A Connecticut man who claimed he was held captive for two decades was rescued after setting his room on fire in a desperate attempt to regain his freedom, police said Wednesday.
The man’s stepmother—who owns the house—now faces charges of cruelty and kidnapping.
According to the Waterbury Police Department, the woman called 911 to report a fire on Feb. 17 at around 8:40 p.m. She was able to get out of the house unscathed, police said.
The Waterbury Fire Department then found the 32-year-old man—severely malnourished—in an upstairs room. While receiving treatment for smoke inhalation, he admitted he started the fire intentionally.
“I wanted my freedom,” he told authorities, explaining that he had been kept as a prisoner for more than two decades. The man said his ordeal started when he was around 11 years old.
Investigators further discovered that the man had been given only minimal amounts of food and water, which led to his “extremely malnourished condition.”
In addition, the man had been deprived of medical and dental care throughout that time.
“The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable,” said Waterbury Police Chief Fernando 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.”
Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was identified as the man’s stepmother. She was arrested on March 12 and now faces charges including assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty, and reckless endangerment. She appeared in court Wednesday and is being held on a $300,000 bond.
“This victim, 31 years old, was 5’9”, 68 pounds,” the prosecution said during the court hearing. “He had a body mass index of 11 percent. Under 13 percent is life-threatening. He was in the stages of dying.”
Sullivan’s lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, said his client was “stunned to hear the allegations” and denies them.
“What she indicated to me was that they were absolutely not true, and as we get more information we intend to put up a vigorous defense,” Kaloidis said. “But she’s adamant she did not do the things that she’s accused of.”
He said he was still gathering information and could not immediately say whether anyone else lived in the home.
“I would encourage people not to rush to judgment,” Kaloidis said in a separate interview. “This woman is presumed innocent.”
Spagnolo said the police had gone to the house in 2005 for a welfare check after a few friends of the victim were worried because they hadn’t seen him in a while. Police then spoke to the victim, but found no cause for alarm at that time.
The family later filed a complaint to the police about being harassed by the Department of Children and Families over concerns about the child.
A former principal has now come forward claiming the child seemed malnourished and was seen drinking out of urinals in school, adding that he alerted police. Spagnolo said there was no record of the principal alerting the police.
Spagnolo said the boy had two siblings who had moved out of the house and mentioned a great fear of “retaliation” kept the situation at the house under wraps.
“So far, the evidence collected and the information received reveals that Kimberly Sullivan is the sole responsible person,” Spagnolo said.
The investigation is ongoing.
