Step Mother Held Step Son Captive for Over 20 Years in Connecticut

Disturbing Discovery in Waterbury

• 🏠 Police in Waterbury, Connecticut, rescued a 32-year-old man who had been held captive in a home for over 20 years.
• ⚖️ His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, 56, is now facing charges including assault, kidnapping, and unlawful restraint.
• 💔 The victim was found weighing just 68 lbs, a drastic decline from his previous state.

Conditions of Captivity

• ⛓️ The man was reportedly locked in an 8x9 foot room for nearly his entire life, with little food and minimal contact with the outside world.
• 🔒 Investigators noted that the security of the locks on the room appeared to increase over time.
• 🍽️ The victim described begging classmates for food as a boy and eating from garbage cans.

Systemic Failures and Investigation

• 🏫 An investigation is underway by the school district and Children's Services to understand how the victim disappeared from their radar 20 years ago.
• ⚠️ A welfare check was conducted in 2005 when the victim was 11 and had stopped attending school, but police reportedly detected nothing unusual.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The victim stated that conditions worsened after his father's death last year.

Escape and Aftermath

• 🔥 The victim deliberately started a fire on the second floor of the home last month, which led to his eventual rescue.
• 🏥 He is currently receiving medical and psychological treatment.
• 🗣️ Sullivan's lawyer claims she was following rules set by her late husband; she has since posted bail.