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 two decades, is questioning why his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, remains free despite being charged with serious crimes, including cruelty, kidnapping, and felony assault. During a recent court hearing, prosecutor Don Therkildsen highlighted the victim's fear and bewilderment regarding Sullivan's freedom, which he expressed when they met. Therkildsen urged the court to place Sullivan under house arrest, fearing she might flee due to the serious nature of the charges.

Sullivan, 57, pleaded not guilty and was released on a $300,000 bail after her arrest in March. She has denied the allegations that she confined her stepson in a small room, which resulted in him becoming severely malnourished and weighing only 69 pounds at the time of his rescue. The authorities reported that the man had been living under deplorable conditions, enduring prolonged periods of isolation since he was around 11 years old.

In an attempt to escape this unimaginable situation, the now 32-year-old man set a fire in their home in February, prompting a rescue by firefighters. During his hospital treatment, he revealed that he had been locked away, with his father allowing him only brief periods of freedom before his passing. It was documented that he had even been unenrolled from school due to concerns raised by educators regarding his well-being when he was younger.

The incident has raised questions about the oversight of homeschooling practices and the involvement of child welfare agencies in Connecticut. Waterbury police confirmed that they had visited the Sullivan residence multiple times but found no cause for concern. Moreover, a former school principal indicated that staff had repeatedly communicated worries about the victim's physical state, with reports of him stealing food and scavenging, but it remains unclear what actions were taken in response.

Officials from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) stated they initially could not find relevant records regarding the family but have recently uncovered some documents and are reviewing them. The man reportedly faced threats from Sullivan to keep him silent regarding their living conditions, adding to the complexity of the situation and highlighting systemic failures that allowed such neglect to persist for so long.