Woman who 'imprisoned starving stepson for 20 years' gave chilling eight-word response before being exposed

A stepmom, who has been charged with assault, kidnapping, and unlawful imprisonment, after allegedly keeping her stepson locked up for 20 years, made a chilling eight-word statement before the emaciated man escaped.

Kimberly Sullivan, from Waterbury, Connecticut, is accused of imprisoning her stepson in a small box room in her home, after he was found severely malnourished following a fire last month.

The man, who has rarely been seen since he was taken out of school at the age of 10, is said to have used a lighter, some paper, and hand sanitizer to set fire to the home, in a bid to make his escape.

He says he was permitted just two sandwiches and two glasses of water per day and would only leave the tiny box room in order to do chores around the house.

Just one day before her arrest, Sullivan is said to have made a chilling statement to her neighbor Marvin McCullough.

Speaking to CNN, he recalled the words: "I just want to get out of here."

Though he admitted he didn't think much of her comment at the time, but with police remaining at her property a week later, he quickly realised her words may be hiding a more sinister meaning.

Questions are now being asked as to how the man could have remained undetected in the home for all those years, with his former school principal Tom Pannone revealing he contacted child protective services multiple times.

"We knew it. We reported it. Not a damn thing was done," he told NBC News

"Everyone really was concerned with this child since he was five years old. You knew something was wrong. It was grossly wrong. You don’t disappear off the face of the earth at 10 years old."

Neighbors have since revealed their horror at discovering what was allegedly going on in the home of Sullivan and her family.

Firefighters were called to the house in Connecticut (CBS)

"We probably saw that guy three times outside,” one neighbor told NBC. "I’m trembling right now just thinking about it because I can remember his face."

Another claimed they had never seen the man before and had no idea Sullivan had a stepson at all.

According to an arrest warrant, a slide bolt lock was discovered on the door of the room from the outside, however the stepmom's lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, has refuted these claims, insisting she's not a 'villain.'

"She’s not the villain she is being made out to be," he said.

"He was not locked in a room. She did not restrain him in any way. She provided food, she provided shelter. She is blown away by these allegations."

UNILAD has contacted Kaloidis for comment.