CT - 32-year-old man held captive by stepmother Kimberly Sullivan since age 11, weighs 68 lbs, sets fire to home to escape, 17 Feb 2025 *Arrest*

[Smelly Squirrel]

Firefighter describes the rescue.

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[Kittypoo]

Yes, hideous mentality.

Is this sister, Mum or step mum?

 

[Kittypoo]

I’m less interested in the mother. I think others have made a strong case on this thread that it was essentially a consented adoption and she was believably trying for the best, decades ago. I’m more interested in a failure of controls where a fourth grader vanished out of a Connecticut school system - arguably the strongest state school system in the country - and reappeared nowhere, no requested records from any other district, and this was allowed to go on. We societally allowed that. A kid disappeared off our community radar and was horribly abused, and we prioritized the rights of individuals and families over the defense of that kid. I don’t want to do that. I want to appear at the pearly gates one day able to say, I defended the weakest among us. I hope others agree.

This has happened in recent cases in England and Ireland a child removed from school and forgotten about no follow up, Sara Sharif and Kyran Durnin. So not just an issue in US.
I’m sure there are many more sadly

 

[keek]

Is this sister, Mum or step mum?

step monster

 

[Aegon_the_Conqueror]

I'd be interested in seeing actual statistics for homeschoolers who are victims of neglect because this case is almost certainly an outlier. Any regulatiory responses would be irresponsible without such statistics. What happened here is already a serious crime, and I find it hard to believe that adding regulations (which are essentially guilt without due process) would have prevented it, especially since another bureaucracy dropped the ball. Rather than CPS, the ones (other than his family) who REALLY failed this kid, homeschooling parents who had nothing to do with it will be the ones who shoulder the burden. As is often the case with regulatiory opportunism ("we have to do something, this is something, let's do this"), it's almost guaranteed that many, if not all, of the regulations in the bill would've had no effect in this case... It's no coincidence that calls for regulation are light on specifics, let alone ones that would've prevented this from happening, as "more" seems to be the end-goal. (Notice the word choice, "could have"... Not even "probably"... In other words, they have no idea. A much higher level of certainty is needed.) The public school system's horrendous response to COVID (closures, split-weeks, and Zoom classes long after it was known that there was little threat to children, and teachers were more likely to catch it at home) proved how alternatives like homeschooling should be encouraged rather than restricted in favor of protecting a monopoly.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I agree with Oliver's analogy that the "HSLDA is the homeschooling equivalent of the NRA ".

“While all of that is pretty troubling, the truth is in many states, the rules and oversight can be so lax parents ultimately don’t have to teach their kids anything at all,” Oliver said. That’s thanks to the Homeschooling Legal Defense Association, a powerful lobby that grew during the 1970s and ’80s when homeschooling was so regulated, it was even banned in some places. In recent years, the HLDA has worked hard to roll back as much homeschooling regulation as possible. The group even went so far as defeating a West Virginia measure called Raylee’s Law, named for an eight-year-old child who died of neglect weeks after being withdrawn from school by a father reported for abuse.

“That seems pretty reasonable,” Oliver said. “And if the HSLDA thinks trying to protect kids taken out of school by people convicted of child abuse is an attack on homeschooling, they’re saying quite a bit about what they believe homeschooling to be.”

He added, “At a certain point, it starts to feel like the HSLDA is the homeschooling equivalent of the NRA — an extremely powerful organization that, while it represents a large number of people, pursues an outermost fringe version of their agenda.”

John Oliver talks about lax laws surrounding homeschooling in the U.S.

On "Last Week Tonight," John Oliver investigated U.S. homeschooling, which has seen regulation rolled back by powerful lobbying groups in recent years.

www.mother.ly

 

[Izzylizzy]

This has happened in recent cases in England and Ireland a child removed from school and forgotten about no follow up, Sara Sharif and Kyran Durnin. So not just an issue in US.
I’m sure there are many more sadly

Recently in Wichita Kansas.

As a home-schooler Natalie was off the grid for 4 yrs as she lay buried in her adoptive parents back yard.


"Natalie was born in July 2014 and given the name Kennedy Jean when Crystina and Joe Schroer adopted her in 2019. Rose Hill USD 394 said Kennedy completed just one semester of kindergarten in 2020 before her adoptive parents withdrew her to pursue homeschooling.

