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

[Izzylizzy]

Waterbury Man Held Captive Faces ‘Long Road’ To Recovery

Donations have poured in from around the globe to help the man, according to a nonprofit which organized a GoFundMe campaign.

patch.com

An 11-year-old donated $25 she saved from her allowance, and wrote the message, “I just want you to have a happy life from now on."

A woman who donated $100 offered encouraging words: “You made it, you survived, and now you are free. I wish you nothing but the best in recovery! It's a long road but what the heck is a road compared to the hell you've been through?”

They are among about 2,200 people who have made donations to help a man who police say was held captive for two decades in a Waterbury house.

Nardozzi said this week she can’t disclose the man’s current hospitalization status, but she said anyone in his situation would have a “long road” to recover and rebuild his life.

“It would be a slow feeding process (to recover from lack of nutrition),” she said. “There would be a need for physical therapy, education, housing, and therapy to recover from the trauma.”

Investigators consulted with the man’s medical caregivers after the fire, and he was described as being near starvation, with a body mass index of 11, about half of what it should be. Medical staff advised police they were trying to avoid “refeeding syndrome,” a life-threatening condition in which the introduction of food and fluids in someone who is severely malnourished can have fatal consequences because the body can’t properly process them anymore, police said.

It appears that the re-feeding syndrome was likely recognized in the Netherlands, WW11 in 1945-46'
It was mentioned in ancient times.
Interesting read.

Refeeding syndrome - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[rleigh123]

[......]
I admit that I've just assumed that KS and daughters were like 3 peas in a pod but going on what the men said about KS I'm not so sure now.

This is not by any means giving the 2 daughters a pass on anything.

Bottom line?
For me this article just opened up the possibility that they may not be running to their mother's defense.
Time will tell. [........]

Clipped by me.



IMO

Yes, I've thought it's possible the daughters were abused or have disabilities. So much is unknown at this point.

However, what the victim says in the linked affidavit (post #3) about sister and sister's boyfriend makes it hard for me to not lay some blame on them:


"MV1 remembers that when the fire department arrived, his sister and boyfriend had arrived as well.

He stated that he knew this because he could hear Sullivan yelling to them to get a screw driver to get the locks off of the door."


(I think this indicates stepmom was asking them to remove evidence --- as her home was burning and her stepson was collapsed.)


IMO
BBM

 

[Izzylizzy]

That's so, if they are found not guilty of this, they can be tried for that, and so on down the line.

Thank you and I do get the higher/lesser charges prosecutors use hoping to get a conviction.

I was referring to counts which prosecutors decide to lump numerous counts of the same crime into one count instead of multiple counts which is more serious with longer sentencing if convicted.

Like if someone is charged with 3 counts of aggravated assault, it means they are accused of 3 separate instances of that crime yet another prosecutor will charge the same 3 crimes with only 1 count AA not 3 counts.


Here's KS's arrest warrant and counts

https://www.scribd.com/document/838841062/Warrant-Affidavit-Kimberly-Sullivan-Redacted

 

[Izzylizzy]

Clipped by me.



IMO

Yes, I've thought it's possible the daughters were abused or have disabilities. So much is unknown at this point.

However, what the victim says in the linked affidavit (post #3) about sister and sister's boyfriend makes it hard for me to not lay some blame on them:


"MV1 remembers that when the fire department arrived, his sister and boyfriend had arrived as well.

He stated that he knew this because he could hear Sullivan yelling to them to get a screw driver to get the locks off of the door."


(I think this indicates stepmom was asking them to remove evidence --- as her home was burning and her stepson was collapsed.)


IMO
BBM

IMO:
I agree with all you said and not knowing their relationship makes it impossible to know the truth of it.
What we do know is that even if the the daughter is estranged from her mother by choice for whatever reasons as an adult she and her sister didn't report the abuse KS was continuing to inflict on the victim.
There are so many ways this can play out if it goes to trial including the "screwdriver".
I think it all depends if the state has the evidence and plans to criminally charge one or both daughters.

One thing that comes to mind is the daughter/boyfriend arriving at the fire doesn't mean that the daughter is close to KS.

