Man Claiming Stepmom Held Him Prisoner for 20 Years Speaks Out

Giving a prolonged assertion distributed by Survivors Say — a nonprofit set as much as assist survivors, victims and their households after tragedy and trauma — the 32-year-old man thanked everybody for his or her assist up to now, gave an replace on his restoration after first responders allegedly discovered him weighing simply 68 kilos when he was pulled from the home.

Sullivan is free on $300,000 bond after pleading not responsible to all the fees in opposition to her, together with felony fees of second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree illegal restraint. She was additionally charged with cruelty to an individual, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

“Please name me ‘S.’ This isn’t the identify given to me by my dad and mom once I was born. I’m selecting a brand new identify for myself, and I’ll use that identify as I reclaim management over my life and my future,” the person started his assertion. “My identify is my alternative, and it’s the first of many decisions I’ll make for myself now that I’m free.”

“I’m a survivor of greater than 20 years of captivity and home abuse. I used to be held prisoner in my dwelling from the time I used to be taken out of the fourth grade at age 11 till two months in the past at age 31 once I purposely set the hearth that helped set me free,” he then claimed, reiterating his account to police.

“I’m talking out in the present day to start the method of reclaiming my life and to have my say in how my story is informed.”

“I’m a lot better and stronger than I used to be the day the primary responders carried me out of my dwelling. I’m past grateful for the care I’ve obtained since then,” he wrote, earlier than thanking well being professionals for his or her help.

He then added, “Along with your entire care, I appreciated the prospect to have my first ever birthday to have a good time turning 32.”

The person went on to thank first responders, police and “everybody who’s working to carry these accountable for my abuse accountable.”

After thanking his attorneys, conservator, Protected Haven Waterbury and anybody who has donated to a GoFundMe arrange in his identify, the person added, “A lot has already been mentioned that tells a part of the story of the abuse I endured. Sometime, maybe my entire story can be informed.”

“I ask everybody concerned in my story to totally cooperate with the authorities who’re serving to me search justice for these crimes. I additionally ask the general public and the media to respect these investigations and my privateness as this course of performs out. This is not only a story. It is my life,” he ended his assertion, reiterating his gratitude for all of the assist and “continued prayers” despatched his method amid his restoration.

Sullivan insists she didn’t abuse her stepson, regardless of the horrific allegations he made in opposition to her.

“Her facet of the story is kind of easy,” her legal professional Loannis Kaloidis informed Fox Information Ditigal simply final week. “She didn’t hurt him, she didn’t restrain him, she didn’t imprison him.”

“This has been an excessive shock to her. She lived a comparatively quiet life,” he continued, including that his consumer “acknowledges that given these allegations, the remainder of her life is on the road” and he or she’s “hopeful that by way of the method she can be vindicated.”

“My consumer adamantly denies that there was any imprisonment,” mentioned Kaloidis. “As for the entire historical past, there’s lots that I anticipate will come out over the course of the trial, hopefully, as a result of I believe that is the suitable place for the discharge of any further info.”

Her legal professional’s feedback come after the Waterbury Police Division launched a trove of pictures, video, and different paperwork associated to the case in opposition to her. The discharge got here as the results of a Freedom of Data request.

Within the launched images, a cluttered downstairs space, together with kitchen and front room, are largely unimpacted by the hearth, whereas there’s intensive smoke and fireplace injury in images taken from the upstairs space, the place the stepson’s bed room was.

“I’ve seen the images, I’ve seen the movies,” Kaloidis informed Fox Information Digital. “I disagree with the characterization of these images and movies. They have been made out to be the worst that anybody has seen in 20 years. I don’t see that because the case.”

Of his consumer, he mentioned that following the allegations, “her face has been plastered all around the TV, the information, the web, social media” and her life “has been turned the other way up.”

“She has an enormous goal on her again. She has basically grow to be public enemy primary,” he added. “It’s a super weight that she is carrying. It’s a super upheaval to her complete life.”

Kaloidis additionally beforehand mentioned the suspect’s late husband Kregg Sullivan — who died in 2024 — “was in management” of the state of affairs and was the one who determined to restrict his son to an 8-foot by 9-foot room beginning on the age of 11.

Authorities turned concerned after an emergency name for an energetic fireplace at roughly 8:42 p.m. on February 17. That decision got here from Sullivan, the proprietor of the property that was aflame.

Whereas the hearth was rapidly extinguished and Sullivan was capable of evacuate of her personal will, the opposite resident within the dwelling, a 32-year-old man, wanted help from Waterbury Hearth Division Hearth personnel. He was subsequently handled by emergency medical responders.

“Whereas receiving medical care [for smoke inhalation], the male sufferer disclosed to first responders that he had deliberately set the hearth in his upstairs room,” officers mentioned in a assertion relating to the case. As for why he began the hearth, they mentioned he informed them merely, “I needed my freedom.”

“He additional alleged that he had been held captive by Sullivan since he was roughly 11 years outdated,” the assertion continued. In accordance with CBS affiliate WFSB, which shared the total arrest affidavit, the person allegedly spent these years locked inside an 8-foot by 9-foot room.

“Investigators additional found that he had been supplied with solely minimal quantities of meals and water which led to his extraordinarily malnourished situation,” the police assertion added.

The person purportedly informed authorities he was given solely two cups of water per day and was generally compelled to drink out of the bathroom. It was additionally decided he “had not obtained medical or dental care” throughout his a long time inside the house.

The affidavit additional particulars the person’s allegations that he was pulled from college within the fourth grade and solely allowed out of his room to do chores or to let the canine out, spending roughly 22 hours locked within the room.

He additional informed police he’d had no contact with anybody outdoors the house, and that the final time he’d left the home was together with his now-deceased father when he was 14 or 15 years outdated. He added that solely his two half-sisters and a deceased grandmother knew of his state of affairs.

He mentioned that his concern of dropping the minimal meals and water he was given, and that he is likely to be locked in even longer, stored him from attempting to interrupt out.

On account of the person’s assertion, investigators concluded that the sufferer had been compelled to endure “extended abuse, hunger, extreme neglect, and inhumane remedy,” resulting in an arrest warrant being issued for Sullivan.

If you’re experiencing or witness baby abuse, name the Childhelp Nationwide Little one Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Little one or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. If you happen to imagine a baby is in instant hazard, name 911.