A Connecticut man allegedly imprisoned by his stepmother for over two decades was finally rescued after setting his home on fire — leading to a dramatic confrontation between first responders and the woman accused of years of neglect and abuse.
Dramatic bodycam footage captured the moment firefighters rushed into the burning home in Waterbury, Connecticut, on February 17, 2025, and discovered the severely malnourished 32-year-old victim.
His alleged captor, 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, was outside, incoherently shouting as flames engulfed the house behind her.
Disturbing Bodycam Footage Shows Dramatic Rescue
As first responders arrived at the scene, Sullivan stood outside, clutching one of her dogs. “My stepson is in here,” she told firefighters in footage obtained by WFSB. “I’m trying to help them get him out.”
Inside, a firefighter carried the frail victim - who weighed just 68 pounds - out of the burning home.
But rather than expressing concern for her stepson, Sullivan seemed more focused on her pet. “My dog is shaking,” she said before yelling at the firefighter holding her stepson, “What are you doing?”
As paramedics rushed the limp and emaciated man to an ambulance, Sullivan was instructed to wait in the driveway.
Years of Alleged Abuse Inside the ‘House of Horrors’
After being rescued, the victim told authorities he had been locked in a 9-by-8-foot room on the second floor for 22 hours a day over the last 20 years.
According to a police affidavit, Sullivan had installed deadbolts on the outside of his bedroom door, only letting him out to perform chores, the New York Post reports.
He revealed that he intentionally started the fire using hand sanitizer, paper, a stack of games, and a lighter because he wanted his “freedom.”
“Once the fire got going good he started to stomp and yell for help. [He] stated that Sullivan yelled to him asking what he wanted and he told her ‘fire,’” court documents revealed.
Sullivan then unlocked the door, allowing him to leave his room — but by that point, he collapsed at the top of the stairs. She allegedly ordered him to wash his face in the bathroom before fleeing, possibly to disguise his horrific condition.
Court documents also stated that Sullivan instructed the victim’s sister and her boyfriend — who arrived at the house around the same time as firefighters — to remove the deadbolts from his door. However, the victim deliberately fell to the floor and refused to move until firefighters found him.
Defense Attorney Calls Allegations ‘Outlandish’
Following a month-long investigation, Sullivan was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment.
Her lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, dismissed the accusations, calling them “absolutely not true.”
“The allegations are horrific, but they are simply that: allegations,” Kaloidis told NBC Connecticut. “They’re allegations made by one person that are largely uncorroborated by any independent evidence.”
He further claimed that Sullivan never locked her stepson in a room and insisted she provided him with food and shelter. He argued that her late husband, who died in January 2024, dictated how his son was raised.
“She is innocent and she has every intention of defending this case and we are confident she will be vindicated,” Kaloidis added.
Police Describe ‘One of the Worst Acts of Inhumanity’
Authorities, however, painted a much darker picture of life inside the house.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo compared the conditions to a horror movie, saying: “The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable.”
Investigators revealed that after the victim’s father passed away, Sullivan allegedly reduced his food intake to just two sandwiches and small bottles of water per day.
The affidavit also described the victim as “mentally conditioned” by his stepmother, fearing the consequences of seeking help. A relative had previously expressed concern after seeing the victim looking alarmingly underweight during a Christmas visit, but Sullivan allegedly prevented further contact.
Where the Case Stands Now
Sullivan was released on $300,000 bond less than 24 hours after her arrest.
As part of her release conditions, she is required to undergo daily evaluations and is prohibited from contacting the victim.
She is expected to appear in court on March 26, 2025, while prosecutors continue gathering evidence. State officials are also reviewing past interactions with the family, including a 2005 homeschooling assessment that initially appeared acceptable.
As the case moves forward, prosecutors are set to present more evidence supporting the victim’s allegations, while Sullivan’s defense team prepares to challenge the claims in court.