Connecticut ‘House of Horrors’ stepmom insists she’s innocent: Attorney

( NewsNation ) — The woman at the center of Connecticut's "House of horrors" case was offered two choices Friday, both of which she turned down.

Kimberly Sullivan was offered a 30-year sentence, suspended after 20 years. The judge offered an even more lenient deal, suspended after just ten years with five years' probation.

The  Connecticut woman  is accused of holding her stepson captive for more than 20 years. She has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment and other charges.

Authorities removed the adult male from the property in February 2025 after he reportedly started a fire at the home in hopes of being rescued. The stepson, who has not been identified publicly, reportedly weighed 68 pounds and claimed he had been a  captive  since age 11. In a subsequent  statement , he said he was 31 when he was able to escape.

Sullivan's attorney Ioannis Kaloidis joined NewsNation on Friday night to discuss the reasons behind turning down the deals.

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"Quite simple. She hasn't done anything wrong. She's maintained her innocence," Kaloidis told "Jesse Weber Live."  

"Going to jail for 10 years for something you didn't do is really a hard pill to swallow. So she really wants her day in court. She's adamant she's done nothing wrong."

Kaloidis said there will be testimony that contradicts the prosecution's allegations, adding he believes they lack evidence.

"She just wants to go about her life. She wants to get back to work, live her normal life that she lived before this whole ordeal started," Kaloidis said of Sullivan.

Kaloidis said he believes the trial will take place in early 2027.

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