Connecticut Man Escapes Captivity, Accuses Stepmother of 20-Year Abuse

A Shocking Case of Captivity and Abuse in Connecticut

A 32-year-old man in Connecticut set fire to his home in a desperate attempt to escape two decades of alleged captivity and starvation at the hands of his stepmother.

Police and fire officials arrived at the Waterbury home on February 17th after the stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, called 911. The victim, whose name has not been released, told first responders that he had intentionally set the fire in his upstairs room, stating, "I wanted my freedom." He further alleged that he had been held captive by Sullivan since he was approximately 11 years old.

Sullivan, 56, was arrested and charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty, and reckless endangerment. She has denied the allegations and was released from jail after posting a $300,000 bond.

Police found the victim in severe condition, with one official comparing him to a survivor of a Nazi death camp. He had an adolescent mental function and weighed only 68 pounds. He showed signs of cachexia, a physical wasting syndrome usually associated with victims of severe cancers.

The victim said that his stepmother kept him locked in an eight by nine foot room most of the day, only letting him out to go to school or do household chores. He was allegedly made to defecate onto newspapers laid out onto the floor and urinate in a bottle, while suffering from hunger.

At school, he would beg classmates for food or scavenge from trash cans. He was too afraid to escape and knew his stepmother had a gun.

Sullivan's lawyer maintains her innocence, calling the allegations "outlandish." School officials and police had visited the home in the past but did not find cause for further investigation.

The victim reportedly decided to light the fire on the spur of the moment, using hand sanitizer, paper, and a lighter he had found while doing his chores. He alleges his stepmother and a third individual rushed to wash his face and try to remove the lock from his door to conceal the conditions of his captivity.