A shocking case of captivity and abuse came to light in Waterbury, Connecticut, when a 32-year-old man confessed to setting a house on fire to escape his stepmother’s alleged imprisonment. The man, who weighed just 30 kg (68 lbs) at the time of his rescue, told firefighters he had been held captive for two decades, enduring severe neglect and abuse.
Fire Leads to Chilling Confession
The Waterbury Police Department said officers and firefighters went to a dwelling fire on February 17. Two people were found inside: 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan and her 32-year-old stepson. Both escaped safely, but the man had smoke inhalation and exposure to fire and needed immediate medical attention.
As paramedics tended to him, he made a startling confession:
I wanted my freedom,” he said to a first responder, explaining that he had ignited the blaze himself to break free from Sullivan’s captivity.
Police Uncover Years of Abuse
The man’s allegations led to a thorough investigation by the Waterbury Police Department Major Crimes Unit and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office. Officials found that Sullivan had allegedly kept the man captive for years, starting when he was 11, starving him, abusing him, and grossly neglecting him.
As per police reports:
“Detectives concluded that the victim had been in captivity for more than 20 years, subjected to prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment. He was discovered in a severely emaciated state and had not been given medical or dental attention throughout this period.”
Kimberly Sullivan Arrested and Charged
On March 11, police brought Sullivan into custody as the suspect. But she posted a bond of $300,000 and was out on bail in less than a day.
The authorities charged her with several crimes, including:
- Assault in the First Degree
- Kidnapping in the Second Degree
- Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree
- Cruelty to Persons
- Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree
- Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo denounced the terrifying abuse:
“The agony this victim had to suffer for more than 20 years is heartbreaking and unimaginable. This case demanded dogged investigative work, and I applaud the diligence of our officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office. Their persistence ensured that justice has been served, and the perpetrator is held entirely accountable for these heinous crimes.”
Community Steps Up to Help the Victim
Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury, a local non-profit, has started a GoFundMe to aid in the survivor’s recovery.
The Waterbury Mayor’s Office also posted his story on Facebook, detailing the severity of his ordeal:
This courageous victim, now aged 32, is 5’9, 68 lbs., had been stuck in this awful situation since he was 11 years old. He had been denied proper medical and dental attention, education, and both physically and psychologically suffered from the abuse he suffered.”
As investigations remain ongoing, the case has caused outrage and has raised questions about decades-long domestic abuse going on right under people’s noses.
