Authorities in Waterbury, Connecticut, have arrested 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan on charges of holding her stepson captive for more than two decades.

The victim, a 32-year-old whose identity has not been revealed, allegedly set their home ablaze on February 17, 2025, in a desperate attempt to flee.

When rescued, he was discovered to be severely malnourished, weighing merely 68 pounds, and stated he had been confined since he was 11 years old. Investigations uncovered that he had suffered extended abuse, significant neglect, and inhumane conditions, including minimal access to food and water.

He had gone without medical or dental care for years and was often compelled to drink from the toilet due to limited water availability.

The victim was pulled from school around the age of 11 or 12, after which there was no further attention given to his education or well-being.

This absence of oversight permitted the alleged abuse to go unnoticed for over twenty years.

Kimberly Sullivan is facing several charges, including first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and reckless endangerment.

She has been released on a $300,000 bond and is set to appear in court on March 20, 2025. The case has garnered considerable attention, with officials labeling it as one of the worst instances of human mistreatment they have ever encountered.