"A Child Called 'It'" author says Connecticut house of horrors case is 'attempted murder'

The writer of the bestselling memoir "A Child Called ‘It:' One Child's Courage to Survive" says allegations of kid maltreatment against Connecticut stepmom Kimberly Sullivan are troubling. 

"That is attempted murder," Dave Pelzer told Fox News Digital, adding details of the Sullivan lawsuit are "beyond sadness."  

Sullivan, 56, was arrested March 12 successful Waterbury, Connecticut, aft her 32-year-old stepson acceptable a occurrence astatine their location Feb. 27 to flight what authorities said were abusive conditions. He weighed conscionable 68 pounds. 

As chronicled successful his book, which has sold millions of copies and spent respective years connected The New York Times Best Sellers list, Pelzer was physically and emotionally abused by his parent from ages 4 to 12. 

‘MALNOURISHED MAN HELD CAPTIVE BY STEPMOM FOR DECADES SET FIRE TO HOME TO ESCAPE: ’I WANTED MY FREEDOM'

Kimberly Sullivan stands adjacent to her attorney, Jason Spilka, during a enslaved proceeding March 13, 2025, successful Waterbury Superior Court.  (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)

"I've worked a batch of cases — a batch of cases. This is severe. Extremely severe," Pelzer said. "Because of the magnitude of it and the fact, again, [the unfortunate is] 5-foot-8 and 68 pounds. And I'm disquieted astir his intelligence state."

The Waterbury Police Department located Sullivan's 32-year-old stepson astatine the home, wherever helium admitted to mounting the blaze. 

The man, who has not been named, was recovered emaciated and told constabulary helium had been confined successful the location since property 11. He said helium had ne'er received aesculapian oregon dental care.

"I wanted my freedom," helium told investigators. 

MAN DESCRIBES SHOCKING LIVING CONDITIONS HE ENDURED DURING 20-YEAR HOME CAPTIVITY: 'UNIMAGINABLE'

This photograph provided by the Waterbury Police Department shows Kimberly Sullivan, who was charged March 12, 2025, with kidnapping and cruelty for allegedly holding her 32-year-old stepson captive for much than 20 years.  (Waterbury Police Department via AP)

According to an apprehension warrant for Sullivan, the victim, identified arsenic "Male Victim 1," was held successful a windowless 8-foot by 9-foot retention closet with nary aerial conditioning oregon vigor and without entree to a bath for 20 years. He was kept wrong the closet 22-24 hours per day. 

He was allowed 2 sandwiches and 2 tiny h2o bottles each day, 1 of which helium would usage for bathing. He disposed of his discarded utilizing h2o bottles and newspaper. 

Sullivan was arrested connected charges of first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment. 

She was released connected $300,000 bail. 

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Kimberly Sullivan was arrested aft allegedly abusing her stepson successful their Waterbury, Conn., home. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)

Despite the information the unfortunate was sometimes allowed retired of the location to fto retired the household canine and bash chores, Pelzer said victims of utmost maltreatment bash not tally due to the fact that they are conditioned by their parents into reasoning that the maltreatment they look is normal. 

"I've got to archer you, erstwhile I went to court, erstwhile I was being made a imperishable ward of the court, I was with my beauteous societal worker. God bless her," Pelzer said. "And I saw my ma close crossed the hallway, and I forgot I had done this, but I conjecture I wrote a enactment to my ma saying, 'Dear mom, I'm truthful atrocious astir this.'

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Kimberly Sullivan is taken into custody by the Waterbury Police Department March 12. (Waterbury Police Department)

"I retrieve 1 clip I was going to tally away," helium said. "I deliberation I was 6, and I had it each planned out. I stole an pome pastry and brought it into the basement. They were gone for an day for household matter oregon whatever, and I was astir to tally away. I thought, 'Where americium I going to go? Who's going to instrumentality maine in?'"

While determination person been reports the Connecticut Department of Children and Families visited the Sullivan location successful effect to reports from the victim's school, Pelzer explained that abusive parents often person a unsocial quality to manipulate authorities. 

Read Kimberly Sullivan's apprehension warrant: Mobile users click here

"We are shocked and saddened for the unfortunate and astatine the unspeakable conditions helium endured. The present big unfortunate has shown unthinkable spot and resilience during this clip of healing, and our hearts spell retired to him," the section said successful a statement.

The section noted determination are nary records of visits to the Sullivan location connected record due to the fact that reports of neglect and maltreatment that are unsubstantiated are expunged from its strategy aft 5 years.

Pelzer said helium hopes a caring household subordinate volition enactment the victim, who volition person constricted authorities resources for betterment arsenic an adult. 

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Fox News Digital reached retired to 2 of the victim's sisters and Sullivan's attorney.