Woman accused of 20-year imprisonment of stepson faces public outrage
- Kimberly Sullivan has been charged with multiple counts including kidnapping and assault relating to her treatment of her stepson.
- The victim's dramatic escape attempt led to his rescue, revealing severe neglect.
- There are calls to reevaluate child protective services given the prolonged nature of the alleged abuse.
In Waterbury, Connecticut, a woman named Kimberly Sullivan has been arrested and charged with keeping her stepson captive for two decades. The allegations state that her 32-year-old stepson was forced to live in a small room, deprived of proper food and medical care, reaching an alarming weight of just 69 pounds when he was ultimately rescued after starting a fire to escape. Reports indicate that the son was held in such conditions since he was approximately 11 years old, and investigators revealed that he had not seen a doctor or dentist in years. After being freed, he reported that his stepmother provided him with barely enough sustenance to survive and subjected him to extreme emotional and physical neglect. Sullivan has denied these allegations, asserting that she took care of him appropriately, but the circumstances of the case have sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter oversight of childcare practices, especially concerning home-schooling. The man’s father, Kregg Sullivan, who was aware of the situation, passed away in 2024. Despite previous interactions with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) over concerns regarding the boy’s health, critics are questioning how the alleged abuse continued for so long without adequate intervention. The victim's plea to authorities about his captivity raises concerns about the failures of the system that was supposed to protect him. As the case unfolds, it has highlighted significant flaws in child welfare oversight and brings attention to the larger social issues surrounding domestic abuse and neglect.