

A woman who met a Massachusetts man on a dating app was allegedly held for about six weeks in an attic before authorities found her, according to prosecutors and police reporting. Jordende Pierre, 29, now faces charges including trafficking a person for sexual servitude, kidnapping and indecent assault and battery.

The woman told investigators she met Pierre about six weeks earlier through Tinder and that he picked her up from a rehabilitation facility before bringing her to a home in Malden, according to reporting based on the police report. Prosecutors allege she was kept in the unfinished attic and was unable to leave freely.

The allegation that makes the case especially striking is simple: authorities say the attic door handle had been removed. The woman told police she remained in the attic for weeks, leaving only a small number of times before police became involved. The case turns an ordinary residential space into the center of a kidnapping and trafficking investigation.

A Landlord’s Visit Brought the Case to Light

The property owner told NBC Boston and other local outlets that she and her husband went to the Summer Street property because of a water leak. She said people inside initially tried to keep them away from parts of the house. When they reached the attic, they encountered the woman and called for help.

Authorities have described the woman as malnourished when she was found. Police reporting cited by the Boston Globe says she told investigators that Pierre controlled access to food and arranged encounters with other men while taking the money. Those claims remain allegations in a pending criminal case.

Pierre was not a registered tenant at the property, according to the landlord. Police continued investigating after the woman was found, and an arrest warrant was issued. Pierre was arrested on Sept. 24. Prosecutors have said the investigation could lead to additional charges or additional people being charged.

Pierre Pleaded Not Guilty

Pierre pleaded not guilty at his Sept. 25 arraignment. He was held without bail, according to local reporting. The charges describe alleged conduct over a period of weeks rather than a single encounter, and prosecutors are relying on the woman’s account along with evidence gathered from the Malden property.

Reporting also indicates Pierre was already on release in a separate Massachusetts case when he was arrested. That earlier case is distinct from the new allegations and does not establish guilt in the Malden case.

The woman survived and was removed from the home. Her identity has not been publicly disclosed in the reporting reviewed for this article. The criminal case against Pierre is now moving through court, where prosecutors will have to prove the allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted.

References: People | WCVB