Connecticut Woman Charged with Holding Stepson Captive for Over 20 Years

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, faces multiple charges after her stepson, 32, escaped by setting a fire in the home where he endured decades of alleged abuse and neglect.

The victim, a 32-year-old man, was discovered severely malnourished, weighing just 68 pounds, after setting a fire to escape a locked room in Waterbury, Connecticut.
He told police he had been held captive by his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, since he was 11 years old, enduring starvation, neglect, and inhumane treatment.
The room where he was confined was an 8-by-9-foot space without heat or air conditioning, and he was forced to use bottles and newspapers as a substitute for a bathroom.
School staff raised concerns about his well-being in the early 2000s, reporting signs of neglect and hunger to authorities, but no effective action was taken.
Sullivan denies the allegations, with her attorney stating she intends to fight the charges, which include kidnapping, assault, and cruelty to persons.