56-Year-Old Mother Arrested for Allegedly Holding 32-Year-Old Stepson Captive for Two Decades

A woman has been arrested and charged with holding her stepson captive for 20 years.

The suspect, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arraigned on Wednesday, March 12, on a series of disturbing charges, including assault and kidnapping.

Her 32-year-old stepson, whose name has not been disclosed, set fire to a small upstairs bedroom in their Waterbury home on February 17.

When first responders arrived to extinguish the blaze, they discovered the emaciated man, weighing just 68 pounds. Prosecutors described his condition as “akin to a survivor of Auschwitz’s death camp” at the time of his rescue.

While being treated for smoke inhalation, the stepson revealed to rescue crews that he had intentionally started the fire as a means to escape.

‘I wanted my freedom,’ the man allegedly told police.

He revealed that he had been held captive since he was about 11 years old in an 8-foot-by-9-foot room with no heating or air conditioning.

A thorough investigation has led authorities to conclude that the man “had been held in captivity for over 20 years, enduring prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment.”

During that time, he had received no medical treatment or dental care.

Chief Fernando Spagnolo said: “The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable.

“This case required relentless investigative effort, and I commend the dedication of our officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office.

“Their unwavering commitment ensured that justice is served, and the perpetrator is held fully accountable for these horrific crimes.”

Sullivan is being held on a $300,000 bond after being arraigned on Wednesday.

Her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, stated that Sullivan intends to vigorously defend against the charges.

‘She’s adamant she did not do what she’s accused of,’ Kaloidis said.

Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don Therkildsen described the ‘facts of the case’ as, ‘quite frankly, something out of a horror movie’.

‘That’s without exaggeration,’ he added.

According to WFSB, the victim ‘lit a fire with some hand sanitizer [and] some paper from a printer.’

Prosecutors told the court during Sullivan’s arraignment that the man ‘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.