Attorney Claims Stepmom Innocent in 'House of Horrors' Case, Cites Life 'Upheaval'

Kimberly Sullivan is facing serious accusations of having kept her stepson confined to a room in their Connecticut home for nearly 20 years. Her attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, denies the allegations, insisting Sullivan did not abuse or imprison the man, who was found severely emaciated after allegedly setting the house on fire.

“Her side of the story is quite simple,” Kaloidis stated in an interview. “She did not harm him, she did not restrain him, she did not imprison him.” The attorney emphasized that this situation has been an overwhelming shock for Sullivan, who previously led a relatively quiet life.

“Her face has been plastered all over the TV, the news, the internet, social media. Her life has been turned upside down,” Kaloidis lamented. “She has a giant target on her back. She has essentially become public enemy number one. It is a tremendous weight that she is carrying. It is a tremendous upheaval to her entire life.”

The case took a dramatic turn on February 17, when Sullivan’s 32-year-old stepson was rescued from their burning Waterbury home. Weighing just 68 pounds, he revealed to firefighters that he had intentionally started the fire as a desperate attempt to escape the tiny, windowless room where he had been confined since he was just 11 years old.

The disturbing details of the case have made national headlines, especially after police released harrowing footage and images from inside the home, showcasing the deplorable conditions Sullivan’s stepson endured. According to the arrest warrant, he was kept in an 8-foot by 9-foot room without air conditioning or heat, and without access to a bathroom for 22 to 24 hours a day over the span of 20 years.

Investigators reported that the man was given only two sandwiches and two small water bottles each day, with one of the bottles used for bathing. He was forced to relieve himself using bottles and newspapers, a situation that highlights the severity of his confinement.

Sullivan was arrested on March 12 and faces multiple charges, including first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons, and first-degree reckless endangerment. Remarkably, she was released from jail less than a day later after posting a $300,000 bond.

Despite the serious allegations, Sullivan maintains her innocence, asserting that her stepson was free to come and go as he pleased. She has also pointed fingers at the man’s late father, Kregg Sullivan, suggesting that he is to blame for the alleged abuse. “My client adamantly denies that there was any imprisonment,” Kaloidis remarked. He anticipates that more information will emerge during the trial, which he believes is the appropriate venue for revealing additional details about the case.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the community remains on edge, grappling with the shocking revelations surrounding this case. The trial is expected to shed more light on the circumstances that led to such a harrowing situation, and many are left wondering how this could have happened in their midst.