Body cam video, photos show inside Waterbury home where woman held stepson captive

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WATERBURY, CT (WFSB) - Police released crime scene photos and body camera footage that showed the inside of the home in Waterbury where a stepmother has been a accused of holding a man captive for about 20 years.

The images provided a glimpse into what investigators called a “house of horrors,” where the victim was reportedly confined to a small room for up to 22 hours a day by the suspect, Kimberly Sullivan.

Listen to the 911 call from Sullivan and see the body cam video from Waterbury police below:

In the newly released photos, authorities highlighted exterior locks that were used to secure the door to the stepson’s bedroom from the outside.

Take a look a the photos of the home below:

Officials said Sullivan used a “slide” lock and latch to imprison her stepson in a tiny 9-foot by 8-foot room for much of his life.

The victim, now 32, was rescued in February after police said he set a fire inside the room in an attempt to escape his confinement.

The images also showed rooms in the home that appear heavily charred, likely the result of the fire set by the victim.

Although it was unclear which specific room was the victim’s bedroom, investigators stated that the photos, along with the victim’s testimony, will be crucial in building their case against Sullivan.

Kimberly Sullivan’s Attorney Ioannis Kaloidis said he was furious over the release of the media files.

News reporters received the pictures and videos from Waterbury police as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request.

Kaloidis said he was worried Sullivan would not get a fair trial now, and it could be tough to find jurors who haven’t heard of the case.

“The fact that we’re even defending this woman offends a lot of people. Well, that’s just too bad,” Kaloidis said.

Sullivan’s attorneys have been under fire for weeks as they vehemently continued to defend their client.

In the body camera video, Sullivan tells police that she tried to help him escape from the flames during the fire.

“He said that he couldn’t come out of the room because there were flames,” Sullivan said in the footage. “I said just come out and he couldn’t get out because of the flames.”

She insisted that she did everything she could to help him, even as the fire spread around him.

Sullivan also addresses questions about the conditions of the victim’s room, which had been allegedly locked.

“Was the door locked in his room, or no?” one officer asked.

“No,” Sullivan replied. “It’s normally open and he has free rein to go out of there whenever he wants.”

Investigators noted that the victim had not showered in more than a year. That added weight to the severity of the abuse claims.

Kaloidis said he was angry police released what he called sensitive evidence and discovery.

Meanwhile, his client continued to deny abuse allegations.

“Where are the handcuffs, where are the chains, where are the signs of restraint?” Kaloidis asked.

There were no handcuffs or chains in the pictures; however, police said the victim was 68 pounds when he was rescued. He is 32 years old.

“As far as his weight, I haven’t seen any medical records. And there may be other explanations for his weight. Ask a doctor, that’s not for me to explain,” Kaloidis said.

Channel 3 continued to push Kaloidis. There were dozens of specific allegations of torture and starvation in Sullivan’s arrest warrant, including that he was limited to two sandwiches a day for years.

“There was food in the fridge, food in the cabinets. She brought food home,” Kaloidis noted.

A reporter asked “but was he allowed to eat it?”

“Yes absolutely,” Kaloidis replied. “Where do you think those specifics are coming from? I have some thoughts. What are they? Those will all come out at trial. Because that’s the appropriate place for that.”

Sullivan’s defense team may even file a motion to get her trial moved out of Waterbury. Kaloidis claimed it may be tough to find enough impartial jurors in the Brass City.

“What we’re really going to need is some jurors to keep an open mind. What we have is millions of people behind their keyboards, behind their monitors having convicted her without knowing the case,” Kaloidis argued.

Kaloidis wanted a full blown investigation into why the photos and videos were released on Monday.

He claimed he saw a video of the victim eating candy recently, and that if his teeth were rotten and breaking, as claimed, that it would be odd for him to be eating a Butterfinger.

Kaloidis sent a letter to Waterbury police Chief Fernando Spagnolo following the release of the media.

He requested that media be preserved.

Dear Chief Spagnolo:
Please be advised I represent Kimberly Sullivan relative to the above referenced matter. As you are aware, your department released 42 photographs as well as body worn camera depicting a police interaction with my client.
I respectfully request that any and all information relating to the release of any and all evidence in this case be preserved. This request includes, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Any and all [Freedom of Information Act] requests filed seeking information relating to the above referenced matter;
2. Any and all responses to FOIA requests noted above;
3. Any and all communications in any form, including but not limited to, emails, text messages, instant messages, chats, direct messages, signal messages, imessages, handwritten notes, voicemails or any other form of communication relating to the aforementioned FOIA requests, the responses to them and the decision to release any information in response.
4. A copy of any and all information, documents, photos, videos, or other evidence released by the Waterbury Police Department relating to this matter.
The requested information is relevant and material to Ms. Sullivan’s current pending matter. This preservation request is made to preserve material, relevant, and potentially exculpatory evidence.
Failure to preserve said evidence will likely result in violation of my client’s constitutional rights.
Attorney Ioannis Kaloidis

Kaloidis also filed a motion in Waterbury Superior Court to preserve evidence.

“In support of this motion, the defendant asserts that the requested items are necessary and material to the preparation of an effective defense, and the interests of justice and fairness require that the materials be preserved for disclosure to the defendant. The release of highly sensitive discovery material by the Waterbury Police Department appears to be a deliberate effort to further influence public opinion bearing directly on the defendant’s right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence. The requested documents are relevant and material to the defense. If the release of information was deliberate, the requested materials will go directly to the credibility of the officers involved as it bears upon their motive and bias in the case.
If the release was inadvertent, it shows a degree of incompetence that is staggering; such information may be relevant to the adequacy [of] the police investigation and the actions of the officers involved. Further, destruction of the referenced items would cause substantial and irreparable prejudice to the defendant."
Supplemental motion to preserve evidence, State of Connecticut V. Kimberly Sullivan

Sullivan, who was out on bond, was scheduled to appear in court on April 22.