Connecticut 'House of Horrors' Stepmom Hides Face at Hearing on Anniversary of Arrest

Kimberly Sullivan, accused of imprisoning her stepson for over 20 years, appeared in court but refused to answer questions.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:49am

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Kimberly Sullivan, the 57-year-old Connecticut woman accused of imprisoning her stepson in foul conditions for over 20 years, hid her face as she rushed into and out of a Waterbury court for a brief hearing on the anniversary of her arrest. Sullivan is charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful restraint, and cruelty to persons, but has pleaded not guilty.

Why it matters

This case has drawn national attention to the alleged abuse and neglect the stepson endured, raising questions about how such a situation could go undetected for decades. The anniversary of Sullivan's arrest marks an important milestone in the ongoing legal proceedings.

The details

Sullivan is accused of keeping her now 33-year-old stepson locked in a filthy room in their Waterbury home beginning when he was around 10 years old, only letting him out for a few hours to do chores. The stepson, known publicly only as 'S', weighed just 68 pounds when he was discovered in February 2025 after apparently setting fire to his room in a desperate escape attempt. Sullivan was arrested shortly after but was released on $300,000 bail and ordered not to contact her stepson.

  • Sullivan was arrested in February 2025, within weeks of the incident.
  • The hearing on Thursday, March 13, 2026, was on the one-year anniversary of Sullivan's arrest.

The players

Kimberly Sullivan

A 57-year-old woman accused of imprisoning her stepson in foul conditions for over 20 years in their Waterbury, Connecticut home.

S

Sullivan's 33-year-old stepson who was allegedly kept locked in a filthy room in the home for decades, only let out for a few hours to do chores.

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What they’re saying

“We are really trying to see what evidence they have and what evidence they are going to produce at trial. I don't know what's in there. We'll know when we see them.”

— Ioannis Kaloidis, Sullivan's attorney

“It wasn't true then and it's not true now.”

— Ioannis Kaloidis, Sullivan's attorney

What’s next

Sullivan is due back in court on April 30 for further proceedings in the case.

The takeaway

This disturbing case has shone a light on the potential for prolonged abuse and neglect to go undetected, even in a family's own home. It raises urgent questions about how to better identify and prevent such horrific situations in the future.