Connecticut Woman Denies Holding Stepson Captive for 20 Years as Court Case Advances

Kimberly Sullivan pleads not guilty to charges of kidnapping, assault, and cruelty, while the victim recovers and calls for systemic reforms grow louder.

Kimberly Sullivan appeared in court on March 26, 2025, where her attorney announced she would plead not guilty to allegations of holding her stepson captive for over 20 years.
The victim, now 32, claims he was confined to a locked room with limited food and water since age 11, escaping by setting the house on fire in February 2025.
Evidence supporting the victim's account includes severe malnutrition, weighing only 69 pounds at 5-foot-9, and physical locks on the door to his room.
The victim's biological family, who had searched for him for years, has not been allowed contact as he recovers at an undisclosed location due to the ongoing investigation.
The case has prompted calls for increased oversight of home-schooling and child welfare systems in Connecticut, with lawmakers and advocacy groups pushing for reforms.