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.

<em>Timmothy went missing eight years ago, aged six.</em>
Timmothy went missing eight years ago, aged six.
<em>Timmothy Pitzen went missing shortly after his mother killed herself in a hotel room</em>
Timmothy Pitzen went missing shortly after his mother killed herself in a hotel room

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?”

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.

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