A woman from Connecticut, accused of keeping a “seriously emaciated” stepson in captivity for 20 years: cops

Waterbury, Connecticut – The woman was accused of allegedly keeping her “seriously emaciated” stepson in captivity for over 20 years, because he was 11 years old, and forcing him to survive “prolonged abuse, hunger, serious neglect and inhuman treatment,” the police said.

The discovery of a 32-year-old man took place on February 17, when officers of the Waterbury Police Department in Connecticut together with the Waterbury fire brigade staff responded to a report on an active fire in a residence on Blake Street around 20:42

The fire was quickly extinguished by the authorities, and two residents were found at home at that time. The first person was identified as 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, the owner of the property who called the authorities for help, and the second person was identified as a 32-year-old man who was later employed as Sullivan’s stepson.

Sullivan was evacuated to a safe place after a fire, but the men who suffered the inhalation of smoke and exposure to a fire had to be helpful at home by Waterbury fire brigade and was placed under the care of rescue medical services.

However, the matter immediately changed when the police began to talk to the man.

“When receiving medical care, the male victim revealed to the first rescuers that he deliberately set fire to his room on the first floor, stating that I wanted freedom,” said officials in a statement regarding the case.

The victim reportedly used the paper for lighting printer, manual disinfection for fuel and lighter.

He continued to claim that Sullivan was in captivity since he was about 11 years old.

“After these disturbing statements of the Department of the Police Department of the Waterbury Department of the Police Department, in cooperation with the Waterbury States’s lawyer, she began an extensive investigation,” the authorities continued. “Detectives have determined that the victim has been kept in captivity for over 20 years, permanent prolonged abuse, hunger, serious neglect and inhuman treatment.”

The 32-year-old was also found in a “seriously emaciated state and did not receive medical or dental care” during his stay in captivity at home in the last two decades, according to the police.

“Investigators also discovered that he received only minimal amounts of food and water that led to his extremely malnourished state,” the police continued.

As a result of investigation, Sullivan was identified as a suspect, and on Tuesday a arrest war was issued.

Sullivan was located by the police on Wednesday and taken to police detention by the Waterbury Police Department on charges of assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, illegal first degree limitation, cruelty to people and a reckless threat in the first degree, the police said.

“Closed in … 22 to 24 hours a day”

A man who officially called “male victim 1” remembered in the early years he escaped from the room at night to eat and drink because of hunger, according to the statement.

He explained that in the fourth class he asked other people for food. Stealing it. Choosing it from rubbish.

After finding packaging with food, he began to be locked in his room. The document says that his school has notified the authorities many times, and although he was in the fourth grade, social workers twice carried out biological renewal checks.

Sullivan told him that he would claim everything, he said.

Finally, stepmother permanently pulled him out of school and allowed him to leave the room for housework, in accordance with police interviews.

“Asked how often this routine said” almost every day, “says the statement.

When he was about 14 or 15, he went with his father to get rid of waste in the yard, we read the statement. It was the last time he left the property.

Then his father died, and the alleged captivity became even more restrictive, he told the police.

“(The man) stated that there was such an extent that the only moment when he would be outside the home, when his father died, was to release a family dog ​​at the back of the property. Stating that it is only about 1 minute a day. Basically (he) was locked in his room between 22 to 24 hours a day ”, as under oath.

After the fire, Sullivan was arrested. The police said that they were in the face of allegations, including assault, kidnapping and cruelty.

Her approach to what happened is different.

‘SM. Sullivan is alleged innocent

Everything that was alleged was, her lawyer told journalists outside the court on Wednesday is “absolutely incorrect”.

“He was not locked in the room. She did not stop him in any way, “said lawyer Ioannis Kaloidis. “She provided food. She assured shelter. She was surprised by these accusations. “

It is stored from $ 300,000 bonds, according to the act of correction department.

“Mrs. Sullivan is alleged innocent,” said Kaloidis CNN in a statement. “The order describes in detail the allegations that should be proved at the trial. My client retains her innocence and awaits her name. “

After a fire, an officer who saw a man described him as “extremely emaciated”.

He stood 5 feet-9 and weighed 70 pounds. All his teeth looked broken. But he could talk. And as a statement he said the first assistance:

“I wanted my freedom.”

The head of the Waterbury police called 20 years of suffering “painful and unimaginable.”

“This case required constant investigation, and I praise the dedication of our officers and the office of the Waterbury Prosecutor,” said the head of Fernando Spagnolo in a statement.

When performing ordering orders, a statement that the police found a plywood and a lock in the door to the man’s room.

ABC News and CNN have contributed to this report.