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Horrifying pictures reveal inside ‘House of Horrors’ where ‘cruel stepmom kept her son captive for 20 years’

Published on April 01, 2025 at 10:12 AM

Twisted mom held stepson, 32, captive for 20 years in ‘inhumane’ horror house before he was rescued weighing just 68lbs

HORRIFYING pictures reveal the grim interior of a “House of Horrors” where a man was allegedly held captive by his cruel stepmom for 20 years.

Kimberly Sullivan, 56, is accused of holding her unnamed stepson captive inside a small room since he was 11 years old, depriving him of food and subjecting him to relentless abuse.

Messy bedroom with a bed, dresser, and various items strewn about.
Grim photos have revealed rooms inside the Connecticut house, where the man was allegedly held captive for 20 years
Image of a messy room with debris on the floor and a damaged door.
Inside the charred remains of the family house in Waterbury, Connecticut
Dirty bathroom in a house where a woman allegedly kept her stepson captive.
A filthy bathroom inside the Connecticut house
Mugshot of Kimberly Sullivan, charged with kidnapping and cruelty.
Kimberly Sullivan in a photo provided by the Waterbury Police Department

Sullivan allegedly left the victim “severely emaciated” — weighing just 68 pounds — and “akin to an Auschwitz survivor”, said Waterbury police who shared photos of the house on Monday.

Shocking pictures show a “house of horrors”, with a broken ceiling and floorboards, junk and rubbish piled high in almost every room, as well as carpeted areas covered in dirt and trash.

One photo of a bathroom shows broken wall insulation, glass and cardboard boxes on the floor.

Pictures also reveal walls charred black from the fire that the victim set, using printer paper and hand sanitizer, in a desperate attempt to escape on February 17.

The extent of the property's dire conditions can be seen in more than 100 photos which Connecticut television station WFSB received from Waterbury police.

The now 32-year-old man told authorities that his captivity first began aged 11, when his stepmom locked him in a room with limited food and water and without heat or air conditioning.

Due to a lack of dental care, he said that his teeth would break off on the occasions that he did eat.

He told police that he had to dispose of his waste through various methods, including using a series of straws that led to a hole in a window.

Sometimes, he would be locked away for 24 hours straight, police said.

When the man attended school, he would reportedly ask his classmates for food, steal food and eat out of the garbage.

Fire-damaged room with debris and damaged walls.
A cluttered and burnt room in the Connecticut house
Interior view of a messy house, showing a hallway, stairs, and a doorway to a room with a damaged floor.
A hallway inside the Connecticut house, where a dirty floor can be seen
Interior of a cluttered and damaged room.
A dirty and cluttered room inside the Connecticut house

The fire, which the victim lit in his room, was successful in bringing his alleged captivity to the attention of authorities, as firefighters rushed to the scene.

Medical personnel treated the man for smoke inhalation and diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

They reported that the 5 foot 9 man weighed a mere 68 pounds — the average weight of a 9-year-old boy.

The fire did not reach the parts of the house which appear to be inhabited by Sullivan.

Sullivan, who was arrested on March 13, pleaded not guilty to assault, kidnapping and cruelty charges.

She has been released on bail after posting a $300,000 bond and maintains her innocence.

Her attorney Ioannis A. Kaloidis told Daily Mail that it was the boy's biological father Kregg, who was responsible for the “decisions” about his life.

According to authorities, Kregg died last year and the victim's biological mother has not been a part of his life.

In terms of his personal hygiene, Sullivan claimed that she encouraged him to wash but “couldn't force” him to do so.

Kaloidis said earlier this week: “She completely maintains her innocence, from our perspective. These allegations are not true. They are outlandish.

“She was blown away when she heard these allegations.”

Interior view of a dilapidated hallway.
A hallway in the Connecticut house
Messy kitchen in a house where a woman allegedly held her stepson captive.
The kitchen inside the Connecticut house
House with boarded-up windows.
The ‘House of Horrors' in Waterbury, Connecticut
Woman in handcuffs escorted by police officers.
Kimberly Sullivan being taken into custody on March 12
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