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A man allegedly held captive in his own home for two decades has asked a heartbreaking question after she was able to remain free, despite being charged.
Kimberly Sullivan, from Waterbury, Connecticut, was accused of imprisoning her stepson in her home, after he is said to have lit a fire to escape.
The man, whose identity remains unknown, was found severely malnourished following the fire, leading to the arrest of Sullivan.
According to reports, his home life first started to be scrutinized while he was at school, and at the age of 10, was unenrolled from Waterbury’s public school system in 2004 after school employees contacted state child welfare officials with concerns about him.
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It was then said that he would be home-schooled.
On February 17, the man is said to have used a lighter, some paper, and hand sanitizer to set fire to the house.
The man has since said that he was only allowed to eat just two sandwiches and two small bottles of water per day, and could only leave the tiny box room he was allegedly locked in to do chores around the house for Sullivan.
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According to an arrest warrant, a slide bolt lock was found attached to the door of the box room from the outside.
Now, the man in question has asked a very sad question following Sullivan’s court appearance.
Sullivan attended the Waterbury court and pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, felony assault, and cruelty to persons.
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During the court proceedings, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Don Therkildsen Jr. revealed the victim's thoughts on Sullivan being free, despite her charges.
After Sullivan was arrested, she posted $300,000 bail in March, allowing her to escape a holding cell, although she will be subject to electronic monitoring.
Therkildsen Jr. shared that the man was baffled that she was not incarcerated, due to the gravity of the allegations made against her and questioned why she was not imprisoned.
He went on to suggest that she should be put under house arrest, as she could be a flight risk.
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“This victim is afraid. This victim lives in fear,” Therkildsen Jr. said in court.
He explained that the first question the man asked him was: “Why is she out walking around when I was locked up in a room for 20 years?”
Sullivan’s lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis, previously denied the claims.
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"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."
Kaloidis objected to the house arrest request on the grounds that Sullivan has complied with all conditions since bail was met, and that she has also received threats.
He claimed that confining her to house arrest would put her in danger.
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The alleged victim in question claimed that he was locked in the room with no heat or air conditioning for most of each day from around 11 years old.
His father, Kregg Sullivan, let him out of the room for longer stretches of time until his death last year.
Britt Jones