Overview

• Waterbury police have released over 100 photos showing the squalid conditions of the home where a 32-year-old man was allegedly confined for two decades by his stepmother.
• The man, who escaped in February 2025 by starting a fire, reported being locked in a small room for 22-24 hours a day and enduring severe malnutrition, weighing only 68-70 pounds at the time of his rescue.
• Kimberly Sullivan, the accused stepmother, has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and assault and remains free on $300,000 bail with GPS monitoring.
• The Department of Children and Families is reviewing archived records after reports that the victim had raised concerns about his conditions as early as 2005 went unaddressed.
• The case has prompted growing calls for reforms in child welfare oversight and homeschooling regulations, as the victim continues to recover with medical and community support.