Kimberly Sullivan Husband Lived In The Same Captivated House But Passed Away In January 2024

Waterbury, Connecticut: Kimberly Sullivan has been accused of holding her stepson captive for over 20 years. The allegations include prolonged abuse, starvation, and severe neglect.

Her husband, who lived in the same home, passed away in January 2024.

Highlights

• Kimberly Sullivan was charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and reckless endangerment and was arrested on March 12.
• After the demise of her husband in January 2024, things got even worse for the stepson, who had been captivated by the house since he was 11.
• The victim intentionally set the house on fire on February 17  to escape two decades of alleged abuse. 

56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan was a seemingly ordinary figure in her small hometown. She was known as a reserved but unassuming community member.

However, her case has stunned local communities and the broader public. The claims, which have come to light in recent months, depict a horrifying scenario of ongoing mistreatment, deceit, and loneliness.

It sparked widespread outrage and raised critical questions about the systems protecting vulnerable individuals. 

Kimberly was charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and reckless endangerment and was arrested on March 12. She was stunned to hear the allegations against her and denied them.

A Connecticut judge set the bond at $300,000, and she is in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections.

This is the most disgusting case I’ve covered in a long long time. The picture you see me holding is 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan from Waterbury Connecticut. She was just arrested after holding her step-son captive inside their home for 20 years! House of horrors.

Step-son has been isolated from the world since he was 11 years old. Locked in a room 23 hours a day, hardly fed, no friends. He had to drink from the toliet. 

Jonathan Riches

Kimberly Sullivan’s Husband Passed Away In 2024

Kimberly lived with her husband and stepson in the same home, where she captivated the stepson for over 20 years. Unfortunately, her husband died in January 2024.

According to the legal documents, Stepson was allegedly held captive in the family home from the age of 11 until his recent discovery by authorities.

The details of his ordeal are still emerging, but early reports suggest a pattern of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.

32-year-old stepson, who is recovering in the hospital, set the house on fire last month to escape two decades of alleged abuse. 

His identity hasn’t been publicly identified. He wanted his freedom and intentionally set the fire in his upstairs room on February 17.

Kimberly evacuated safely, and fire officials assisted the stepson out of the home. They placed him in the care of EMS because he had suffered smoke inhalation and exposure to the fire. 

Moreover, he hadn’t left home since his early teenage years and weighed only around 68 pounds. He stood 5 feet and 9 inches tall.

The victim had been held in captivity for over 20 years, enduring prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment.

The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable.

Kurt Sullivan, the victim’s uncle, was unable to see his nephew for 20 years until visiting him in the hospital. He was shocked to see him looking like a Holocaust survivor.

He would visit their home for Christmas Eve until they pushed him and his wife away. Kimberly always intervened when he asked about his nephew’s being skinny, meek, and mild-mannered. 

“We knew it. We reported it. Not a damn thing was done. That’s the tragedy of the whole thing” Tom Pannone said after making dozens of reports to DCF and calling police about a boy who appeared malnourished.

Fast forward 20 years – that boy, now a man, set fire to his home to escape. His stepmom Kimberly Sullivan is the one charged with holding him captive all these years. Her lawyer also spoke.

Furthermore, the victim’s teeth were rotten, but he had never been to a dentist or doctor in his time spent in the locked room. 

He was only allowed outside the room for 15 minutes per day, but he didn’t attempt to escape because he feared his stepmother’s retaliation.

He informed investigators that he was expelled from school in the fourth grade because of his actions, which included taking food from the trash because he was hungry.

His sisters were allowed to have friends, but they couldn’t bring them to their home. 

When he was around 14 or 15 years old, his father permitted him to step outside to dispose of yard waste. Little did he know that it would be the final time he saw the outdoors until his eventual escape.

Additional Information

• Kimberly Sullivan’s attorney, Loannis Kaloidis, indicated her accusation wasn’t true and intended to defend vigorously.

• If anyone suspects child abuse, they can seek help by calling the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453. All calls are toll-free and confidential.