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Sickening photos emerge from inside 'house of horrors' where mum 'kept stepson captive for 20 years'

Home> News> US News

Updated 12:06 1 Apr 2025 GMT+1Published 11:12 1 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Sickening photos emerge from inside 'house of horrors' where mum 'kept stepson captive for 20 years'

He launched a daring escape after setting fire to the house

James Moorhouse

James Moorhouse

Warning: This article contains details and imagery some readers may find upsetting

Sickening photos from inside the 'house of horrors' where a man was allegedly kept captive by his stepmother for over 20 years have finally been released.

An unnamed 32-year-old man in Waterbury, Connecticut, launched a daring escape from the house where his stepmom Kimberly Sullivan is accused of keeping him locked inside a tiny room since the age of 11 by intentionally setting fire to it.

After being discovered by police, with the 5 ft 9 man weighing just 31kg, they quickly realised something was very wrong and shocking details quickly emerged on how he was reportedly taken out of school and forced to live on little food and water in a tiny space for over two decades.

Tragically, former teachers have come forward to share more details which back up the man's claims, suggesting that he would regularly try and eat from a bin during the few years he was permitted to attend school.

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And now, with Sullivan still on bail - which led to the alleged victim asking a heartbreaking question - Waterbury Police Department have shared some truly disturbing photos from inside the house where the man has sadly spent much of his life.

Kimberly Sullivan stands accused of keeping her stepson locked inside a tiny room for two decades (Waterbury Police Department)
Kimberly Sullivan stands accused of keeping her stepson locked inside a tiny room for two decades (Waterbury Police Department)

The pictures show a cluttered and messy home that clearly fell into disrepair over many years, and was only made worse by the damage from the fire the victim started.

An ominous lock is pictured, presumably where the man was allegedly kept inside his room, while there is also junk piled high in certain areas of the house.

The man also claims that he was made to urinate and defecate using a bottle and newspaper which was inside his room, with him being denied access to the bathroom.

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Inside the 'house of horrors' (Waterbury Police Department)
Inside the 'house of horrors' (Waterbury Police Department)
There were lots of locks on the doors (Waterbury Police Department)
There were lots of locks on the doors (Waterbury Police Department)

The areas which look to have been inhabited by Sullivan appear slightly tidier and cleaner, but still highlight the horrible conditions the victim would have been subject to.

Sullivan's husband, and the man's father, reportedly passed away last year and the 56-year-old's attorney Ioannis Kaloidis is claiming that he was the one who dictated how his son would be raised.

“These allegations are not true. They are outlandish. She was blown away when she heard these allegations,” Kaloidis said, per NBC Connecticut.

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“We look forward to being able to vindicate her and show that she’s done nothing wrong.”

Junk is piled high in most of the rooms (Waterbury Police Department)
Junk is piled high in most of the rooms (Waterbury Police Department)
The victim allegedly wasn't even given access to a toilet (Waterbury Police Department)
The victim allegedly wasn't even given access to a toilet (Waterbury Police Department)

While a final verdict has not yet been delivered after Sullivan posted the reported $300,000 bail, police have already described it as 'one of the worst acts of inhumanity' they have ever seen.

Waterbury Police Chief, Fernando Spagnolo, said: “The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable. This case required relentless investigative effort, and I commend the dedication of our officers and the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office.

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"Their unwavering commitment ensured that justice is served, and the perpetrator is held fully accountable for these horrific crimes.”

Sullivan denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment on March 28.

Featured Image Credit: Waterbury Police Department

Topics: Crime, US News

James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse

James is a NCTJ Gold Standard journalist covering a wide range of topics and news stories for LADbible. After two years in football writing, James switched to covering news with Newsquest in Cumbria, before joining the LAD team in 2025. In his spare time, James is a long-suffering Rochdale fan and loves reading, running and music. Contact him via [email protected]

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@JimmyMoorhouse

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