The attorney for Kimberly Sullivan, accused of holding her stepson captive for 20 years, responded to the victim's first public statement, according to a statement released Wednesday.

The 32-year-old stepson, who spoke Tuesday about reclaiming his life, prompted a sharp rebuke from Sullivan's lawyer, Ioannis Kaloidis.

Kaloidis said being falsely accused is nearly as horrific as being a victim of a heinous crime, making Sullivan "an object of hate who is disparaged and cast from society." He claimed the accuser's narrative "lacks both specifics and credibility" and is "timed to sway public opinion" to "poison the well of a future jury panel" rather than seek justice legally.

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