How can any of us not feel a heart tug every time we drive on Galena Boulevard and pass Greenman Elementary School, where his mom picked him up that otherwise beautiful spring morning under the pretense of a family emergency?
It’s why Timmothy’s story is running as part of the “Real Life Nightmare” series, noted producer Lee Alexander, who also told me earlier this week that his mother is an advocate for child victims so he is well aware of the anguish loved ones experience when a child goes missing or is murdered.
“Just every twist and turn is a question that has no answer” he said of the Aurora child’s disappearance. “As hard as you try, any scenario just does not make sense.”
“As we approach 10 years since Timmothy went missing, we want to keep this case in the forefront of everyone’s mind as we continue to investigate all aspects of the case. Any tip could potentially be the missing puzzle piece to the case,” he said.
“While we know there are many theories and ideas that have circulated on social media regarding the case, we ask the public not to call us with theories, but with specific information regarding his disappearance or his whereabouts.”
Timmothy’s case has indeed sparked interest not just nationally but from around the world, said Hartmann, who is putting together an episode about it for her “Inside Crime” podcast that will run closer to the 10th anniversary of his disappearance.
“This case has evolved like no other in that the family believes one thousand percent that he is alive. And because of it, they know the key to finding him is getting the word out,” she said. “In order to do that, they work closely with the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and won’t even give interviews unless we are involved, not just so these stories will put a focus on Timmothy but on 1,000 other kids that are also missing.
“For them to turn down interviews unless we are involved is rare. And we are appreciative of that.”
It certainly is hard to wrap your head around the idea that a mother, who by all accounts adored her son, would rip him so cruelly from the hands of his father and other beloved family members. In fact, it’s those video images of a happy little boy with his mom and dad featured on this “Real Life Nightmare” episode that will continue to haunt all of us drawn to the case.
Alexander told me he was particularly grateful James Pitzen turned over his only CD of treasured family videos to the producer, which not only demonstrated a “lot of trust” in the show but also a “deep passion” to keep his son’s story in the public eye.
“COVID and the election have taken so much attention away from other important stories,” insisted Hartmann. And Timmothy’s story on Sunday, she said, “will help put the focus back not only on his case but all the other kids who are missing.”
Column: TV series to feature Timmothy Pitzen mystery