Even those who are estranged from their parents and also live close by would most likely run to the parents home if they got a frantic call/text from parent that their house was on fire.
We may find out what was said in that communication.
Was KS still in the burning house when she called her daughter, did she tell her she can't get her dog and cats out and just maybe she mentioned the victim too?
One of the things that is seized into my mind is an image of when the Firefighter said that he found the victim in a fetal position on the kitchen floor.

 

[rleigh123]

[.....
We may find out what was said in that communication.
Was KS still in the burning house when she called her daughter, did she tell her she can't get her dog and cats out and just maybe she mentioned the victim too?
One of the things that is seized into my mind is an image of when the Firefighter said that he found the victim in a fetal position on the kitchen floor. [.....]

Clipped by me.



Yes, according to the victim's statement in the affidavit, stepmom's request to remove locks was NOT because victim was locked in at that time.

It was after stepmom ordered victim downstairs to clean himself up, and he collapsed near the stairs.

He was already out of the room when stepmom told daughter and bf to unscrew locks.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Clipped by me.



Yes, according to the victim's statement in the affidavit, stepmom's request to remove locks was NOT because victim was locked in at that time.

It was after stepmom ordered victim downstairs to clean himself up, and he collapsed near the stairs.

He was already out of the room when stepmom told daughter and bf to unscrew locks.

I'm confused.

So the daughter was with KS before FD arrived?

If so was she there when the victim set the fire?

KS/lawyer play stupid but the first things she thought of was for the victim to clean up as her house is on fire and for daughter to destroy evidence.

What I still don;'t get though is when KS was being escorted away from the fire by the FD she was alone carrying her dog and no daughter/boyfriend was with her.

Maybe LE separated them after observing the victim and possible crime scene area he was locked in?

 

[rleigh123]

I'm confused.

So the daughter was with KS before FD arrived?

If so was she there when the victim set the fire?

KS/lawyer play stupid but the first things she thought of was for the victim to clean up as her house is on fire and for daughter to destroy evidence.

What I still don;'t get though is when KS was being escorted away from the fire by the FD she was alone carrying her dog and no daughter/boyfriend was with her.

Maybe LE separated them after observing the victim and possible crime scene area he was locked in?

IMO


Yes perhaps the daughter and bf stood back. I don't think they took the locks off because the investigators found them attached.

The affidavit says when stepmom discovered the fire, she told victim to go downstairs to clean himself up. He collapsed.

From the victim's statement in the affidavit, linked in post # 3:

"MV1 remembers that when the fire department arrived, his sister and boyfriend had arrived as well.

He stated that he knew this because he could hear Sullivan yelling to them to get a screw driver to get the locks off of the door."

 

[Kemug]

Does anyone else think she looks a bit like Lori Vallow Daybell?

 

[Izzylizzy]

IMO


Yes perhaps the daughter and bf stood back. I don't think they took the locks off because the investigators found them attached.

The affidavit says when stepmom discovered the fire, she told victim to go downstairs to clean himself up. He collapsed.

From the victim's statement in the affidavit, linked in post # 3:

"MV1 remembers that when the fire department arrived, his sister and boyfriend had arrived as well.

He stated that he knew this because he could hear Sullivan yelling to them to get a screw driver to get the locks off of the door."

Thanks so much for clearing up my confusion.
I wasted much thought on on the different scenarios involving the daughter/screwdriver not knowing when and how she got to the house.

 

[sds71]

Waterbury woman accused of holding stepson captive was among last to see 1986 murder victim alive:

The arrest of Kimberly Sullivan who police say held her stepson captive in their Waterbury home for decades has resurfaced painful memories for the family of a 16-year-old girl who was killed in 1986.

While she was never arrested or suspected of being involved in the murder, Sullivan was among the last people to see Laura Melio alive on the night of July 16, 1986 before she was abducted, raped and killed.

Melio and Sullivan, who was 18 years old and known as Kimberly Sottosanto at the time, had been out with friends that night. Police at the time said Sullivan left Melio at Sylvan Lake Park in Watertown that night with a 25-year-old male friend. Police said the man left Melio around 1 a.m. on July 17, 1986 and walked a mile to his Oakville home to retrieve his car to drive the girl home, because she was too intoxicated to walk with him. When he returned, however, Melio was gone.

