WATERBURY, Conn. — A Connecticut woman has been arrested for allegedly holding her "severely emaciated" stepson in captivity at their home for over 20 years, since he was 11 years old, and forcing him to endure "prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment," police said.
"It's truly horrifying and beyond comprehension what occurred here. The young man's unimaginable suffering over the course of two decades is just a reminder of the darkness that does exist in our world," Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said at a press conference Thursday.
The now 32-year-old man was 5-foot-9 and just 68 pounds when he was found, according to officials.
The victim was discovered on Feb. 17, when Waterbury Police Department officers, along with personnel from the Waterbury Fire Department, responded to a report of an active fire at a residence at approximately 8:42 p.m.
The fire was quickly extinguished by authorities and two occupants were found inside the home at the time. The first person was identified as 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, the owner of the property who called authorities for help, and the second person was identified as a 32-year-old man who was later determined to be Sullivan's stepson.
Sullivan was evacuated to safety following the fire but the male occupant, who had suffered smoke inhalation and exposure to the fire, had to be assisted from the home by Waterbury Fire Department personnel and was placed in the care of emergency medical services.
Investigators quickly realized there was a room in the house that appeared to have exterior locks on the door and, as they began speaking to the male victim, he disclosed he was being held captive in the house for approximately 20 years.
"While receiving medical care, the male victim disclosed to first responders that he had intentionally set the fire in his upstairs room, stating, 'I wanted my freedom,'" officials said in their statement regarding the case. "He further alleged that he had been held captive by Sullivan since he was approximately 11 years old."
"Following these alarming statements, the Waterbury Police Department Major Crimes Unit, in collaboration with the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, launched an extensive investigation," authorities continued. "Detectives determined that the victim had been held in captivity for over 20 years, enduring prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment."
The 32-year-old was also found in a "severely emaciated condition and had not received medical or dental care" during his time in captivity inside the home over the past two decades, according to police.
"Investigators further discovered that he had been provided with only minimal amounts of food and water which led to his extremely malnourished condition," police continued.
When asked about the victim's father, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said that the biological father died in January 2024. The father was wheelchair bound from a medical condition. The victim's biological mother has not been involved in his life from since about 2 years old, he said.
Sullivan's lawyer defended his client and said it was the victim's late father who was responsible.
"He was not locked in the room. She did not restrain him in any way. She provided food. She provided shelter. She is blown away by these allegations," her lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, told New Haven ABC affiliate WTNH.
Kaloidis said the stepson's late biological father "dictated how the boy would be raised."
"We think as the evidence comes out, you will see she's not the villain she's being made out to be," Kaloidis added.
During the background investigation, police found that there were two incidents in the Waterbury Police Department had in their system for that address in 2005.
The first was a request from the Department of Children and Families to do a welfare check at the location because the victim's friends had not seen him lately and were concerned about him, police said. Officers went to the house and saw that it was clean, and they spoke to the victim but at that point in time, there was no cause for any alarm or any conditions that would have led officers to believe anything abnormal was occurring, police said Thursday.
Waterbury police were called back to the house in April 2005 by the family who wanted to file a harassment claim against members of the school district. The family said members of the school district were continuously reporting them to DCF and felt that they were trying to get them in trouble, police said. There was no proof provided by the family that there was any type of harassment that was occurring. Police are now working with DCF to look at records that they may have had from previous investigations.
Throughout the years, it appears the locks used on the exterior of that room increased as time progressed, and the victim got older and a bit stronger, officials said at Thursday's press conference.
There are a lot of physical and mental health issues that the victim is now dealing with, Spagnolo said.
During the investigation, Sullivan was identified as a suspect, and an arrest warrant was issued for her on Tuesday.
Sullivan was located by police on Wednesday and taken into police custody by the Waterbury Police Department on charges of assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree, police said.
"The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable," said Spagnolo. "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."
"Thirty-three years in law enforcement, this is the worst treatment of humanity that I've ever witnessed," Spagnolo said Thursday.
Sullivan was subsequently arraigned in court and her bond was set at $300,000. She is now expected to be placed in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections while she awaits trial.
Kimberly Sullivan refused to talk to police almost immediately but does not have any prior criminal history, officials said.