Uncle of Man Allegedly Held Captive for 20 Years by Stepmother Compared Look to 'Holocaust Survivor': Report

Mar. 15, 2025

An uncle of the Connecticut man who told police he started a house fire to escape two decades of alleged abuse last month told police his nephew “looks like a Holocaust survivor” as he recovered in the hospital.

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, wasarrested on March 12 and accusedof holding her 32-year-old stepson captive since he was 11. She was charged with 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.

When he finally saw his nephew — who told first responders he “intentionally” set a fire to escape his mother’s home in Waterbury, Conn. — he could not believe what he was witnessing.

“I was shocked, he looks like a Holocaust survivor,” Kurt said, according to the affidavit.

Kimberly Sullivan.Waterbury Police Department via AP

Waterbury Police Department via AP

Kurt would visit the home “for Christmas Eve for a few years in a row until the family pushed him and his wife away," the affidavit reads. The uncle also claimed that Kimberly “intervened" when he tried to ask his “skinny, meek and mild-mannered" nephew questions.

Eventually, Kurt “spoke with a private investigator who suggested going to vital statistics to look for a death certificate" after he expressed concern for his nephew’s well being.

The Waterbury Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further information on Thursday.

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As previously reported, the Waterbury Fire Department put out a fire at Kimberly’s home on Feb. 17, when her 32-year-old son — who has not been publicly identified — told first responders that he “intentionally set the fire in his upstairs room, stating, ‘I wanted my freedom.'”

Kimberly Sullivan.Waterbury Police Department/Facebook

Waterbury Police Department/Facebook

Police then launched an investigation and discovered that “the victim had been held in captivity for over 20 years, enduring prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment,” the Waterbury Police Department noted in its statement.

“The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable,” Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said.

“She’s adamant they are not true. This did not happen and we look forward to being able to vindicate her and show that she’s done nothing wrong," Kalodis said, adding that the allegations “seemed to be based on the words of one individual and one individual alone.”

Kimberly Sullivan’s bond was set at $300,000 and she is currently in custody, per information from theConnecticut Judicial Branch’s website.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com