Man claiming to be missing boy from Midwest hits close to home for local family

New developments in a Midwest missing person’s case is hitting close to home for a local family.

A man claiming to, Timothy Pitzen, a six-year-old who went missing 7 years ago is now facing federal charges after the FBI found out he was lying.

The Abeyta family, whose brother Christopher went missing 33 years ago, feels for the Pitzen family.

Denise Alves, Christopher’s sister says, “You’d hate to have someone else feel that.”

They had three people come forward in February claiming they might be him.

She says, “in your mind, you want this so badly.”

In Illinois, Brian Rini was found by police walking aimlessly when he told them he was the missing boy. After a DNA test, it was found out he made it up.

Alves says she hopes it doesn’t deter people with real clues to come forward but hopes liars like Rini are punished.

“For someone to come forward and made a fabrication story like that is cruel and revictimizes the family,” she says.

Just like the Pitzen family, the Abeyta are holding out hope they may one day get their loved one, back home.