Friend Claims Woman In Captivity Case Never Mentioned Stepson: State

WATERBURY, CT — More witnesses have come forward in the case of a local woman accused of holding her stepson captive for two decades, according to a state prosecutor.

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, of Blake Street, appeared in Superior Court in Waterbury Friday and entered a “not guilty” plea to the charges against her, which include first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.

During the court proceeding, Donald E. Therkildsen Jr., supervisory assistant state’s attorney, asked the judge to impose either house arrest with monitoring, or GPS monitoring.

“This defendant is a substantial flight risk, she faces the rest of her life, or a significant period of the rest of her life, of incarceration if convicted of these charges,” he said.

Therkildsen said the state’s case against Sullivan is getting stronger. He told the judge additional witnesses have come forward, including a friend of Sullivan’s for 21 years who has provided a statement to police.

This witness told investigators Sullivan has “never spoken of a stepson. She was shocked to learn she had a stepson. That friend was never allowed in the house,” Therkildsen said.

The state has had an opportunity to meet with the victim.

“This victim is afraid. This victim lives in fear,” Therkildsen said. “I introduced myself to the victim and explained who I was. His first question was, ‘Why is she out walking around while I was locked up in a room for 20 years?’”

Sullivan’s defense attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis of Waterbury, objected to any change in the conditions of her release. He said his client denies the accusations and maintains that she is innocent.

According to Kaloidis, she has complied with all the conditions of her release to date and has no prior record.

“She has appeared in court,” he said.

Kaloidis said his client has been the subject of “numerous online threats.” He asserted that she needs to have freedom of movement for her own safety, and putting her under house arrest would potentially make her an easier target.

Judge Joseph Schwartz on Friday said in court that Sullivan has a mental health condition, though he didn’t elaborate.

The judge said he weighed Sullivan’s lack of a prior criminal record against the seriousness of the charges. If true, he said they show a “lack of empathy.”

Schwartz said GPS monitoring is appropriate, and he decided against placing Sullivan under house arrest.

Sullivan is next due in court on April 22.

According to police, the stepson, now aged 32, weighed just 68 pounds when he set his house on fire on Feb. 17. Firefighters responded to Sullivan’s house, at 2 Blake St., and put out the fire. The man told first responders he intentionally set the fire stating, “I wanted my freedom,” police said. The man told police Sullivan had been holding him captive in the house since he was about 11 years old.

Police observed he was “extremely emaciated,” dirty, with matted and unkempt hair and rotten teeth, according to the arrest warrant affidavit filed by Waterbury police. Investigators consulted with the man’s medical caregivers after the fire, and he was described as being near starvation.

Warrant Affidavit Kimberly Sullivan Redacted by michelle.sullo on Scribd