Man held captive for 20 years asks prosecutors why stepmother is free after being charged

A Connecticut man has expressed confusion over why his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, is not incarcerated despite facing charges related to his alleged 20-year captivity. Sullivan, 57, appeared in court on charges of cruelty to persons, kidnapping, and felony assault, to which she pleaded not guilty. During the hearing, a state prosecutor highlighted the victim’s fear and confusion, stating that he questioned why Sullivan was free while he was imprisoned in a room for so long.

Sullivan, who was arrested on March 12 and subsequently posted a $300,000 bail, faces serious accusations of keeping her stepson locked in a small room with severe dietary restrictions that left him weighing only 69 pounds when he was finally rescued. The 32-year-old man reportedly set a fire in the home in February to escape, leading to his rescue and hospitalization due to malnutrition.

In court, Sullivan’s attorney argued against a request for house arrest, asserting that she had complied with all conditions of release and expressed concern for her safety, citing threats made against her. The prosecution, however, emphasized the man’s terrifying experience and the need for monitoring to ensure public safety.

The man’s harrowing ordeal began when he was about 11 years old, with reports indicating that his father had allowed him some freedom before passing away last year. He had been unenrolled from public school in 2004 due to concerns from educators about his well-being, which triggered involvement from state child welfare officials, although the effectiveness of those interventions is now under scrutiny.

Authorities have vowed to investigate how such neglect could go unnoticed for so long, especially since past visits by police and child welfare workers had not raised alarms. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families is now reviewing records that may shed light on the family's history after initially being unable to locate pertinent documents.