Connecticut Woman Arrested for Allegedly Holding Stepson Captive for Two Decades

Kimberly Sullivan, a 56-year-old Connecticut woman, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after her 32-year-old stepson alleged that she held him captive for two decades, beginning when he was just 11 years old. The Waterbury Police Department made the announcement via a Facebook post, detailing the horrific conditions the man reportedly endured during his captivity. The charges against Sullivan include first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment. She is currently being held on a $300,000 bond.

The allegations have sent shockwaves through the community, with many questioning how such a prolonged period of abuse could have gone unnoticed or ignored. According to charging documents, the victim’s former principal and elementary school staff had reported concerns about his well-being to authorities years ago, suggesting that the system failed to protect him. Furthermore, the stepson claims that even his own relatives were aware of his plight but did nothing to intervene.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo expressed his dismay at the details of the case, stating that the victim’s suffering was "heartbreaking and unimaginable." He commended the dedication of the officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office for their relentless investigative effort, which he said ensured that justice will be served and the perpetrator held accountable.

Sullivan’s attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that his client has never been in trouble and has never harmed anyone. He urged the public not to rush to judgment and expressed confidence that she will be vindicated as the facts emerge.

The events leading to Sullivan’s arrest unfolded on February 17th, when Waterbury Police and Fire responded to a fire at her home on Blake Street. Sullivan was able to evacuate the house, but her stepson remained inside. Firefighters rescued him from the burning building, and he was treated for smoke inhalation and exposure to the fire.

During treatment, the stepson revealed that he had intentionally set the fire in his upstairs room using a lighter, hand sanitizer, and paper. He told first responders that he "wanted his freedom," and then alleged that Sullivan had held him captive since he was 11 years old.

The subsequent police investigation revealed the extent of the alleged abuse. The stepson was found to be severely emaciated and had not received any medical or dental care during his captivity. Investigators determined that he had been given minimal amounts of food and water, leading to his extreme malnutrition.

According to an arrest warrant obtained by USA TODAY, the stepson’s appearance upon exiting the home was shocking. His hair was matted, he was very dirty, and all of his teeth were rotten. He told police that Sullivan kept him locked inside his bedroom with a lock on the outside of the door.

The stepson recounted harrowing details of his life in captivity. He recalled sneaking out of his room at night as early as three years old to find leftover food and drink. When Sullivan discovered his scavenging, she began locking him in his room every evening. He remembered drinking water from the toilet because he was only given about two cups of water a day and had to steal food from children at school or search for it in the garbage. He emphasized that a lock was always on the outside of his room.

Tom Pannone, the former principal of Barnard Elementary School, where the stepson attended before being pulled from school in the fourth grade, expressed his frustration and sadness. He recalled that he and his staff had noticed the boy was extremely small and thin. When they questioned him, he revealed that he was sometimes denied food at home. Pannone stated that everyone was concerned about the child, knowing that something was grossly wrong. He lamented that despite reporting their concerns, no action was taken to protect the boy.

The arrest warrant further detailed the stepson’s routine. After being pulled from school, his captivity became brutally consistent. Sullivan allegedly kept him locked away for multiple hours every day, only allowing him out for short periods to do chores. His only respite was on the weekends when his father allowed him to watch TV or help with yard work while Sullivan and his sisters were away.

The situation reportedly worsened after the stepson’s father died. He told police that his captivity and restraint intensified, and he was only given two sandwiches and two small water bottles per day. He was forced to use the water bottles and newspapers to dispose of his waste.

The stepson claimed that relatives, including his sisters, knew about his situation but did nothing to help. He worried that Sullivan would withhold the sparse food and light she provided if he told anyone about his experiences. He described his constant hunger as a defining aspect of his life.

The lock on his door, he said, evolved from a chain lock to a padlock and eventually to a slide bolt lock. Police described his living space as a back storage space on the second floor of the residence, measuring eight feet by nine feet with angled ceilings, no heat in the winter, and no air conditioning in the summer.

After his father’s death, the stepson was only let out for one minute a day to let the family dog out. He was locked in his room for 22 to 24 hours a day. To bathe, he used clean water from a separate bottle, as he was not provided with soap or shampoo. He told police that he had not cut his hair in three years.

His only connection to the outside world was a radio that was kept outside his bedroom. He used the radio and a calendar to keep track of time. Despite being at a fourth-grade reading level, he was given only a few books a year. He told police that he used these books and a dictionary to educate himself. He even credited his reading for knowing that hand sanitizer was flammable, which he used to start the fire.

Sullivan initially told detectives that she did not know what had happened and that she woke up to the smoke and went to her stepson’s room. She claimed that he ran through the fire. When asked about his mental health, she said that he had "a lot of problems but isn’t diagnosed with any conditions" because his father was against using doctors. She did admit to taking him to a psychiatrist a few times because he had mentioned hurting himself in the past.

Evaluations of the stepson following the fire revealed physical limitations, including decreased arm and leg abilities. His mental health assessment showed that he tested positive for PTSD and depression.

Sullivan’s attorney maintained that she was stunned by the allegations. Sullivan told detectives that her stepson was not locked inside his room and that he had "free reign of the house." The investigation is ongoing, and the community awaits further details as the case progresses through the legal system.