The biological mother of a man who was allegedly held captive and starved by his stepmother in Connecticut for two decades has spoken out, expressing her shock and grief over the ordeal her son endured. The 52-year-old woman, who resides in Meriden, Connecticut, stated that her son was never forgotten by his family, despite the horrific circumstances he was subjected to.
The mother, who requested anonymity due to her traumatic experience, did not directly address why she was unable to rescue her son from his situation. She was seen outside her home, briefly speaking to workers removing holiday decorations from the neighborhood.
The victim’s stepmother, 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment. The mother emphasized that her son was loved and never forgotten, and requested privacy for the family to begin the healing process.
The victim, now 32 years old, weighed a mere 68 pounds when he was rescued from his family’s home in Waterbury. He had reportedly set a fire in a desperate attempt to escape the alleged abuse. The extent of knowledge about the man’s plight among his family and community remains unclear.
The victim’s parents divorced in 1995, and his father, Kregg, remarried Kimberly Sullivan. Kregg passed away in 2024. The victim was removed from elementary school after staff noticed signs of starvation and potential abuse. The former principal of Barnard Elementary School claimed that the state was alerted to the situation as early as 2005.
An uncle of the victim, Kurt Sullivan, stated that he had not seen his nephew for approximately 20 years due to being pushed away by his sister-in-law. Upon seeing his nephew in the hospital, he likened his appearance to that of a Holocaust survivor.
According to court documents, the victim was allegedly confined in a small storage space and starved for years, sometimes resorting to drinking from a toilet and eating from a garbage can to survive. After his father’s death, his confinement became more severe, with the victim claiming he was locked in his room for up to 24 hours a day. Kimberly Sullivan was arrested and later released on a $300,000 bond.
Bodycam footage from first responders who arrived at the burning home on February 17 showed Kimberly Sullivan outside the house, holding one of her dogs. As firefighters carried the victim out of the house, Sullivan expressed concern for her dog. Her attorney declined to disclose her current whereabouts.