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, expressed concerns about his stepmother's release after she was charged with various crimes, including cruelty, kidnapping, and felony assault. During a recent court hearing, prosecutor Don Therkildsen revealed that the victim, now 32, questioned why his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, was allowed to walk free while he was imprisoned in a room for so long. Therkildsen emphasized the man's fear, prompting a request for house arrest to prevent potential flight.

Kimberly Sullivan, 57, was arrested on March 12 and subsequently posted $300,000 bail. She has denied the allegations that she confined her stepson in a small room, where he suffered severe malnutrition and weighed only 69 pounds when rescued. Sullivan's attorney argued against the house arrest, stating that she has adhered to all bail conditions and that threats against her life could escalate if confined to one location.

The victim reportedly set a fire in his home seeking freedom on February 17, leading to his rescue by firefighters. He recounted being locked in the room without heating or cooling for nearly all of his days since he was about 11, permitted to leave only for chores. Although his father occasionally allowed him more freedom, he passed away last year.

Concerns about the man's welfare were raised as early as 2004 when educators noticed his severe weight loss and reported their findings to child welfare officials. Despite multiple inquiries, including visits from the Department of Children and Families (DCF), it's unclear what actions were taken. The victim claims he was instructed by Sullivan to inform authorities that everything was fine under the threat of losing food.

In light of these events, both state and local authorities are investigating the circumstances that allowed such prolonged abuse to occur. There are calls for stricter regulations on homeschooling, as it was indicated that the victim had been unenrolled from public school following escalating concerns. The DCF has announced a review of old records relating to the family to understand the extent of the oversight in this case.