A man who told police he was a teenager who went missing eight years ago when his mother took her own life is an ex convict, it has emerged.
Timmothy Pitzen vanished from Aurora, Illinois, USA, in 2011 and would be 14-years-old today.
But after someone came forward earlier this week to claim he was Timmothy, it soon became apparent that he was actually a 23-year-old man.
Brian Michael Rini told neighbors in the Kentucky town of Newport, US, he had escaped kidnappers and was the long lost lad.
Timmothy Pitzen: 'Teen' who said he was missing boy actually 'man called Brian'
FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren told Reuters DNA tests conducted at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital showed the person who claimed to be Timmothy was in fact Rini.
And now it has emerged he has a criminal past - and only got out of jail a month ago.
A public records search in Ohio showed Rini was released from the Belmont Correctional Institution on March 7,
where he had been served 14 months for burglary and vandalism.
"Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family," an FBI
statement added. "Unfortunately, that day will not be today."
Timmothy Pitzen: Teen saying he's missing boy 'gives police correct birth date'
Pitzen went missing in May 2011 at the age of six, after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of school and took him on a trip to a zoo and a water park.
She committed suicide soon afterwards in a motel room, leaving a note that local media said made the boy's whereabouts a mystery.
"Tim is somewhere safe with people who love him and will care for him," she wrote in the note, according to reports by
ABC7 Chicago. "You will never find him."
The real Timmothy's family have spoken out about the false hope they were given when Rini came forward.
"Unfortunately this child is not our beloved Timmothy," said an emotional Kara Jacobs, Timmothy's aunt.
"We know that you are out there somewhere Tim and we will never stop looking for you, praying for you and loving you.
"I hope that everyone will join us in praying for the young man who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen," she continued.
"There's far too many lost children in desperate need of help.
"We hope our tragedy will help to shed some light on the horrific problems of suicide and missing children in our country."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this story, Samaritans are available to talk 24/7 on 116 123.
