CINCINNATI – The family of an Illinois boy missing for eight years was initially elated by a report that suggested he might have been found, then devastated when they were told it was all a hoax perpetrated by a 23-year-old ex-convict from Medina.
“It’s kind of back to ground zero for us. We’re kind of reliving everything that did happen and renewing the loss one more time,” said Alana Anderson, Timmothy Prizen’s grandmother
The FBI declared the man’s story a hoax Thursday one day after he identified himself to authorities as 14-year-old Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in 2011 at age 6 in Auroro, Ill..
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
Newport Police Chief Tom Collins identified the man to ABC as 23-year-old ex-convict Brian Rini of Medina, who was released from prison less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism.
An FBI affidavit says Rini has made similar claims twice before.
“He’s been doing stupid stuff for as long as I can remember. He has several mental issues,” said Rini’s brother, Jonathan Rini.
The man had told police he’s Timmothy and escaped from men who held him captive.
Members of Pitzen’s family say they are heartbroken.
Kara Jacobs told reporters that learning her nephew had not been found is “like reliving the day” he disappeared over again. Anderson also said his father, James Pitzen, “is devastated once again.”
Aurora police Sgt. Bill Rowley called the person’s claim “a disappointment” and that this was another time the family had their “hope raised” but noted one positive aspect.
“It’s good that it’s got people thinking about the case again and perhaps has people looking at the case with new eyes,” Rowley said.
Timmothy vanished after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of kindergarten early one day, took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, and then killed herself at a hotel. She left a note saying that her son was safe with people who would love and care for him, and added: “You will never find him.”