Man Held Captive for 20 Years by Stepmother Makes First Public Statement

A Survivor's First Statement

• 👤 The man, now 32, who was allegedly held captive for 20 years by his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, has released his first public statement.
• ✍️ He has chosen to go by the name "S" and stated, "My name is my choice, and it is the first of many choices I will make for myself now that I am free."
• 🏠 S detailed that he was taken out of public school at age 11 and held captive in his Waterbury, Connecticut home until he was 31.
• 🔥 He revealed that he set a fire in February, which ultimately led to his rescue.

Details of Captivity and Rescue

• ⚖️ Kimberly Sullivan faces charges including first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree unlawful restraint.
• 📉 Rescued in February, S was only 31 years old and weighed 68 pounds.
• 📻 S reportedly kept track of the years by listening to NASCAR races and Yukon basketball on the radio.
• 💧 His early memories included sneaking out for food and water, and when caught, he was locked in his room, sometimes drinking from a toilet due to limited water intake.

Legal Proceedings and Defense

• 🔒 Sullivan was arrested on March 12th and has pleaded not guilty.
• ⚖️ While initially held on a $300,000 bond, she posted it and is now out on bail, though she has been placed on GPS monitoring.
• 🗣️ The state prosecutor noted S's fear, quoting him asking, "Why is she out walking around when I was locked up in a room for 20 years?"
• 🚫 Sullivan's attorney claims her innocence and questioned the lack of physical restraints like chains, suggesting S could have left if he wished.

Public Support and Future Steps

• 🙏 S expressed gratitude for public support, including donations to a GoFundMe page managed by Safe Haven Waterberry, which has raised approximately $295,000.
• ❓ He stated, "I ask everyone involved in my story to fully cooperate with the authorities who are helping me seek justice for these crimes."
• 🤐 S also requested privacy for himself and the ongoing investigations.
• 🎂 He shared that he recently had his first birthday party to celebrate turning 32, an event he had never experienced before.

Expert Analysis on the Case

• 🔍 Retired NYPD detective Tom Smith described the case as heartbreaking and chilling, emphasizing the importance of establishing a timeline for the trial.
• 🕵️ He highlighted the challenges in interviewing S due to the potential trauma and the need for meticulous evidence collection, including search warrants and DNA evidence.
• ⚠️ Smith also commented on the criminal justice system's handling of bail for Sullivan, expressing frustration that she is not behind bars given the severity of the accusations.
• 🧩 The case raises significant questions about how an individual could fall through the cracks of various systems, including schools and child protective services, for two decades.