A person who falsely claimed to be a missing boy from Illinois is a convicted burglar, the FBI has said.
Timmothy Pitzen disappeared in 2011 – and he would have been 14 years old now.
His family's hopes were raised after a young man wandering the streets of Kentucky identified himself as Timmothy to police – telling them he had just escaped from two men who had held him captive for seven years.
But FBI investigators have declared his story to be a hoax after the man's DNA was not a match.
Officials have identified him as Brian Rini, a 23-year-old who had been released from a prison in Ohio less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism.
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In a statement, the FBI vowed to not forget Timmothy, and hoped to "one day reunite him with his family".
They added: "Unfortunately, that day will not be today."
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Timmothy's family said they were heartbroken by the hoax.
His aunt Kara Jacobs said: "It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again, and Timmothy's father is devastated once again."
The boy's grandmother Alana Anderson added: "It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting.
"I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else."
Timmothy was six years old when his mother Amy Fry-Pitzen took him from school in Aurora, Illinois, and travelled to a zoo and water park in the neighbouring state of Wisconsin.
Two days later, the boy's mother was found dead in a hotel room in Rockford, Illinois.
Reports at the time said she had checked in alone and written a cryptic note that said her son was safe, but added: "You'll never find him."
Police have said Timmothy's mother might have dropped him off with a friend, noting that the boy's car seat and Spider-Man backpack were gone.
Detectives also found credit card receipts showing she bought children's clothing and toys in Wisconsin.
Timmothy's grandmother said her daughter had fought depression for years and was having problems in her marriage to the child's father.
Some reports suggested she was afraid she would lose custody of the boy in a divorce because of her mental state.
Rini's younger brother, Jonathan, told local media he hoped his sibling wouRead More – Source
A person who falsely claimed to be a missing boy from Illinois is a convicted burglar, the FBI has said.
Timmothy Pitzen disappeared in 2011 – and he would have been 14 years old now.
His family's hopes were raised after a young man wandering the streets of Kentucky identified himself as Timmothy to police – telling them he had just escaped from two men who had held him captive for seven years.
But FBI investigators have declared his story to be a hoax after the man's DNA was not a match.
Officials have identified him as Brian Rini, a 23-year-old who had been released from a prison in Ohio less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism.
Advertisement
In a statement, the FBI vowed to not forget Timmothy, and hoped to "one day reunite him with his family".
They added: "Unfortunately, that day will not be today."
More from Wisconsin
Timmothy's family said they were heartbroken by the hoax.
His aunt Kara Jacobs said: "It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again, and Timmothy's father is devastated once again."
The boy's grandmother Alana Anderson added: "It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting.
"I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else."
Timmothy was six years old when his mother Amy Fry-Pitzen took him from school in Aurora, Illinois, and travelled to a zoo and water park in the neighbouring state of Wisconsin.
Two days later, the boy's mother was found dead in a hotel room in Rockford, Illinois.
Reports at the time said she had checked in alone and written a cryptic note that said her son was safe, but added: "You'll never find him."
Police have said Timmothy's mother might have dropped him off with a friend, noting that the boy's car seat and Spider-Man backpack were gone.
Detectives also found credit card receipts showing she bought children's clothing and toys in Wisconsin.
Timmothy's grandmother said her daughter had fought depression for years and was having problems in her marriage to the child's father.
Some reports suggested she was afraid she would lose custody of the boy in a divorce because of her mental state.
Rini's younger brother, Jonathan, told local media he hoped his sibling wouRead More – Source
