Stepson held captive by stepmom for over 20 years set fire to get ‘freedom,’ CT cops say
A 32-year-old man who was found “extremely emaciated” told first responders he purposely set a fire in his upstairs room, revealing he had been held captive by his stepmother since he was about 11 years old, police in Connecticut said.
“I wanted my freedom,” he told officers and firefighters after the fire was extinguished at a home in Waterbury on Feb. 17, according to the Waterbury Police Department.
Authorities were alarmed and began investigating, according to police, who said they discovered the man was held captive for more than 20 years by Kimberly Sullivan, the other occupant inside the home on 2 Blake St.
The investigation confirmed the man was Sullivan’s stepson and that he was abused, starved, neglected and endured “inhumane treatment” during his time in captivity at the residence, police said.
“He was found in a severely emaciated condition and had not received medical or dental care during this time,” authorities said, and “investigators further discovered that he had been provided with only minimal amounts of food and water which led to his extremely malnourished condition.”
The man weighed 68 pounds, according to prosecutors, WVIT reported.
Officers arrested Sullivan, 56, on March 12 on charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment, police said.
Sullivan contends she’s innocent, according to her defense attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, who told WVIT that “these allegations are not true.”
“She was blown away when she heard these allegations,” Kaloidis said, according to the TV station. “We look forward to being able to vindicate her and show that she’s done nothing wrong.”
When authorities responded to the fire on Feb. 17, police said Sullivan evacuated herself from the home and her stepson was still inside.
He was helped outside by firefighters and began receiving emergency medical treatment, as he had inhaled smoke and was exposed to the fire, according to police.
The man was locked in his room when he started the fire using hand sanitizer and printer paper, a prosecutor said in court on March 12, WFSB reported.
“He lit that fire very well knowing he could die, but he had been locked in the room for 20 years, and for 20 years he’d been trying to get out of that room,” the prosecutor said, according to the outlet.
An arrest warrant was issued for Sullivan on March 11 as a result of the investigation, according to police.
According to the warrant, the man’s room had a slide bolt lock on the outside of the door, WVIT reported.
The 8-foot-by-9-foot room lacked heating and air conditioning for years, since the man was a student in fourth grade, prosecutors said, according to WVIT.
“The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable,” Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said in a statement.
Sullivan was arraigned on March 12 and had her bond set at $300,000, authorities said. She’s to be detained by the Connecticut Department of Corrections.
“This case required relentless investigative effort, and I commend the dedication of our officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office,” Spagnolo said. “Their unwavering commitment ensured that justice is served, and the perpetrator is held fully accountable for these horrific crimes.”
Waterbury is about a 30-mile drive southwest from Hartford.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Stepson held captive by stepmom for over 20 years set fire to get ‘freedom,’ CT cops say."
.jpg)