Incident Overview

A woman from Waterbury, Connecticut, named Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested on Wednesday after her stepson reported he had been held captive in her home for more than 20 years. The man, now 32, revealed that his imprisonment began when he was just 11 years old.

Rescue and Discovery

The alarming situation came to light following a fire at Sullivan’s residence on February 17, which prompted emergency services to respond. Firefighters discovered both Sullivan and her stepson inside the burning house. While Sullivan was evacuated safely, her stepson had to be assisted by firefighters and subsequently received treatment for smoke inhalation.

Allegations of Abuse

During his medical evaluation, the man disclosed to emergency responders that he intentionally set the fire as a desperate plea for freedom. He claimed that Sullivan had subjected him to severe mistreatment, including abuse and neglect. Authorities noted that he was found in an alarming state, weighing just 68 pounds and displaying signs of severe malnutrition.

Conditions of Captivity

Investigators learned that the man endured a horrific existence during his captivity. He reported receiving minimal food and water and had not received any medical or dental care for years. Conditions in his storage-like room—a mere 8-by-9-foot space—were described as worse than those of a jail cell, lacking basic amenities such as proper heating or cooling.

According to the stepson, he was typically allowed out of his room only for one to two hours per day to perform household chores. His limited contact with the outside world consisted of listening to a radio and educating himself with a few permitted books.

Police Investigation and Charges

Following the discovery, detectives questioned Sullivan, who was found in a car with her daughter. She first denied any wrongdoing, claiming that her stepson had been taken to a psychiatrist and that he had access to his room. However, investigators noted that the door to his room had a slide lock on the outside, indicating otherwise.

Sullivan was subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including:

• Assault in the first degree
• Kidnapping in the second degree
• Unlawful restraint in the first degree
• Cruelty to persons
• Reckless endangerment in the first degree

Legal Representation and Future Proceedings

Sullivan’s lawyer contested the claims made by the stepson, asserting that the allegations do not fully represent the situation. Attorney Ioannis Kaloidis argued that Sullivan provided food and shelter and remarked that her stepson’s biological father shared the residence until recently.

“He was the biological father. He was the one who dictated how his son would be raised,” Kaloidis stated, expressing confidence that the evidence would reveal Sullivan in a more favorable light.

During her arraignment, Sullivan’s bond was set at $300,000, and she is currently held at the Connecticut Department of Corrections.