Press Release
Waterbury, Conn. – Family of Captive Man Shares Outrage During Stepmother’s Court Appearance
In a shocking case unfolding in Waterbury, Connecticut, the biological family of a man who claims he was held captive for two decades expressed their dismay as his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, appeared in court on Wednesday. Sullivan, 56, faces serious charges for allegedly keeping her stepson confined to a room for 20 years. As she hurried past a throng of cameras, she offered no comments.
Tracy Vallerand, the victim’s biological mother, attended the hearing, voicing her outrage at Sullivan’s freedom. “It’s just disgusting that she’s allowed to be on the streets right now,” Vallerand stated. The heartbreaking circumstances surfaced earlier this year when the victim, now 32, set a fire to attract first responders. Footage captured a firefighter rescuing him from what he describes as a near-perpetual confinement, marked by minimal food and absence of medical care.
Allegations against Sullivan intensified after her husband’s death last year, with the victim claiming conditions worsened. However, Sullivan’s attorney, John Kaloidis, asserted her innocence, emphasizing, “Those allegations are serious, but they are made by one person. The world has jumped on those allegations… but the principle of justice remains.”
Currently free on a $300,000 bond, Sullivan awaits further legal proceedings. Meanwhile, the victim’s family members, including his half-sister Heather Tessman, have spent years searching for him online, believing he was leading a normal life after disappearing from school at age 11. “You just can’t imagine anything like this happening because this doesn’t happen,” she lamented.
The case continues to unfold, captivating the community and raising questions of justice and family dynamics.
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