The man—whose identity has not been made public—was discovered locked in a tiny room.
A Connecticut woman is facing serious charges, including assault, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment, after authorities discovered a 32-year-old man locked inside a small room in her home last month.
Emergency responders were called to a house in Waterbury, Connecticut, after the man deliberately started a fire in an attempt to escape. He claims he had been held captive by his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, since he was just 11 years old.
When found, he was in an extremely frail state, suffering from severe malnutrition and appearing shockingly emaciated. Investigators believe he had been denied any form of medical or dental care for over 20 years.
According to his statement, he was only ever allowed to leave the small room to complete household chores for Sullivan. His daily sustenance reportedly consisted of nothing more than two sandwiches and two cups of water.
On Thursday (March 13), authorities formally charged Sullivan with multiple offenses, including assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and cruelty to persons.
Meanwhile, the man who has not been publicly identified is now receiving medical attention in a specialized care facility.
He recounts that during his early years, he often resorted to scavenging for food from school trash bins just to survive. His education came to an abrupt halt when he was pulled out of school in the fourth grade.
After that, he was reportedly never seen again, despite numerous calls made to child protective services by school principal Tom Pannone.
Pannone told NBC News: "We knew it. We reported it. Not a damn thing was done."
"Everyone really was concerned with this child since he was five years old. You knew something was wrong. It was grossly wrong."
"You don't disappear off the face of the earth at 10 years old."
After his disappearance from school, Pannone was informed that the child had been transferred to another school. Later, he was told that the boy was supposedly being homeschooled.
Sullivan has been charged Waterbury Police Department
Meanwhile, Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo addressed the case, stating: "The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable."
Authorities executing a search warrant discovered a slide bolt lock on the outside of the room’s door, further supporting the allegations that he had been forcibly confined.
As the disturbing details emerged, neighbors reacted with shock and disbelief, struggling to comprehend the horrifying reality unfolding in their community.
"We probably saw that guy three times outside," one neighbor shared with NBC.
"I'm trembling right now just thinking about it because I can remember his face."
"Never seen a stepson, never," added another.
Firefighters were called to the house in Connecticut CBS
Meanwhile, Sullivan’s attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, defended his client, claiming that she is being unfairly portrayed.
"She's not the villain she is being made out to be," he stated.
"He was not locked in a room. She did not restrain him in any way. She provided food, she provided shelter. She is blown away by these allegations."
Sullivan is scheduled to appear in court again at the end of the month, where more details about the case are expected to surface.
