A 32-year-old man was rescued [1] from a burning home in Waterbury, Connecticut, in an incident that authorities say exposed decades of alleged abuse and imprisonment by his stepmother.
The dramatic rescue, captured on video, shows emergency responders carrying the severely malnourished man to safety after he reportedly set the fire as a desperate escape attempt.
Police said the fire was deliberately started on February 17 by the victim, who had allegedly been confined to an 8-foot-by-9-foot room since he was in the fourth grade.
The man, standing at 5 feet 9 inches, weighed only 69 pounds at the time of his rescue.
His stepmother, 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, has been accused of subjecting him to “prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment,” according to law enforcement officials.
Prosecutors described his condition as “akin to a survivor of Auschwitz’s death camp.”
Police in Connecticut say a house fire revealed a man being held against his will by his stepmother for decades. Police in Waterbury say on February 17, the victim, who is a 32-year-old man, set fire to the room he was allegedly being held in. pic.twitter.com/PdoZSth2VG [2]
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) March 13, 2025 [3]
Footage from the rescue shows emergency personnel evacuating the victim as flames engulfed the home.
Sullivan, standing outside, was questioned by first responders.
“Who else is in the house?” an officer is heard asking her.
“My stepson is in here, I’m trying to have them help him out,” she responds before mentioning her pets. “I have two cats.”
As firefighters worked to contain the blaze, an officer guided Sullivan away from the house.
“My dog is shaking,” she said repeatedly while stumbling down the street.
A firefighter then emerged carrying her unconscious stepson, placing him into an ambulance.
Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo stated during a press conference on Thursday that the victim will require extensive physical and mental treatment.
According to police reports, the man said he was given only two cups of water per day and, at times, was forced to drink from the toilet.
He also told investigators that as a child, he would steal food, ask classmates for meals, and scavenge from the garbage to cope with hunger.
After being removed from school, he was allegedly fed just two sandwiches a day while locked in his room. Police believe his living conditions worsened after his father died last year.
Authorities noted that the only prior police contact with the family was in 2005, when officers conducted a welfare check following concerns raised by classmates.
Sullivan’s attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, strongly denied the accusations against her, calling them “outlandish.”
“She completely maintains her innocence. From our perspective, these allegations are not true,” Kaloidis told NBC Connecticut.
“She was blown away when she heard these allegations. We look forward to being able to vindicate her and show that she’s done nothing wrong.”
Sullivan posted a $300,000 bail on Thursday and was released from custody after appearing in Waterbury Superior Court.
Her next court date is scheduled for March 26.
Meanwhile, police say they are working to support the victim, including collecting donations for clothing and essential supplies as he begins his recovery.