For decades, was a man hiding in plain sight?
In Waterbury, Connecticut, a house on Blake Street seemed like just like any home, maybe a little unkept, but nothing too out of the ordinary. But in 2024, everything changed when a fire—and a stunning allegation—brought national attention to a home few had questioned.
A Waterbury man we'll refer to as "S" now claims he was held captive for 20 years by his stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan. Prosecutors say the abuse began when he was a child and continued for decades, unseen and unheard. Sullivan, however, says he was allowed to roam the house and denies allegations that she held him captive.
This podcast unpacks the case episode by episode: the early warning signs, the reports that raised red flags, what investigators say they discovered inside the house, and the moment authorities say the truth finally emerged.
Through court documents, exclusive interviews, firsthand accounts, and expert insight, we examine not only what happened—or what may have happened—but how a person can allegedly disappear while still living in a neighborhood full of people.
And as the legal process moves forward, one question remains: What will this case look like in the court room when it goes to trial?
This is Decades Unseen: The Waterbury Captivity Case by NBC Connecticut.