CT Woman arrested for keeping step-son prisoner for decades
THE DETAILS …
A House of Horrors Unveiled: The Shocking Case of Kimberly Sullivan
In a chilling case that has gripped Waterbury, Connecticut, 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan was arrested and charged with a litany of serious offenses, including assault, kidnapping, and cruelty, following allegations that she held her stepson captive for over two decades. The accusations paint a grim picture of prolonged abuse, with the victim, now 32, alleging he was confined to an 8-foot-by-9-foot room for 22 hours a day, subjected to inhumane conditions without heat or air conditioning, and denied basic medical and dental care. Sullivan’s arraignment on Wednesday brought these disturbing claims to light, with prosecutors likening the victim’s emaciated state— weighing just 68 pounds at the time of his rescue—to that of a Holocaust survivor, underscoring the severity of the alleged neglect and starvation.
A Desperate Escape Through Fire
The victim’s harrowing escape from his alleged torment came on February 17, when he intentionally set fire to his tiny second-floor bedroom in their Waterbury home, a desperate act to secure his freedom. First responders, arriving to extinguish the blaze, found the man in critical condition, suffering from smoke inhalation and exposure, and it was during his medical treatment that he confided in rescue crews about the years of captivity. The fire, while destructive, became the catalyst for his liberation, exposing the horrific conditions he endured. Police investigations following the incident revealed a pattern of severe neglect and abuse, leading to Sullivan’s arrest after a warrant was issued. The case has drawn comparisons to nightmarish scenarios, with prosecutors describing the facts as “something out of a horror movie,” highlighting the extreme nature of the allegations against Sullivan.
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Legal Proceedings and Sullivan’s Defense
During Sullivan’s court appearance, her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, vehemently denied the charges, asserting that Sullivan “did not do the things she’s accused of” and expressing her intent to vigorously defend herself. Sullivan’s defense claims the allegations are “absolutely not true,” insisting that the stepson was not restrained or mistreated, and that she provided food and shelter. Despite these denials, the court set Sullivan’s bond at $300,000, reflecting the gravity of the charges, which include kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint, and reckless endangerment. As the legal proceedings continue, with Sullivan’s next court date scheduled for March 26, the case raises profound questions about accountability, oversight, and the mechanisms that allowed such alleged abuse to persist undetected for so long, leaving the community and authorities grappling with the fallout of this disturbing saga.