Connecticut woman accused of torturing stepson blames late hubby — while lawyer says vic ‘could have just walked away’

The shocking case of a Connecticut woman accused of torturing her emaciated stepson and holding him captive for decades continues to unravel, with new details emerging that shed light on the disturbing allegations. Kimberly Sullivan, the alleged evil stepmother, is now pointing fingers at her late husband for the horrific abuse, while her lawyer insists that the victim had the freedom to leave at any time.

According to Ioannis Kaloidis, Sullivan’s lawyer, the stepson was not physically locked in anywhere and had the opportunity to leave the home while performing chores like taking out the trash. Kaloidis refuted claims that the victim was confined, stating that he could have walked away if he wanted to. However, authorities have described the case as one of the worst instances of abuse they have ever seen.

Sullivan, 56, through her lawyer, attributed the decisions regarding the upbringing of her now-32-year-old stepson to his father, Kregg Sullivan, who passed away last year. Despite this claim, the victim reported that the abuse escalated after his father’s death. Kaloidis emphasized that Kimberly did not have full control over the victim’s upbringing and that she is unfairly facing public scrutiny for the alleged abuse.

The victim, who reportedly endured years of unimaginable torment starting at age 11, revealed to authorities that his father would release him from a locked room when Sullivan and her daughters were not home. He recounted being starved, forced to drink from a toilet, and eat from a garbage can to survive. The victim weighed a mere 68 pounds when he was rescued from a fire he started in a desperate attempt to escape the abuse.

Despite the harrowing details provided by the victim, Kaloidis disputed the living conditions described in court documents, claiming there were no locks on doors and no one was physically prevented from leaving the home. He also addressed allegations that the victim was not allowed to shower for two years, stating that Kimberly encouraged him to bathe but could not force a 32-year-old man to take care of himself.

Waterbury police Detective Steven Bronwell reported that the victim is showing signs of recovery and resilience after his traumatic ordeal. Despite the unimaginable suffering he endured, Brownell commended the victim for his spirit, humor, and awareness of his situation. The victim expressed gratitude to the fire department for saving his life and is now seeking help to move forward from the trauma he experienced.

As the case unfolds, Kimberly’s lawyer expressed uncertainty about who posted her $300,000 bail, freeing her from custody. The whereabouts of Sullivan remain unknown as the investigation into the shocking allegations continues to unravel the extent of the abuse inflicted on her stepson.