The case against Kimberly Sullivan, a Connecticut woman accused of keeping her stepson a prisoner in their home for decades, will include a friend who claims the stepmom never mentioned him for 21 years, a prosecutor said Friday.
"A friend of the defendant's of 21 years has come forward and provided a written statement to the state, to the police that in the 21 years she's known this defendant, she's never spoken of a stepson, " Assistant State’s Attorney Donald Therkildsen told the court on Friday, adding that since police arrested Sullivan, more witnesses have reached out.
Therkildsen added: "She was shocked to learn she had a stepson, and that that friend was never allowed in this house."
The revelation came out at Sullivan's Friday arraignment, where the 56-year-old pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, first-degree reckless endangerment, and cruelty to persons. Prosecutors allege that Sullivan held her 32-year-old stepson captive for over two decades.
Therkildsen asked Superior Court Judge Joseph Schwartz to put Sullivan under house arrest, arguing that her alleged victim lives in fear, knowing she had free movement.
"His first question in this fear is, 'Why is she out walking around while I was locked up in her room for 20 years?' " Therkildsen said.
Defense lawyer Ioannis Kaloidis, however, argued that a change in bail would telegraph to potential jurors that the court already believes in her guilt.
"By adding conditions, the court is sending a message that she has done something wrong, or the court feels that she has done something wrong," he said. "By granting the state's motion, a message is sent to the world that the presumption of innocence means nothing and that cannot happen."
Schwartz met prosecutors halfway and he told Sullivan that the change in bail conditions shouldn't be viewed as a prejudicial signal.
"I think putting GPS monitoring on her is appropriate to protect the public and to ensure that she comes," the judge said.
"You are not guilty (now), you have the presumption of innocence. You will get a fair trial. The reason I put GPS monitoring on you has nothing to do with being guilty and shouldn't be interpreted that way."
Sullivan was arrested on March 12 in the wake of a Feb. 17 fire at her family’s home in Waterbury, southwest of Hartford.
The blaze was allegedly set by her stepson in a bid for freedom, and when first responders arrived, they found the 5-foot-9, 68-pound captive, officials said.
The severely malnourished 32-year-old man had not received medical or dental care in years and had been subjected to “prolonged abuse, starvation, severe neglect and inhumane treatment,” police said.
According to an affidavit supporting Sullivan's arrest, the man started the fire with a lighter, hand sanitizer, and some paper from a printer.
"I wanted my freedom," the weakened man allegedly told police.
Sullivan posted bail a day after her arrest, and defense attorneys have denied all allegations against their client.
The defense claims that the man was properly cared for and not prevented from leaving.
Sullivan was ordered to return to court on April 22.