Rose Hill police believe the little girl died in late 2020. Nearly four years later, her remains were unearthed from the backyard of a local home"

KAKE News

Natalie was born in July 2014 and given the name Kennedy Jean when Crystina and Joe Schroer adopted her in 2019. Rose Hill USD 394 said Kennedy completed just one semester of kindergarten in 2020...

www.facebook.com

 

[tlcya]

Bitter sweet but hopefully he's buying anything and everything that he's been denied throughout his tortured life that he desires.
I just looked and almost $90,000 has been raised for him.


"The man’s story has captured hearts around the country and people have donated tens of thousands of dollars to help him."

Video shows rescue of man who told police stepmom held him captive for 20 years

NBC Connecticut obtained video of police rescuing a man who said his stepmother had held him captive inside their home for 20 years.

www.nbcconnecticut.com

I am so glad this young man will have the means to start a new life and meet his need to sustain an independent and happier life.

I do hope he receives good advice on how best to make that money benefit him for an extended period. He will have a long steep climb to acclimatize himself to interacting with and navigating the outside world, reach a point where he can locate a job and sustain himself for the rest of his life. I worry more about the socialization and simple real world experiences he has missed out on more so than the physical deprivation he survived.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I am so glad this young man will have the means to start a new life and meet his need to sustain an independent and happier life.

I do hope he receives good advise on how best to make that money benefit him for an extended period. He will have a long steep climb to acclimatize himself to interacting with and navigating the outside world, reach a point where he can locate a job and sustain himself for the rest of his life. I worry more about the socialization and simple real world experiences he has missed out on more so than the physical deprivation he survived.

IMO:
He appears to be articulate with a very good memory and his sense of humor has been noted by LE.
Not being insensitive but if the spirit ever moves him he would be ideal to testify before Connecticut's legislative asking for changes in their home-schooling laws and how CPS investigates reports of abuse and their only keeping records for 5 yrs.
He has a core of the best people surrounding him and hopefully they remain with him as he begins to navigate his freedom.
Imagine finally being able to make choices after 20 yrs and on top of that being asked what you'd like to eat?
Nope.

 

[tlcya]

She was released on $300,000 bond.
‘He put a lot of trust in us': Waterbury FD speaks out about rescuing man who says he was held captive

If she came up with those funds she can't have been working with too limited a resources MOO

If someone else bonded her out I would love to know who and WHY?

 

[Deleted member 339775]

She was released on $300,000 bond.
‘He put a lot of trust in us': Waterbury FD speaks out about rescuing man who says he was held captive

If she came up with those funds she can't have been working with too limited a resources MOO

If someone else bonded her out I would love to know who and WHY?

I’m thinking perhaps her daughters paid her bond because if our maths are correct and they weren’t even born when this poor man became trapped then that’s all they’ve ever known and they might be brainwashed enough to think their mother is in the right in this situation

 

[Izzylizzy]

I'd be interested in seeing actual statistics for homeschoolers who are victims of neglect because this case is almost certainly an outlier. Any regulatiory responses would be irresponsible without such statistics. What happened here is already a serious crime, and I find it hard to believe that adding regulations (which are essentially guilt without due process) would have prevented it, especially since another bureaucracy dropped the ball. Rather than CPS, the ones (other than his family) who REALLY failed this kid, homeschooling parents who had nothing to do with it will be the ones who shoulder the burden. As is often the case with regulatiory opportunism ("we have to do something, this is something, let's do this"), it's almost guaranteed that many, if not all, of the regulations in the bill would've had no effect in this case... It's no coincidence that calls for regulation are light on specifics, let alone ones that would've prevented this from happening, as "more" seems to be the end-goal. (Notice the word choice, "could have"... Not even "probably"... In other words, they have no idea. A much higher level of certainty is needed.) The public school system's horrendous response to COVID (closures, split-weeks, and Zoom classes long after it was known that there was little threat to children, and teachers were more likely to catch it at home) proved how alternatives like homeschooling should be encouraged rather than restricted in favor of protecting a monopoly.

We only get to read about the cases that end up tragic for the children, dead or on their way.

There still remains 10's of thousands of homes where kids are home-schooled and some states have no idea what their academic status is no less what their mental/physical condition is.

