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Man Held Captive for 20 Years by Stepmother, Escapes House Fire

Inside EditionApril 5, 20251 min144,259 views
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Horrific Captivity Revealed by Fire

  • 🏠 A house fire in Connecticut led to the discovery of a 32-year-old man who had allegedly been held captive by his stepmother for two decades.
  • πŸ’” The victim reportedly set the fire in the room where he was confined as an attempt to escape his captivity.
  • 🚨 Police found the man locked in the room, which had been secured from the outside.

Victim's Account of Abuse

  • πŸ•°οΈ The victim stated he had been held in the room since he was approximately 11 years old.
  • 🍽️ He claimed he was starved and only allowed out of the room for two hours per day.
  • πŸ—£οΈ Investigators confirmed that physical evidence and interviews cooperated the victim's story.

Stepmother's Arrest and Defense

  • βš–οΈ The victim's stepmother, identified as 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested on charges including kidnapping, assault, and unlawful restraint.
  • 🚫 Her lawyer denied the allegations, stating the victim was not locked in the room and that she provided food and shelter.
  • πŸ’° Sullivan is being held on a $300,000 bond.
  • πŸ”’ The victim's identity is being withheld for privacy reasons.
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Transcript7 segments

Full Transcript

Topics11 themes

What’s Discussed

KidnappingUnlawful RestraintAssaultCaptivityHouse FireChild AbuseDomestic AbuseEscape AttemptConnecticut PoliceVictim TestimonyLegal Defense
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