Six-Year-Old Boy Disappears In 2011 After Mom Leaves Vague Note Behind - Teenager Claims To Be Him Years Later

Apr 10, 2019 by apost team

In this true-crime story from 2011, a then-6-year-old boy named Timmothy Pitzen went missing after his mom signed him out of his Aurora, Illinois school and the two embarked on a road trip as they visited zoos and amusement parks in Wisconsin.

Tragically, after three days together, Timmothy went missing before his mother was found dead in a hotel room shortly after, having taken her own life. What's unsettling is that in her suicide note, she mentioned that Timmothy was in safe hands but that he wouldn't ever be found. 

Since then, Timmothy is still missing. His father, James Pitzen hasn't given up looking for him. Over the years there have been updates in the case, including one disturbing incident in which a young man pretended to be Timmothy, only for police to find that it wasn't him. Let's take a look back at the case and all of the updates over the years.

It was the morning of May 11, 2011, when, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Timmothy's mom, Amy Fry-Pitzen traveled to the elementary school that her son attended. His father had dropped him off at school that morning and unbeknownst to him, Fry-Pitzen came mere hours later and checked Timmothy out of school.

Security footage captured them as they left the school grounds and then the two of them embarked on a road trip together. They traveled to zoos, amusement parks and other locations in nearby Wisconsin. Both mother and son were seen on surveillance cameras as they enjoyed their time at a water park. 

Then, three days later on May 14, 2011, Fry-Pitzen's dead body was discovered in a Rockford, Illinois motel room. Police ruled her death as a suicide and family members have said that she battled depression for some time. Timmothy was not in the room with his mother.

However, Fry-Pitzen had left a note that said Timmothy was in the care of a responsible party who loved him, but she hadn't disclosed the 6-year old's whereabouts. His family said that they were certain his mother did not cause any harm to him and never stopped believing that Timmothy was out there alive somewhere. However, as time went by, family members started to lose their hope and the investigation seemed to have reached a dead end. 

In a turn of events, a development in the case came in 2019, but sadly, it turned out to be a hoax. It all started when a woman in Kentucky noticed a fidgety teenage boy moving around her car. He said he had been running for more than two hours. The boy also had a stomachache. The woman was concerned about the well-being of the 14-year-old so she called the police. When officers arrived, the boy informed them his name was Timmothy Pitzen. And for a moment, it seemed that an 8-year-old mystery had been solved.

Unfortunately, though, the happy end turned out too good to be true. As the Washington Post reported, a DNA test rushed by the FBI showed that the young man was not, in fact, Timmothy, but a 23-year-old former convict named Brian Michael Rini. Following the incident, Brian was charged with lying to federal agents.   

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Robert Brown, who is a Special Agent in charge of FBI Louisville told NBC news:

"As the result of false reporting in cases such as Timmothy's, it is extremely traumatic to the families of the missing children and diverts resources away from legitimate investigative efforts"

Brian's brother, Jonathan Rini, also spoke to NBC and said he is not surprised by his brother's actions. He said, "He's been doing stupid stuff, not this serious but he's been doing stupid stuff for as long as I can remember." Brian was reportedly diagnosed with bipolar disorder and Aspergers in the past. Jonathon added:

"I hope he gets help, I also hope he goes to prison for this, or at least an institution. I'd tell the family that I’m sorry for what he’s done, but for him, I wouldn’t even speak to him,"

In 2020, Brian plead guilty to charges of aggravated identity theft in relation to the case and was sentenced to two years in jail. 

Sadly, however, that didn't bring law enforcement any closer to finding out what happened to Timmothy. Last year, on the 10th anniversary of Timmothy's disappearance, the police released an updated age-progression photo of what Timmothy would look like at 16. They said that their investigation remained active and they hoped the newer image would help assist them. Timmothy's father said at the time:

“It’s hard to believe that we have been searching for Timmothy for ten long years now ... We believe he is out there and we hope every day that he will make his way home.”

Anyone who might have information related to the case is asked to contact The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. 

Are you familiar with the Timmothy Pitzen case? Do you think there is still hope Timmothy will be found after 11 years? Pass this article along to your family and friends so everyone can be updated on the case. 

If you or anybody you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please call Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.