The man – whose name has not been disclosed – was found locked in a tiny room
A woman from Connecticut has been arrested on charges of assault, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment after a 32-year-old man was discovered confined in a small room last month.
Firefighters responded to a residence in Waterbury, Connecticut, after the man set a fire in an attempt to escape. He alleges that his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, has kept him imprisoned since he was 11 years old.
When found, the man was in a state of severe malnutrition and emaciation, reportedly having received no medical or dental care for the past twenty years.
He claims that he was permitted to leave the cramped room only to perform chores for Sullivan and was subsisting on just two cups of water and two sandwiches each day.
On Thursday (March 13), Sullivan faced charges including assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and cruelty to persons.
The unnamed man is currently undergoing medical treatment at a specialized facility. He recounted that during his childhood, he often scavenged for food in school trash bins before being taken out of the education system in the fourth grade.
Reports indicate that he has not been seen since that time, even though school principal Tom Pannone allegedly contacted child protective services multiple times.
In an interview with NBC News, he stated, “We knew it. We reported it. Not a damn thing was done.
“Everyone was genuinely worried about this child since he was five years old. It was clear something was seriously wrong.
“You don’t just vanish from existence at the age of 10.”
Sullivan has been charged (Waterbury Police Department)
After leaving the school, Pannone learned that the boy had transferred to another school. At one point, he was also informed that the boy was being educated at home.
In the meantime, Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo remarked, “The suffering this victim has endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable.”
An arrest warrant revealed that a slide bolt lock was discovered on the door of the room from the outside.
Neighbors have been expressing their disbelief upon hearing the news.
“We probably saw that guy three times outside,” one neighbor shared with NBC.
“I’m shaking just thinking about it because I can still picture his face.”
“Never saw a stepson, not once,” another neighbor added.
Firefighters were called to the house in Connecticut (CBS)
Sullivan’s attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, informed NBC that his client should not be viewed as a ‘villain.’
“She is not the villain that people are portraying her to be,” he stated.
“He was not confined to a room, nor did she restrain him in any manner. She offered him food and shelter. She is shocked by these accusations.”
Sullivan is scheduled to return to court at the end of this month.