A 32-year-old man from Connecticut escaped from a small room where he was allegedly held captive and starved by his stepmother for over two decades by setting their house on fire. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the severely emaciated man who had not received medical or dental care in years. His stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, was arrested on charges of kidnapping, assault, and other crimes. The man, referred to as MV-1, was only let out of his 8-by-9-foot room for short periods of time each day to do chores. Despite suffering abuse and neglect, he was afraid to speak out due to fears of further punishment.
The man’s condition was likened to that of a Holocaust survivor by a relative who visited him after the incident. Local police chief, Fernando Spagnolo, described this case as one of the worst acts of inhumanity he has ever witnessed in his 33-year law enforcement career. The man’s father passed away, leading to a more intense period of captivity under Sullivan’s care. Even though concerns were raised by family members over the years, Sullivan was successful in hiding the abuse from authorities and family members.
Sullivan’s lawyer denied the allegations, stating that she provided food and shelter to the stepson and did not restrain him in any way. The stepson had been out of school since the fourth grade, and despite some family members noticing his deteriorating condition, the abuse went undetected for many years. Sullivan is being held on a $300,000 bond and is facing serious charges for her alleged mistreatment of the man.
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