A woman from Connecticut has been arrested because she reportedly kept her “seriously merged” stepson in captivity in their house for more than 20 years, since he was 11 years old, forcing him to “endure long -term abuse, hunger, serious neglect and inhumane treatment,” said the police.
“It is really horrible and out of understanding what happened here. The unimaginable suffering of the young man in the course of two decades is just a memory of the darkness that exists in our world,” said mayor of Waterbury Paul Pernerewski on a press conference Thursday.
The now-32-year-old man is 5-foot-9 and weighed only 68 pounds when he was found, according to officials.
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The victim was discovered on 17 February, when officers of the Waterbury Police Department, together with staff from the Waterbury fire brigade, responded to a report of an active fire in a house at around 8:42 pm
The fire was quickly extinguished by the authorities and two residents were found in the house at the time. The first person was identified as the 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, the owner of the real estate that authorities called for help, and the second person was identified as a 32-year-old man who was later established as a stepson of Sullivan.
Sullivan was evacuated in safety after the fire, but the male resident, who had suffered smoke intake and exposure to the fire, had to be assisted by the staff of the Waterbury fire brigade and was placed in the care of medical emergency services.
Researchers soon realized that there was a room in the house that seemed to have external locks on the door and when they started talking to the male victim, he revealed that he was being held in the house for about 20 years.
“While he received medical care, the male victim revealed to first -responders that he had deliberately put the fire in his space above and stated:” I wanted my freedom, “said officials in their statement about the case.” He also claimed that he had been imprisoned by Sullivan since he was about 11 years old. “
Photo: Kimberly Sullivan was arrested after he has reportedly kept her stepson imprisoned in their waterbury, Conn., According to more than 20 years. The stepson would have started a fire in February 2025 to escape. (WTNH)
“After these alarming statements, the Major Crimes Unit of Waterbury Police Department, in collaboration with the Waterbury State law firm, launched an extensive investigation,” the authorities continued. “Investigators have established that the victim has been held in captivity for more than 20 years, so that long -term abuse, hunger, serious neglect and inhumane treatment endure.”
The 32-year-old was also found in a “seriously starving state and during his time in captivity in the house in the last two decades during his time in captivity did not have” according to the police.
“Researchers further discovered that he had only received minimal amounts of food and water, which led to his extremely malnourished condition,” the police continued.
When he was asked about the father of the victim, the police chief of Waterbury, Fernando Spagnolo, said that the biological father died in January 2024. The father was wheelchair -bound to a medical condition. The biological mother of the victim has not been involved in his life for about 2 years, he said.
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Sullivan's lawyer defended his client and said it was the deceased father of the victim who was responsible.
“He was not locked up in the room. She did not stop him in any way. She gave food. She offered shelter. She is blown away by these allegations,” her lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, told New Haven ABC Affiliate WTNH.
Kaloidis said that the deceased biological father of the stepson “dictated how the boy would be raised.”
“We think that if the evidence comes out, you will see that she is not the villain she was made,” Kaloidis added.
During the background investigation, the police discovered that there were two incidents in the Waterbury police in their system for that address in 2005.
The first was a request from the Ministry of Children and Families to perform a welfare check at the location, because the victim's friends had not seen him lately and worry about him, the police said. Officers went to the house and saw that it was clean, and they spoke with the victim, but at that time there was no reason for alarm or conditions that would have led to officers believing that something abnormal took place, the police said Thursday.
The DCF released a statement on Thursday evening that it states that “it has looked extensively at our current and historical databases and has not been able to find records with regard to this family, nor data related to the names of others who have indicated that they have made reports to our department.”
It further explained that records about non -under -under -build reports of abuse are usually removed every five years.
“We will continue our search and ask everyone with additional information to contact the Waterbury police,” the statement continued. “As additional information is learned, the department will be as transparent as possible while working within the parameters of both federal and national confidentiality laws.”
“These horrors serve as a reminder that it needs the diligent efforts of all members of the community – family, friends, neighbors and professionals – to protect children against abuse and neglect,” said the Connecticut DCF.
Photo: A woman was charged because she reportedly had kept her “seriously starving” stepson in captivity for more than 20 years, since he was 11 years old, and forced him to withstand “long -term abuse, hunger, serious neglect and inhuman treatment, said the police (Facebook / Waterbury Police Department)
The Waterbury police were called back in April 2005 to the house by the family who wanted to submit an intimidation claim against members of the school district. The family said that members of the school district constantly reported them to DCF and thought they were trying to bring them into trouble, the police said. There was no evidence from the family that there was some form of intimidation that took place. The police now work with DCF to look at records that they may have had from previous investigations.
Over the years it seems that the ditches used on the outside of that room as time progressed, and the victim became older and a little stronger, said officials during the Thursday press conference.
There are many physical and mental health problems that the victim now has to do with, said Spagnolo.
During the investigation, Sullivan was identified as a suspect and an arrest order was published for her on Tuesday.
Sullivan was established by the police on Wednesday and admitted by the Waterbury police in the police for accusation of mistreatment in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, illegal restraint in the first degree, cruelty for people and reckless threat in the first degree, the police said.
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“The suffering that this victim has passed for more than 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable,” said Spagnolo. “This case did not require -repellent research efforts, and I recommend the dedication of our officers and the office of the Waterbury State. Their relentless deployment ensured that justice is served and the perpetrator is held fully responsible for these horrible crimes.”
“Three -three years in law enforcement, this is the worst treatment of humanity I've ever seen,” said Spagnolo on Thursday.
Sullivan was then charged in court and her bond was set at $ 300,000. It is now expected to be placed in custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections while waiting for the process.
Kimberly Sullivan almost immediately refused to talk to the police, but has no previous criminal history, said civil servants.
Connecticut -Man who was held prisoned by Stiefmom for 20 years, weighed only 68 pounds: the police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