The case led to the arrest of Robert Burke, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison as part of a plea agreement. His current status remains unclear, as he no longer is listed in public records. A spokesperson for the state Department of Correction did not return requests for comment on Burke's status.
Burke, who had multiple sexual assault convictions, lived across the street from where Melio was left stranded, according to arguments in court at the time.

It's unknown why Sullivan left her friend that night and it remains a lingering question for Melio's family.

"You don't leave your best friend in a park alone at night. You guys had a few drinks. You just don't do that," said Laura's older sister, Francesa Melio, 60. “She took off with my sister's pocketbook. We didn't get it back for months. When she took off and left Laura stranded, she had Laura's purse in the car.”
The family said they never heard from Sullivan again — not even to offer an apology.

https://www.ctinsider.com/waterbury/article/kimberly-sullivan-laura-melio-watertown-murder-20233577.php

 

[keek]

Thanks so much for clearing up my confusion.
I wasted much thought on on the different scenarios involving the daughter/screwdriver not knowing when and how she got to the house.

Sullivan is heard telling the firefighter that she will or did call her daughter. I am sure the daughter/bf were not going to go up to the fire area and unscrew bolts, though her mother told them to. Fire and all, smoke, firefighters around. Oh, she did tell the ff that I will go sit in my daughter's car when he was telling her to move down the street. Seems to me she called daughter at the same time or before the ff's. Victim/survivor said that he made sure he stayed INSIDE, so that the ff's would have to get him and bring him out. Safety and survival, was not going to go near that monster step as she was yelling, come down, come out.. I had listened to the vid a few times but what I remember about the talking.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Sullivan is heard telling the firefighter that she will or did call her daughter. I am sure the daughter/bf were not going to go up to the fire area and unscrew bolts, though her mother told them to. Fire and all, smoke, firefighters around. Oh, she did tell the ff that I will go sit in my daughter's car when he was telling her to move down the street. Seems to me she called daughter at the same time or before the ff's. Victim/survivor said that he made sure he stayed INSIDE, so that the ff's would have to get him and bring him out. Safety and survival, was not going to go near that monster step as she was yelling, come down, come out.. I had listened to the vid a few times but what I remember about the talking.

Thanks for filling in more details.
I'm curious if the daughters lawyered up?

 

[keek]

Thanks for filling in more details.
I'm curious if the daughters lawyered up?

I don't think anything is out about what has happened with the daughters, though of course people know them. I haven't seen anyone that has come forward about them, just two people about the mother and here, that long ago crime involving another girl, just a minute ago. Such a disgusting waste of space.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Waterbury woman accused of holding stepson captive was among last to see 1986 murder victim alive:

The arrest of Kimberly Sullivan who police say held her stepson captive in their Waterbury home for decades has resurfaced painful memories for the family of a 16-year-old girl who was killed in 1986.

While she was never arrested or suspected of being involved in the murder, Sullivan was among the last people to see Laura Melio alive on the night of July 16, 1986 before she was abducted, raped and killed.

Melio and Sullivan, who was 18 years old and known as Kimberly Sottosanto at the time, had been out with friends that night. Police at the time said Sullivan left Melio at Sylvan Lake Park in Watertown that night with a 25-year-old male friend. Police said the man left Melio around 1 a.m. on July 17, 1986 and walked a mile to his Oakville home to retrieve his car to drive the girl home, because she was too intoxicated to walk with him. When he returned, however, Melio was gone.

The case led to the arrest of Robert Burke, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison as part of a plea agreement. His current status remains unclear, as he no longer is listed in public records. A spokesperson for the state Department of Correction did not return requests for comment on Burke's status.
Burke, who had multiple sexual assault convictions, lived across the street from where Melio was left stranded, according to arguments in court at the time.

It's unknown why Sullivan left her friend that night and it remains a lingering question for Melio's family.

"You don't leave your best friend in a park alone at night. You guys had a few drinks. You just don't do that," said Laura's older sister, Francesa Melio, 60. “She took off with my sister's pocketbook. We didn't get it back for months. When she took off and left Laura stranded, she had Laura's purse in the car.”
The family said they never heard from Sullivan again — not even to offer an apology.

https://www.ctinsider.com/waterbury/article/kimberly-sullivan-laura-melio-watertown-murder-20233577.php

IMO:
This isn't the first time KS's lawyer should have just shut-up or at the very least did a no comment.
The family is greatful that this tragic event involving KS is back in the media and getting attention.
It's not "rumors" it's facts.

