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

Dave Pelzer, author of "A Child Called 'It,'" was shocked to learn the severity of the abuse allegations against Connecticut woman Kimberly Sullivan.

Peter D'Abrosca joined Fox News Digital in 2025 and covers U.S. Crime. 

Sullivan, 56, was arrested March 12 in Waterbury, Connecticut, after her 32-year-old stepson set a fire at their house Feb. 27 to escape what authorities said were abusive conditions. He weighed just 68 pounds.  Previously, he was a public relations executive and a reporter at The Tennessee Star. 

As chronicled in his book, which has sold millions of copies and spent several years on The New York Times Best Sellers list, Pelzer was physically and emotionally abused by his mother from ages 4 to 12.  He graduated from Elon University in 2014.