Connecticut woman says biological son was held captive by 'monsters' for 20 years: Reports
Woman reportedly said she's been searching for her biological son for decades after she gave him up when he was a child.
A woman who identified herself as the biological mother of a man who was allegedly held captive by his stepmother for 20 years in a Connecticut home has reportedly spoken out following her son's grisly discovery.
Kimberly Sullivan, 56, was arrested by Waterbury police last week after her 32-year-old stepson was found in "a severely emaciated condition" when city firefighters evacuated him from a house fire on Feb. 17. The man told the first responders that he wanted his "freedom," so he used hand sanitizer, printer paper and a lighter to intentionally set the home owned by Sullivan ablaze, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Paste BN.
“The suffering this victim endured for over 20 years is both heartbreaking and unimaginable," Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said in a department Facebook post.
A 52-year-old woman who identified herself as the biological mother of Sullivan's stepson, who police have not named, spoke with NBC Connecticut and WFSB about the ongoing case.
"Thirty-two years ago, due to personal reasons, and for the full benefit of my son, I made the gut wrenching decision to give full custody to my ex-husband," she told WFSB in a statement. "This was the most painful, emotional decision any mother can make, but I thought he would have a better life. In retrospect, this did not come to pass. For the last 30 years my family and I have searched for him to reconnect only to be turned away and shut out."
"The last few days have been so shocking, disturbing and disgusting to seem true. I hope and pray we can all begin to heal and helping my son to lead a full happy loving life. I know deep in my heart I have always been there for him and always will. Please grant us the time, peace and respect as we try to cope with this tragic situation.”
The woman, who CT Insider identified as Tracy Vallerand, 52, of Meriden, Connecticut, told the outlet that her biological son's late father and Sullivan were a "bunch of monsters." Paste BN attempted to reach Vallerand on Tuesday but has not received a response.
Here's what to know about the case after the woman identifying herself as the man's biological mother spoke to local media about her son's alleged captivity that began when he was 11 years old.
Stepson's biological mother says she searched for him for decades
While speaking with NBC Connecticut, the woman said she had been searching for her son for decades ever since she gave up custody of him when he was just a child. The outlet did not name the woman, reporting she wished to remain anonymous.
The woman's daughter, who would be Sullivan's stepson's half-sister, said she had been using social media and other online tools to find her brother for years but had no success.
“I just want him to know that he has a big sister, and I’ve always known he’s existed, and I’ve always loved him, and I’ve always been trying to find him," she said, per NBC Connecticut. "I’ve been looking for him for over a decade. I wanted to wait until he was 18. I’m almost 35 now. There was nothing…no social media, no court records."
When the woman tried being in her son's life, she told the TV station that Sullivan and the boy's late father would not allow it.
Biological mother: 'He does have everybody here'
Sullivan's stepson and the woman identified as his biological mother have not connected since his discovery a month ago, but she told NBC Connecticut that she hopes they reunite soon.
“He does have everybody here, on both sides, on both sides of his family that love him, and have looked for him…I’m heartbroken,” she said. “I still just can’t fathom it. How can anybody treat somebody like that?”
According to the arrest warrant, the man told police that since the fourth grade Sullivan kept him in an eight-foot by nine-foot black storage space, only gave him two cups of water a day, barely fed him and made him dispose of his waste with two small water bottles and some newspaper. He also was locked in his room between 22 to 24 hours a day, he told police, per the charging document.
At Sullivan’s arraignment, prosecutors said her stepson was 5-foot-9-inches tall and weighed 68 pounds when he was found, outlets including NBC News and ABC7 reported.
“We all love him. I love him," the woman told NBC Connecticut. "He’s so strong, and I’m so proud of him for doing what he needed to do. I wish he did it sooner."
What did Kimberly Sullivan say after her stepson's discovery?
In connection to her stepson's alleged captivity, Sullivan is being charged with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment, Connecticut Department of Corrections inmate records show.
Ioannis Kaloidis, Sullivan's attorney, told Paste BN on Tuesday, "We do not have any comment on the statements of Ms. Vallerand." Last week, the attorney said his client is innocent.
"She's never been in trouble. She's never harmed anyone," he said a week ago. "She denies these allegations, and I would just ask people not to rush to judgment here. We're confident as the facts come out, she will be vindicated."
When asked about her stepson's allegations on the day of the fire, Sullivan told police her son was not locked inside a room and had "free reign of the house," according to the arrest warrant.
Contributing: Amaris Encinas & Charles Trepany, Paste BN