"Sullivan's attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, said Friday it's unfortunate that these "rumors take this life on social media."
"There's nothing there," Kaloidis said. "There's never been anything there and it's unfortunate that people are even bringing this up and I'm sure it's unfortunate for the people involved."

 

[Izzylizzy]

More info and the victim's uncle speaks to reporter.
IMO:
It appears that this uncle is not the same uncle who went to the medical facility to see the victim.
If it had been I gather he would have spoken about it or been asked about it.


video"

I-Team: Others lived in home of alleged captive in Waterbury

I-Team: Others lived in home of alleged captive in Waterbury

www.wfsb.com

 

[Kittypoo]

This interview with a former co-worker has made me wonder how the 2 daughters were also treated by KS. "The way she was, the way she acted, the way she lived"...I wonder if she treated the daughters badly (obvs no where near as badly as this stepson) and they feared her? Feared crossing her or speaking up about him in case they were caged too?
She sounds like a nasty piece of work from this interview, didn't get along with coworkers, hated her husband and his disability, clearly LOATHED the step son, I do wonder if she treated her daughters with very little contempt too?
In no way am I minimising the daughters knowledge of this abuse and them doing nothing about it, I just can't believe they didn't and allowed it to continue, hence why I'm thinking along these lines of coercion!

OMO MOO JMO

I started wondering about the death of the Father. Maybe he was a victim in some way as he was handicapped and reliant on care from KS. I use the word care very loosely.
For KS to talk in a derogatory way about her vulnerable husband to her work colleagues speaks volumes
IMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

Well see how well this ages.
Kaloidis said "I do anticipate a trial in this case due to the shocking allegations"

imo:
When shocking allegations get hit head-on with shocking evidence going to trial won't seem like such a bright idea.

@ 1:40

video in link

Google Search

 

[Izzylizzy]

I started wondering about the death of the Father. Maybe he was a victim in some way as he was handicapped and reliant on care from KS. I use the word care very loosely.
For KS to talk in a derogatory way about her vulnerable husband to her work colleagues speaks volumes
IMO

In this video with the father's brother he said his wife called CPS and nothing was done.
He said they didn't pursue it, he thinks it was because his brother was having problems with KS.
I don't remember a timeline given or could have missed it.

I-Team: Others lived in home of alleged captive in Waterbury

I-Team: Others lived in home of alleged captive in Waterbury

www.wfsb.com

 

[Pseudonymph]

HYPOTHETICALLY if the stepmom did abandon her friend without any bad intentions and her friend ended up murdered, she may have been left with a bundle of guilt and anger toward men. Sometimes guilt and anger turns outward. There’s a reason the abuse escalated when the boy was in his teens and involved not letting him out of the house. He may have been a scapegoat.

Again, my amateur analysis only.

 

[Izzylizzy]

HYPOTHETICALLY if the stepmom did abandon her friend without any bad intentions and her friend ended up murdered, she may have been left with a bundle of guilt and anger toward men. Sometimes guilt and anger turns outward. There’s a reason the abuse escalated when the boy was in his teens and involved not letting him out of the house. He may have been a scapegoat.

Again, my amateur analysis only.

IMO:
Yes, KS did leave LM but it was the boy with them who was the one who left her alone in the park.
So now there are 2 males, one an assumed friend/acquaintance and the other a killer.

We don't know KS's reason for leaving the park.
In addition to what you said due to KS's deep character flaws described by a classmate and a co-worker KS may never have gotten the guy she wanted.
We also don't know if there was a personality change in KS after her friend's death.
Was KS, as described by schoolmate, angry and argumentative before her girlfriend's death or became that way after her friend was killed?
Maybe she liked the boy that was at the park with them the night LM was killed?
She also could have been jealous of LM and the boy's attention to her?
The girls were said to be best friends by FM, LM's sister.
Nothing was said by sister FM about her family hearing from KS's parents.
Most of us can't even begin to imagine our daughter's best friend being killed.

I have no idea what was within KS and why it was there, all I know is that it manifested in her being a sadistic woman who targeted an innocent child and continued the horrific abuse for 20 yrs.

https://www.ctinsider.com/waterbury/article/kimberly-sullivan-laura-melio-watertown-murder-20233577.php