The author of the bestselling memoir, “Children's Courage Called “It”” says that child abuse allegations against his Connecticut stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan, are troubling.
“It's an attempted murder,” Dave Pertzer told Fox News Digital, adding that details of the Sullivan incident “beyond grief.”
Sullivan, 56, was arrested on March 12 in Waterbury, Connecticut after setting fire to their home to escape what the 32-year-old step-in-law said was abusive situation on February 27th. He weighed only 68 pounds.
As recorded in his book, which sold millions of copies and spent several years on the New York Times bestseller list, Perzer was physically and emotionally abused by his mother, ages 4 to 12.
“The malnourished man was captured by his stepmother for decades and escaped, setting the house on fire and running away: “I wanted my own freedom.”
Kimberly Sullivan stood next to his lawyer, Jason Spilka, at Waterbury Superior Court on March 13, 2025. (Jim Shannon/Hurst Connecticut Media via AP)
“I've taken a lot of cases – a lot of cases. This is serious. It's very serious,” Peltzer said. “Because of the length and facts of it, again [the victim is] 5 feet 8 pounds and 68 pounds. And I'm worried about his mental state. ”
Waterbury police left Sullivan's 32-year-old step-son at home, where he admitted to setting up the flames.
The unnamed man was weak and told police he had been locked up at home since he was 11 years old. He said he had never had medical or dental treatment.
“I wanted my freedom,” he told investigators.
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The photo provided by the Waterbury Police Department shows Kimberly Sullivan, who was charged on March 12, 2025, showing the indictment and cruelty that he allegedly held his 32-year-old son-in-law for more than 20 years. (Waterbury Police Station via the AP)
According to Sullivan's arrest warrant, the victim, identified as “male victim 1,” was held in a windowless 8-foot storage closet without air conditioning or heat, without access to the bathroom for 20 years. He was kept in his closet 22-24 hours a day.
He was allowed two sandwiches and two small water bottles each day. He used water bottles and newspapers to dispose of the waste.
Sullivan was arrested on charges of first degree attack, second degree lure, first degree illegal detention, atrocities against a person and first degree reckless danger.
She was released on $300,000 bail.
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Kimberly Sullivan was arrested for allegedly abused her step-son at a Waterbury, Connecticut home. (Jim Shannon/Hurst Connecticut Media via AP)
Despite the victims being allowed to drive their family dogs out of their homes and do household chores, Perzer said victims of extreme abuse are not running as they are conditioned to consider the abuse their parents face to be normal.
“I have to tell you, when I went to court, when I became the permanent ward of the court, I was with my beautiful social worker. God bless her,” said Pertzer. “And I crossed the hallway and looked at my mother, and although I had forgotten that I had done this, I think I wrote a note to my mother saying, 'Dear Mom, I am very sorry about this'.”
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Kimberly Sullivan will be taken into custody by the Waterbury Police Department on March 12th. (Waterbury Police Station)
“I remember trying to get away once,” he said. “I was six so I planned everything. I stole the apple pie and brought it to the basement. They were going in the afternoon due to family events and more. They were trying to get away.
Reports of children and families in Connecticut have been reported, but visited Sullivan's home in response to reports from the victim's school, and Peltzer explained that abusive parents often have the unique ability to manipulate authorities.
Kimberly Sullivan's Arrested Warrant: Read Mobile Users click here
“We are shocked and saddened by the victims, with the indescribable condition he endured. The adult victims of this current healing period have shown incredible strength and resilience, and our hearts have come to him,” the department said in a statement.
The department noted that five years later, records of visits to Sullivan's home were not on file as unfounded reports of abuse would be removed from the system.
Peltzer said he hopes caring families will support victims whose state's resources are limited for their adult recovery.
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Fox News Digital reached out to two victim sisters and Sullivan's lawyers.
