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

A Connecticut man, who claims he was held captive in his home for 20 years since childhood, has raised concerns about the lack of repercussions for his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, who faces charges including cruelty, kidnapping, and felony assault. During a court hearing, state prosecutor Don Therkildsen highlighted the victim's fear and confusion, expressing that the victim wondered why Sullivan was free while he was confined for so long. Sullivan pleaded not guilty and was ordered to be placed on electronic monitoring amid requests for house arrest due to concerns she might flee.

Sullivan, 57, was arrested on March 12 and posted $300,000 bail. She has denied the allegations that she locked her stepson in a small room and severely restricted his access to food and water. At the time of his rescue, he weighed just 69 pounds at 5-feet-9, raising grave concerns about his health and well-being. Before his rescue, the man had started a fire in their Waterbury home in a desperate bid for freedom, leading to a hospital visit that revealed his emaciated state.

The victim detailed his harrowing experience, stating that he had been confined with minimal freedom since around the age of 11 and that his father, Kregg Sullivan, only occasionally allowed him out for longer periods before his death last year. Noted local concerns over the victim's health were raised as he was removed from school enrollment in 2004 after educators alerted state child welfare officials, fearing for his wellbeing.

Investigations are ongoing into how this abuse could have gone unnoticed for so long. Waterbury police had previously visited the home without identifying any signs of trouble, and despite warnings from school officials regarding the victim's condition, actions taken by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) remain unclear. A former elementary school principal recalled repeated attempts to notify authorities about the victim's alarming behavior, which included stealing food and eating from trash.

The DCF has since admitted it found some records related to the family and is currently reviewing them. While officials have been secretive about the content of these records, they plan to share findings with law enforcement and state investigators as part of a broader inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the prolonged captivity and the apparent oversight in child welfare.