A Connecticut mom allegedly held her severely emaciated stepson in captivity for many years in “one thing out of a horror film” earlier than he set a fireplace of their house to flee the “inhumane” and hellish situations, authorities mentioned.
Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested Wednesday and charged within the unthinkable crime a few month after the surprising residing 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 therapy for smoke inhalation and publicity to flames, he instructed first responders he set the fireplace deliberately in his upstairs bed room.
“I needed my freedom,” he mentioned, explaining that he was held captive since he was about 11 years previous, 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 therapy” throughout that point, police alleged.
The sufferer was emaciated and hadn’t acquired any medical checkups or dental care in years, cops mentioned.
He instructed authorities when he was a bit of boy residing with Sullivan, his father and siblings, he even drank out of a rest room bowl at instances as a result of he solely bought 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 attributable to his starvation in elementary college earlier than he was pulled out, the docs state.
As a youngster and into maturity, the sufferer mentioned he was pressured to make use of bottles and newspapers when he needed to make use of the lavatory, based on the affidavit.
“The info of this case, fairly frankly, the info are one thing out of a horror film,” Supervisory Assistant State’s Lawyer Don Therkildsen mentioned, based on CT Insider. “That’s with out exaggeration.”
He added that the sufferer lit the fireplace “figuring out he very effectively may have died.”
However an lawyer for Sullivan denied the fees in an interview Wednesday evening.
“The allegations are horrific, however they’re merely that: allegations,” lawyer Ioannis Kaloidis mentioned. “They’re allegations made by one individual which can be largely uncorroborated by any impartial proof.”
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 struggling this sufferer endured for over 20 years is each heartbreaking and unimaginable,” Waterbury police chief Fernando Spagnolo mentioned in an announcement.
However Sullivan’s lawyer mentioned when he learn the record of accusations to his shopper, “she was blown away, she was surprised by what’s being mentioned.”
“She is harmless and he or she has each intention of defending this case and we’re assured she will probably be vindicated,” Kaloidis added.
He mentioned there was meals in the home and was not locked in a room, he argued.
“Does he have well being points? I’m positive he does. However she’s the stepmom, there was a organic father that was chargeable 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 doubtless be posted as quickly as Thursday.
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