Kimberly Sullivan’s Release After Posting Bail: Accused of Holding Stepson Captive for 20 Years – Kimberly Sullivan, a 56-year-old woman from Connecticut, was released from custody on Thursday morning after posting a $300,000 bail, following her arrest for allegedly holding her stepson captive for over 20 years. The case has gained significant attention, with the accused woman facing multiple charges, including assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons, and reckless endangerment in the first degree.
Sullivan appeared at Waterbury Superior Court, where a judge set the bail amount, and her lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, confirmed that she was able to secure her release. Despite prosecutors’ request to place Sullivan on house arrest or require her to wear an electronic monitoring device, the judge declined to impose these additional conditions. As part of her release, Sullivan is required to check in regularly with authorities while she awaits her next court appearance, which is scheduled for March 26.
Sullivan’s arrest came after an investigation into allegations that she kept her now 32-year-old stepson locked in a room for two decades in their Waterbury home. The victim’s escape, which led to the investigation, occurred when he set a fire in his bedroom using a lighter, hand sanitizer, and paper. It was this fire that ultimately brought attention to his dire situation.
According to an arrest warrant obtained by PEOPLE, the victim disclosed to detectives that his stepmother began locking him in the room for up to 22 hours a day after he was removed from school at the age of 11. His parents reportedly made this decision after the Department of Children and Families intervened multiple times due to concerns about the boy’s behavior. The victim revealed that he had been kept isolated in the room for much of his childhood and adolescence, which is believed to have lasted for about 20 years.
The case has shocked the community and has raised significant questions about the conditions that led to such extreme isolation and abuse. As Kimberly Sullivan navigates her legal process, the investigation continues, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks. The victim’s escape has finally brought attention to his plight, and it is hoped that justice will prevail as the legal proceedings unfold.