A Connecticut man’s desperate escape from captivity has brought to light a horrifying case of alleged abuse spanning over two decades.
His biological mother, now speaking out for the first time, is demanding justice—not just for the woman accused of the abuse, but for everyone in the household who may have had knowledge of it.
Prosecutors claim 56-year-old Kimberly Sullivan subjected the man, now 32, to years of starvation, neglect, and inhumane treatment, leaving him in a state they compared to a Holocaust survivor.
The man’s escape was nothing short of remarkable—he managed to break free last month by setting a fire using hand sanitizer, a lighter, and paper.
The conditions he endured were beyond comprehension.
Court documents reveal he was given only two cups of water a day and, at times, was forced to drink from a toilet.
A Mother’s Anguish
Tracy Vallerand, the man’s biological mother, is calling for accountability.
She insists that not just Sullivan, but everyone who lived in that home, should face legal consequences.
“All of them in that home need to get charged,” she told NBC Connecticut.
Vallerand, now 52, had lost custody of her son when he was a baby, a decision she describes as the most painful choice of her life.
She believed at the time that she was ensuring a better future for him—never imagining that he would end up living in what she now calls a house of monsters.
Years of Searching in Vain
After relinquishing custody, Vallerand says she never saw her son again.
Her ex-husband, Kregg Sullivan, who passed away in January 2024, refused to allow her access.
Still, she made attempts to see him.
She recalls waiting near places where she had heard Kregg might take him, hoping for a glimpse of her child.
But he was kept hidden.
When the boy turned 18, Vallerand and her daughter—his half-sister—searched tirelessly online, looking for any sign of him.
“I’ve been looking for him for over a decade,” his sister told NBC Connecticut.
“There was nothing. No social media, no court records, no ancestry information, nothing.”
A Life Stolen
Authorities now allege that Kimberly and Kregg Sullivan removed the boy from school when he was in the fourth grade, after teachers raised concerns about his well-being.
From that moment on, he was allegedly imprisoned in an 8-foot-by-9-foot room.
His biological mother had no idea what had happened until she received a call after his escape.
“My sister called me while I was at work and said, ‘We found him.’ We found him.”
Now, she holds onto hope that she will finally be able to reconnect with her son.
“He has family on both sides who love him and have been looking for him. I love him.
He’s so strong, and I’m so proud of him for doing what he needed to do.”
The Aftermath of His Escape
Disturbing police body camera footage from the rescue shows the frail, emaciated man being carried into an ambulance.
At the time of his escape, he weighed only 69 pounds despite standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
His recovery—both physically and emotionally—will be a long and challenging journey, according to Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo.
Meanwhile, Kimberly Sullivan faces multiple charges, including assault and kidnapping.
She was released from custody after posting a $300,000 bail and continues to deny the accusations.
Her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, argues that it was Kregg Sullivan who made decisions regarding the boy’s upbringing. Sullivan even claims she encouraged better hygiene but couldn’t force him to comply.
“She maintains her innocence,” Kaloidis said, calling the allegations “outlandish.”
Sullivan is scheduled to return to court on March 26.
What’s Next?
As the legal battle unfolds, Vallerand and her daughter remain hopeful for a reunion with the man they spent years searching for. But beyond that, they want to see true justice served.
Whether the courts will hold all involved parties accountable remains to be seen.
One thing is certain—this case has shaken the community, leaving many wondering how such cruelty could have gone unnoticed for so long.