Prosecutors offer deal to woman accused of holding stepson captive for 20 years
WATERBURY, Conn. (Court TV) — A Connecticut woman accused of holding her stepson captive for two decades has a month to decide whether she wants to accept a plea deal in the case.
Kimberly Sullivan appears in court on July 29, 2026. (Court TV)
Kimberly Sullivan has pleaded not guilty to first-degree kidnapping, assault, unlawful restraint and intentional cruelty to persons after her stepson accused her of forcing him to stay in his room for years.
The alleged victim, who was 32 when he was rescued in February 2025, has only identified himself as “S,” the name he gave himself after getting out of the house. When firefighters pulled “S” from the home after a fire on the property, he weighed 68 pounds and told them that he had been locked inside for the last 20 years.
The alleged victim later admitted to setting the fire intentionally in what he described as a desperate attempt to escape the home. He claimed he had been locked in his room since age 11 and given very little food. Doctors who examined him after he was rescued said the alleged victim had suffered from malnutrition.
Sullivan, through her attorney, Ionnis Kalodis, has denied the allegations and maintained her innocence.
At a brief hearing on Wednesday, Sullivan appeared alongside Kalodis as prosecutors revealed they had offered her a chance to plead guilty in the case. During a meeting before the public hearing in the judge’s chambers, prosecutors offered her a sentence of 30 years in prison, suspended after 20 years, followed by five years of probation in exchange for a guilty plea on the kidnapping, assault and unlawful restraint charges. The court indicated it would accept a sentence of 30 years suspended up to 10 years with five years of probation.
Sullivan was given until Sept. 4 to decide whether she wants to accept the offer; the parties will return to court at that time for her response.