Decades of Captivity Exposed by Fire in Waterbury House

WATERBURY, Conn. — A harrowing story of captivity and abuse has surfaced following a house fire in Waterbury, Connecticut, where a 32-year-old man claimed he had been locked away by his stepmother for nearly two decades. Authorities reported that the man set the fire on February 17 to escape what he described as a life of starvation and neglect.

The man’s stepmother, 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including first-degree assault and second-degree kidnapping. She was released on a $300,000 bond on March 25.

After the 911 call made by Sullivan reporting the fire, firefighters arrived to find the man, weighing only 68 pounds, conscious but in dire condition. Body camera footage revealed a chaotic scene, with Sullivan outside the home professing concern for her stepson.

Inside the ambulance, the man provided a different narrative, reported to responders that he had not showered in over a year. He described being confined to a small room, measuring only 8 feet by 9 feet, secured with plywood and a lock, where he was allowed out only to perform chores.

Waterbury Police released over 100 images from the home, which depict extremely poor living conditions including mold, damage from the fire, and clutter throughout the rooms. Parts of the house are covered in trash and deteriorating floorboards, while windows are boarded up.

Sullivan’s attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, expressed skepticism over the release of the photos, stating that they are meant to sway public opinion. “It was shocking, to say the least,” Kaloidis said. “Where are the handcuffs? Where are the chains? Those pictures raise a lot of questions if you look at them objectively.”

Former officials at Barnard Elementary School had alerted the Connecticut Department of Children and Families about the man’s well-being years ago, citing concerns raised by the child’s condition. However, the agency stated it had no current records related to the family, mentioning a policy of expunging records after five years without substantiated reports.

Police discovered that the man was pulled out of school by his stepmother, who instructed him to conceal the truth during welfare checks by authorities. Following his father’s death in 2024, his conditions reportedly worsened, leaving him with limited freedom.

“He got to a point where the only time he would step outside was to let the family dog out,” a police affidavit stated, explaining that those outings lasted only one minute per day.

According to Waterbury Police Chief Fred Spagnolo, the young man will face significant rehabilitation following his traumatic experiences. “There’s a lot of physical therapy he’ll have to go through. There’s a lot of healing he’ll have to go through mentally,” he said.

Detectives involved in the case reportedly took it upon themselves to gather supportive items such as clothes and books for the victim, emphasizing their commitment to assisting him post-rescue. Waterbury Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski added, “We’re committed to supporting him in every way possible as he begins to heal from this unimaginable trauma.”

Sullivan’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 22.