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, has raised questions about why his stepmother is not incarcerated following her recent charges of cruelty and kidnapping. During a court hearing for Kimberly Sullivan, who pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including felony assault, a state prosecutor expressed the victim's fear and frustration that Sullivan is free after allegedly subjecting him to severe mistreatment. The victim, now 32, asked why Sullivan was allowed to walk freely while he endured nearly 20 years of confinement.

Sullivan, 57, posted a $300,000 bail after her arrest on March 12, vehemently denying the claims that she kept her stepson in a small room with limited food and water, leaving him emaciated at just 69 pounds. A request for her to be placed under house arrest due to concerns she could flee was opposed by her lawyer, who argued that Sullivan had complied with bail conditions and faced threats, asserting that house arrest could jeopardize her safety.

The victim’s plight came to light after he set a fire in their residence on February 17 in a desperate attempt to escape. Rescued by firefighters, he was hospitalized for malnutrition and recounted his experience of being confined to a room with minimal access to food, allowed out only to perform chores. His father, who died last year, allegedly permitted him more freedom, but his stepmother remains the primary focus of the allegations.

Efforts by state and local authorities to understand how this situation persisted have led to discussions about the need for stricter oversight of home-schooling practices. The victim had been unenrolled from public school in 2004, following concerns raised by educators about his well-being. Although the local police paid visits to the home, they reported finding nothing alarming at the time.

Further inquiries have revealed a history of interaction between the family and the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Previous alerts about the victim's condition and behavior raised red flags among school officials, but it's unclear what measures, if any, were taken by DCF in response. Recently, DCF announced it found archived records related to the family, which will be reviewed and shared with law enforcement for further investigation into this troubling case.