Parents are given carte blanche to do whatever they want behind closed doors which is why new laws and not regulations are needed and ENFORCED.
imo:

 

[Kittypoo]

Recently in Wichita Kansas.

As a home-schooler Natalie was off the grid for 4 yrs as she lay buried in her adoptive parents back yard.


"Natalie was born in July 2014 and given the name Kennedy Jean when Crystina and Joe Schroer adopted her in 2019. Rose Hill USD 394 said Kennedy completed just one semester of kindergarten in 2020 before her adoptive parents withdrew her to pursue homeschooling.

Rose Hill police believe the little girl died in late 2020. Nearly four years later, her remains were unearthed from the backyard of a local home"

KAKE News

Natalie was born in July 2014 and given the name Kennedy Jean when Crystina and Joe Schroer adopted her in 2019. Rose Hill USD 394 said Kennedy completed just one semester of kindergarten in 2020...

www.facebook.com

Yes I’ve been following that case as well. Absolutely awful.
Step/adoptive parents seemingly raise the danger level for vulnerable children
IMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed>
Curious how it was handled when his sister's friend's came over, if they were permitted company..
Holidays?
The victim said a grandmother knew how he was treated and his condition but we don't know which grandmother.
The uncle who visited the young man in the hospital was his uncle, the brother of the victims father so it may be that the father's side had no contact and it was KS's mother and maybe others from that side of the family who were aware of the young man.
Hopefully LE leaves no stone un-turned in their investigation but from the history on these kinds of tragic cases I doubt any future charges will be filed against people that knew.
Unless there's a mandated reporter somewhere in the mix.

IMO:

 

[tlcya]

Curious how it was handled when his sister's friend's came over, if they were permitted company..
Holidays?
The victim said a grandmother knew how he was treated and his condition but we don't know which grandmother.
The uncle who visited the young man in the hospital was his uncle, the brother of the victims father so it may be that the father's side had no contact and it was KS's mother and maybe others from that side of the family who were aware of the young man.
Hopefully LE leaves no stone un-turned in their investigation but from the history on these kinds of tragic cases I doubt any future charges will be filed against people that knew.
Unless there's a mandated reporter somewhere in the mix.

IMO:

a couple of articles said the sisters were allowed friends and normal activities EXCEPT they were not allowed to have guests at the house. Probably to avoid any household member from having to explain why there is a child/sibling who is forever locked in a room and looks like walking death from starvation.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Yes I’ve been following that case as well. Absolutely awful.
Step/adoptive parents seemingly raise the danger level for vulnerable children
IMO

It's mindboggeling how biological parents go along with the abuse from the step-parent or visa versa.
So many of these children who were severely abused or found deceased experienced what's called "targeted abuse" and the other children in the house were treated fine.
Just like the 2 sisters were.
These other children in the home with the abused child also could have been adopted , step-children or biological children of the abusive parents.
What's incomprehensible to us now involves studies in the mental health world.
Cinderella has also been a term used for the child who was targeted.

 

[Izzylizzy]

a couple of articles said the sisters were allowed friends and normal activities EXCEPT they were not allowed to have guests at the house. Probably to avoid any household member from having to explain why there is a child/sibling who is forever locked in a room and looks like walking death from starvation.

Thanks!
IMO:
It wouldn't surprise me if the sisters lawyered- up and were advised to begin mental health counseling so if there are any possible charges forthcoming and/or a possible trial for KS they can claim to also being victims of their parents from a young age.
You know, the sympathetic juror strategy.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

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[sds71]

“I want to see them all fried” Half sister of man held captive for over 20 years speaks out

Heather Tessman says she has been looking for her half brother for more than a decade.

www.wfsb.com

Heather Tessman says she has been looking for her half brother for more than a decade.

She says she found out with the rest of the world that her half brother was held captive in Waterbury for over 20 years.

Tessman always wondered what had happened to her half brother when they were young.

She did the math, and when he was 18, she started searching social media, ancestry sites and court records, but nothing came


That is because police say he was held in a small room in a house in Waterbury for over 2 decades.

“I love you. I’ve been looking for you,” Tessman said.

Little did Tessman know, he was just 12 miles away facing daily abuse, starvation, and torture.

“We just need him to know he’s got people. We love him and we want him. He shouldn’t have been thrown away like garbage,” Tessman said.

 

[Tricia]

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