Man who claimed to be missing child Timmothy Pitzen is actually a 24-year-old convicted burglar
A man who claimed to be missing child Timmothy Pitzen is actually a 24-year-old convicted burglar.
Brian Michael Rini had claimed he was Timmothy, who vanished in 2011, aged six, shortly after his mother killed herself.
Eight years on from his disappearance, a ‘teenager’ had come forward to claim he was Timmothy.
But the FBI in Louisville confirmed that a DNA sample had been taken and the man claiming to be Timmothy was not him.
He has instead been named as 24-year-old convicted burglar Brian Michael Rini.
Rini had reportedly approached passers-by in Newport, Kentucky, saying he had escaped two kidnappers in the Cincinnati area and fled across a bridge into Kentucky.
One woman said he had approached her and said: “Can you help me? I just want to get home. Can you just please help me?”
FBILouisville, @FBICincinnati, @AuroraPoliceIL, Newport PD, @CincyPD, and HCSO have been conducting a missing person investigation. DNA results have been returned indicating the person in question is not Timmothy Pitzen.
— FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) April 4, 2019
A local investigation continues into this person's true identity. To be clear, law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today.
— FBI Louisville (@FBILouisville) April 4, 2019
According to reports, when he was taken into police custody Rini – who apparently has a history of making false police reports – gave Timmothy’s date of birth.
After tests confirmed he is not the missing child Rini – who was apparently released from prison on March 7 – is reportedly due to be transferred back to prison.
In 2011, six-year-old Timmothy’s mother picked him up at school in Illinois, took him to a zoo and a water park, and then killed herself, leaving a note in which she said her son was fine but no one would ever find him.