Grandmother Believes Missing Boy Is Alive in Mormon Commune

Linda Pitzen, the paternal grandmother of Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in 2011, believes her grandson is alive and living in a secluded Mormon community. This belief is based on a critical clue she reportedly uncovered in the suicide note left by Timmothy's mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen.

Mother's Last Wish:

For years, Linda has tried to understand Amy's mindset, suspecting that Amy was determined to ensure the six-year-old grew up in a Mormon environment. Linda believes Amy gave Timmothy away to a religious group to fulfill this intention.

Disappearance Timeline:

Timmothy, who was six at the time, was last seen with his mother when they checked out of a waterpark hotel in Wisconsin on May 13, 2011. The mother and son had embarked on an impromptu road trip after Amy pulled Timmothy out of school in Illinois on May 11, 2011, citing a family emergency.

Hidden Intentions:

During their trip, Amy took her son to various zoos and waterparks across state lines. She concealed her true intentions under the guise of a spontaneous vacation, failing to inform Timmothy's father, Jim Pitzen. At one point, Jim's brother spoke to Amy over the phone and heard Timmothy in the background. Amy's defensive attitude during the call raised suspicions.

Last Contact:

"What, don't you trust me?"

Amy told Jim's brother during their call.

"Timmothy belongs to me [...] I'm not going to hurt myself. I'm not going to hurt Tim."

This would be the last call Amy made before her disappearance.

Father's Discovery:

Jim Pitzen arrived at the school only to be told Amy had collected their son hours earlier. He was unaware that he would never speak to his wife or son again. Amy's behavior remained strange until she called her mother and Jim's brother on May 13 to say she would be home soon.

Mother's Suicide:

The next day, Amy was found dead in a motel room in Rockford, having overdosed with deep self-inflicted wounds. In her suicide note, she stated she had given her son away to

"people who loved him."

After nearly 13 years, Timmothy's grandmother believes he was likely given to a Mormon family.

Support for the Theory:

Linda's theory has gained support from others investigating Timmothy's disappearance. Hannah Soukup, a former classmate of Timmothy, expressed her belief that he ended up in a rural religious commune with little access to the internet or the outside world.

Classmate's Insights:

The six-year-old, who would be 19 today, has remained in Hannah's thoughts. She believes Amy took Timmothy to secluded places to ensure he would never be found, possibly giving him a new identity. Hannah speculates that either Timmothy hasn't realized he was kidnapped by his mother or is being kept away from the internet to prevent him from learning the truth.

Mysterious Trips:

Amy's I-Pass records later revealed she made two prior trips to Sterling, a small rural town west of Aurora, in February and March 2011 without informing her family. The connection, if any, Amy had to the area remains unknown.