A Connecticut mom allegedly held her severely emaciated stepson in captivity for many years in “something out of a horror movie” earlier than he set a hearth of their house to flee the “inhumane” and hellish circumstances, authorities mentioned.
Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested Wednesday and charged within the unthinkable crime a few month after the surprising dwelling association was uncovered when the blaze erupted on the household’s Waterbury home, based on police.
Sullivan fled the house and her 32-year-old stepson was later pulled out by firefighters on Feb. 17. As he acquired remedy for smoke inhalation and publicity to flames, he advised first responders he set the hearth deliberately in his upstairs bed room.
“I wanted my freedom,” he mentioned, explaining that he was held captive since he was about 11 years outdated, cops mentioned.
The explosive claims launched a probe by police and the Waterbury State’s Lawyer’s Workplace, which discovered the sufferer was imprisoned for greater than 20 years and was starved, abused, uncared for and confronted “inhumane treatment” throughout that point, police alleged.
The sufferer was emaciated and hadn’t acquired any medical checkups or dental care in years, cops mentioned.
He advised authorities when he was somewhat boy dwelling with Sullivan, his father and siblings, he even drank out of a bathroom bowl at occasions as a result of he solely received two cups of water per day, based on a warrant affidavit obtained by WFSB.
He additionally claimed to steal meals from others and even ate out of the rubbish because of his starvation in elementary faculty earlier than he was pulled out, the docs state.
As a youngster and into maturity, the sufferer mentioned he was compelled to make use of bottles and newspapers when he wished to make use of the lavatory, based on the affidavit.
“The facts of this case, quite frankly, the facts are something out of a horror movie,” Supervisory Assistant State’s Lawyer Don Therkildsen mentioned, based on CT Insider. “That’s without exaggeration.”
He added that the sufferer lit the hearth “knowing he very well could have died.”
However an lawyer for Sullivan denied the fees in an interview Wednesday evening.
“The allegations are horrific, but they are simply that: allegations,” lawyer Ioannis Kaloidis mentioned. “They’re allegations made by one person that are largely uncorroborated by any independent evidence.”
Waterbury police launched a photograph of Sullivan in handcuffs carrying a cross necklace as she was sandwiched between two investigators Wednesday following her arrest.
She’s charged with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree illegal restraint, cruelty to individuals and first-degree reckless endangerment.
“The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable,” Waterbury police chief Fernando Spagnolo mentioned in an announcement.
However Sullivan’s lawyer mentioned when he learn the listing of accusations to his consumer, “she was blown away, she was stunned by what is being said.”
“She is innocent and she has every intention of defending this case and we are confident she will be vindicated,” Kaloidis added.
He mentioned there was meals in the home and was not locked in a room, he argued.
“Does he have health issues? I’m sure he does. But she’s the stepmom, there was a biological father that was responsible for his care, who dictated his care,” the lawyer mentioned, noting the daddy died final yr.
A decide set Sullivan’s bond at $300,000, which Kaloidis mentioned would seemingly be posted as quickly as Thursday.
