The biological mother of a Connecticut man who was allegedly held captive by his stepmother for over two decades is now demanding justice for the horrific abuse her son endured.
Kimberly Sullivan, 56, has been accused of inflicting “prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect, and inhumane treatment” on the now 32-year-old man, who managed to escape last month by starting a fire using hand sanitizer, paper, and a lighter.
A Survivor’s Terrifying Experience
Court documents reveal that the victim was subjected to unimaginable living conditions, including being given only two cups of water per day and at times forced to drink from the toilet.
He had allegedly been locked in an 8-foot-by-9-foot room since he was in the fourth grade, and when he finally managed to escape on February 17, prosecutors likened him to a “survivor of Auschwitz’s death camp.”
A Mother’s Heartbreak and Anger
The victim’s biological mother, Tracy Vallerand, is speaking out and calling for everyone involved in the abuse, not just Sullivan, to be held accountable.
Speaking to NBC Connecticut, Vallerand said, “All of them in that home need to get charged.”
She went on to express her anger toward Sullivan, stating, “She needs to actually spend the rest of her life in solitary confinement and fed two cups of water a day.”
Vallerand also revealed that she made the heartbreaking decision to give up custody of her son when he was a baby, believing he would have a better life.
However, she never imagined he would end up living in such horrific conditions.
“It was the most painful, emotional decision any mother can make,” she said, adding that she had tried to visit her son over the years, but her ex-husband, Kregg Sullivan, would not allow it.
A Long Search for Her Son
After years of being separated from her son, Vallerand, along with the boy’s half-sister, spent years searching for him once he turned 18.
The sister, now in her 30s, shared her frustration with NBC Connecticut, saying, “I’ve been looking for him for over a decade…there was nothing—no social media, no court records, no ancestry information, nothing.”
It wasn’t until the boy escaped that Vallerand learned of the severe abuse he had endured.
She expressed her relief and hope for a reunion, saying, “He has everybody here, on both sides of his family that love him and have looked for him.”
The Heartbreaking Rescue
When authorities arrived at the scene, body camera footage revealed the shocking condition of the victim.
His emaciated body, weighing only 69 pounds at 5 feet 9 inches tall, was carried into an ambulance, where he received immediate medical attention.
Sullivan, meanwhile, expressed more concern for her dogs than for the condition of the young man she had allegedly abused for years.
Sullivan Faces Serious Charges
Kimberly Sullivan now faces multiple charges, including assault and kidnapping.
Despite the grave accusations, she was released from prison on March 14 after posting a $300,000 bail.
Sullivan maintains her innocence, with her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, suggesting that it was the boy’s father who made the decisions about his life.
Kaloidis further argued that Sullivan was unaware of the severity of the victim’s weight and health issues and that she had attempted to encourage better hygiene.
Sullivan is set to return to court on March 26, as authorities continue to investigate the case and gather more evidence.
In the meantime, the victim faces a long road to recovery, both physically and mentally, after surviving years of horrific abuse.